Mammoth and Norris

Day three: We got off to a slow start since we arrived so late the night before so it was almost lunch before we got a parking spot at the Mammoth terraces. It was hot and very crowded so we soon left for a picnic lunch and decided on a hike to Monument Geyser basin just south of Norris.

I love this view from the terraces north. You can see Mammoth,the park headquarters, and into the mountains beyond.

After a short, but very steep hike we got some amazing long distance views and had fun poking around a mountain- top thermal area. As usual in Yellowstone, we were alone on the trail. So strange to be in that kind of quiet and solitude surrounded by such awesome beauty.

Enjoying Monument Geyser Basin

and the view from the trail.

Dinner was a cookout at the Norris picnic area. We had the place to ourselves except for a large solitary bison, three Sandhill cranes who strutted off into some nearby woods squawking all the while, and a bull elk with a big set of antlers.

We know you're in there!

Our evening entertainment was a sunset walk through Norris Geyser Basin. The air was balmy and the thermal features were as strange and wonderful as they come. My favorite was Vixen Geyser which is small, but puts on a perfect little show right next to the boardwalk.