Within a few miles we entered the Grand Teton National Park which led us to the entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone was the first national park in America. It's 2.2 million acres are filled with 7 national parks, over 10,000 thermal features including the most faithful geyser in North America, and diverse wildlife. The crew got to experience all of these features today as we traveled on the bus and on foot through the National Park. We even got stopped on the bus for 45 minutes because a herd of bison decided they wanted to cross the road.
Our first stop inside the park was to see the mudpots. The mudpots are muddy areas where the temperature under ground is so intense the water boiling caused the mud to boil with it. The students were not prepared for the strong sulfur smell that welcomed us as we stepped off the bus. We were not the only living creatures enjoying the sights at this stop. Walked up the trail, we came within 5 feet of a very large buffalo. He let us take pictures before making his way down into the parking lot to welcome other visitors as they stepped out of their cars.
The next two stops we made in Yellowstone were to catch views of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. While being smaller than the real Grand Canyon, its sights were no less awe-inspiring. A waterfall could be seen in the distance and the river below showed its path in how it has helped carve this canyon. The colors in the canyon alone were very diverse (reds, whites, tans, and browns layered). This was a beautiful spot to take pictures of and try to capture the moment of beauty.
Before heading to see Old Faithful we stopped for a slightly rainy picnic lunch. A few minutes into setting up for lunch, the rain quit and the sun began to dry the picnic area. It left us with the perfect weather for visiting Old Faithful. This well-known geyser gets its name for being the most predictable geyser in the park.
Upon arriving at the visitor center for the geyser we learned we had about an hour until it's next estimated eruption. Some students explored the walkways and trails around the geyser to see some boiling springs and other smaller geysers. A small group hiked about 400 meters up to the Old Faithful overlook. Many of the students enjoyed time in the gift shop and indulging in huckleberry freezes (a Yellowstone favorite). Old Faithful erupted a bit early, but not so early that the students missed it. I heard many exciting descriptions of where students watched it from and how high the water went into the air.
Once leaving Yellowstone the crew made it's way to the 360 Guest Ranch near Big Sky, Montana. The ranch consists of a community of small cabins nestled at the base of green mountains. A river runs along the front of the property and our crew will be staying in the cabins adjacent to it. They students were very excited when they saw the cabins and keep talking about how "cute" they are. After a homecooked dinner of salad, pasta, garlic bread, and homemade ice cream the crew enjoyed some free time on the ranch. Free time activities tonight consisted of enjoying the hot tub, playing a pick-up game of basketball, exploring the vast ranch, and sitting around the campfire.
Cell phone service is almost nonexistent here at the ranch, but wifi is available in certain areas. If you need to get in touch with your student during the next few days feel free to call the 360 Guest Ranch at the number found on your hotel list.
