Tetons and Yellowstone National Parks 9/19/2015 - 9/26/2015

Day 5 - We walked the boardwalk all through Mammoth Hot Springs in the morning and it was like we had stepped on to another planet! We learned from Ranger Wes Hardin that the dead trees, with their white “bobby socks”, in the springs are not petrified, but ossified. This happens when the tree sucks up rock minerals through the water, making them rock-like. Ranger Hardin said the outer layer is still bark, though, and that one could still cut through the bark with a chainsaw, but it would dull the blade.

In the afternoon, we hiked up to Wraith Falls. Jeff found a discarded bear canister there and when he picked it up (he intended to throw it away), he quickly discovered it had been punctured. The spray shot out wildly and both and Jared, as well as three other people at the overlook, got a choking whiff of it. Maureen quickly realized what was happening and retreated before it could reach her.

Later, we drove by the Roosevelt Arch. We were not able to drive through it because of construction, but got close enough for a fairly decent pic. On our way back, we drove through the upper terrace of Mammoth Hot Springs. After a fairly relaxing afternoon (read: no elk attacks), we went to dinner at the Grille, where Jared almost stepped on a young bull snake.

Speaking of elk, a young buck (we named him Bill), hung around on the outskirts of Dick’s harem. He kept his distance, of course, not ready to go up against Dick, but we felt sorry for him because he seemed so lonely.

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