Sapphire Pool at Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park
Imagine our surprise when we read that a “hydrothermal explosion” had occurred at Biscuit Basin in Yellowstone on July 23. We had visited just two months prior, and the news photos of the devastation were incredible. All of our tour guides had joked about how Yellowstone sits on a huge underground volcano, and “you never know….” It’s well known that violent eruptions can happen at any time, and sometimes they actually do. Yikes! Fortunately no one was injured, and damage appears to be mostly limited to the boardwalk. And of course the size and shapes of several of the pools were dramatically altered.
Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park
Our visit was in an evening and the sky was overcast. As a result a lot of the colors are quite muted. But the various colors of the pools and the surrounding bacterial mats are quite evident.
Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National ParkJewel Geyser at Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National ParkBacterial mats add interesting colors and textures to hot pools and geysers. Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National ParkBacterial mats add interesting colors and textures to hot pools and geysers. Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National ParkBacterial mats add interesting colors and textures to hot pools and geysers. Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park
And gnarly trees! 🙂
Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National ParkBiscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone River from Inspiration Point. Yellowstone National Park
Kathy & I visited Grand Canyon twice during our visit to Yellowstone. The first time was on our own, and we got there before 8:00am to avoid the crowds. We use the term “Nooners” to describe the people who start showing up to tourist locations around the time we are leaving. Yes, I know there is another connotation for that word! 😉 In a place like Yellowstone the Nooners start showing up and filling the parking lots by around 10:00am, in some places even earlier.
Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River from Artist Point. Yellowstone National ParkUpper Falls of the Yellowstone River from Upper Falls View. Yellowstone National Park
The canyon and the waterfalls are spectacular in any light, and we managed to get quite a few photographs, especially on the north rim where you could really see the topography. One of the things I particularly liked about the north rim is the gnarly trees growing out of the rock cliffs. They made for interesting subject matter and I’ve included just a sample here.
Yellowstone River from Inspiration Point. Yellowstone National Park
As we were leaving the Artist Point area, someone asked me if I knew what time the rainbow happened. It must have been obvious from the look on my face that I didn’t know anything about a rainbow. Silly me – a failure of research!
Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River from Artist Point. Yellowstone National ParkLower Falls of the Yellowstone River from Lookout Point. Yellowstone National ParkLower Falls of the Yellowstone River from Artist Point. Yellowstone National Park
Fortunately, we returned the following day on a morning photography tour aboard one of the yellow buses. Our guide knew exactly when the rainbow would occur (about 9:40am, just in time for the Nooners! 🙂 ) and positioned us in the right spot. Not knowing when the peak color would be I made over 100 frames in order to end up with about 6. The one posted here is the only one I’ve processed so far but is typical of the others. Interestingly, the first day we visited was overcast, so we might not have seen the rainbow that day anyway!
Yellowstone River from Inspiration Point. Yellowstone National ParkYellowstone River from Inspiration Point. Yellowstone National ParkYellowstone River from Inspiration Point. Yellowstone National Park
Because it was a photography tour and not a Tom & Kathy journey, the tour only stayed long enough to capture the rainbow and didn’t travel the north rim at all. It was off to another photographic destination! I’m glad we saw the rainbow, but also glad to have visited the canyon on our own!
Tom with Mark Graf at Marine City Fish Company in Marine City, Michigan
Since my last post was a bit of a bust, I thought I’d post this to rev things back up. When we were in Michigan I caught up with this guy. Had dinner with Mark and his wife at a nice seafood restaurant in Marine City. I’m much taller in person…. 😉
Rural mailboxes near Lac La Belle on the Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan
During our time in the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan, we took a day to explore the countryside and essentially circumnavigate the peninsula.
Rural mailboxes near Lac La Belle on the Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan
We came across this line of mail boxes near Lac La Belle. It is certainly the most mail boxes I’ve seen in one place! We didn’t count them – feel free if you must! – but we estimated there to be about 20 in each section and 6 sections. I wonder how long it takes the letter carrier to stuff all those boxes?
Rural mailboxes near Lac La Belle on the Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan
View of the Portage Canal and Lift Bridge in Houghton, Michigan
We’ve been staying in Houghton, Michigan the last few nights and managed to snag a hotel room with a high floor and view of the Portage Canal which connects Portage Lake with Lake Superior. We had this rather nice view just after sunset.
Upper Tahquamenon Falls, Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Michigan
I started the most recent installment of my photographic journey chasing waterfalls in western North Carolina, and still enjoy checking out new-to-me waterfalls during our travels. We recently stopped by Tahquamenon Falls State Park in the U.P. of Michigan to see and photograph the Upper Falls.
Tahquamenon Falls is sometimes referred to as the “root beer falls” due to the amber color of the waters caused by tannins in the cedar swamps from which the river drains. The water really does take on the cast of root beer barrel candies!
Piles of Taconite, a form of iron ore pellets used in the production of steel. Seen at the Algoma Steel Company plant located on the St. Marys River in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Canada
Kathy & I are currently on a journey through cool, comfortable Michigan. We’ve visited a number of places so I’ll likely be posting images completely out of order as I get to them!
We recently visited Sault Sainte Marie, MI and did a boat cruise (never pass up a boat cruise!) on the Soo Locks. These piles of Taconite are used in the production of steel and were waiting alongside the Algona Steel Company on the St. Marys River. The black piles made me think of the opposite of something like White Sands, NM.
Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
We thought we had a pretty good idea what to expect. But when we rounded a curve and caught our first glimpse of the formations of Mammoth Hot Springs, our first thoughts were “is that snow???”
Canary Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
The first impression of Mammoth Hot Springs is that it can’t be real. It is so different from anything we’ve ever seen that it just doesn’t register. And when one gets closer it looks even stranger, as the patterns, colors and textures of the various deposits defy the logic of our memories.
Canary Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
After spending a little time studying the springs, it becomes a little more clear what is happening and why. Eventually it begins to make a little sense, although looking at these photos a month later I still have a hard time comprehending what I saw. It was quite an experience and one I’ll remember for a long time.
Canary Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkCanary Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkMinerva Trace. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkMinerva Trace. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkMinerva Trace. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkCanary Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkDryad Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkCanary Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkMammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkCanary Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkPalette Spring. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkPalette Spring. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkPalette Spring. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkPalette Spring. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkMinerva Trace. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkMinerva Trace. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkCanary Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkDryad Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkGrassy Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkPalette Spring. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkView of the Mammoth Hotel and visitor complex from the Main Terrace of Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
