I’ve spent three days in Yellowstone now and comparisons with Grand Tetons are easy.

The GT’s took the concept of a park and focused on making it accessible but doing it smart. Like bicycle paths. There are many miles of paths that parallel the highways. Like they want people to leave the cars parked. The people are also different. We’re all there for the beauty.

Yellowstone has a very different feel. There is a frenetic atmosphere that feels more like Disneyland. There are less than 10 top attractions and you Gotta Get ‘em All! On one hand I get it. There is only one Old Faithful Geyser in the world, and the park service went for volume on supporting people.

On bicycles: I haven’t seen any. A family camping near me has bikes for the whole family nicely locked up at camp unused. Kinda sad in a way.

If I come back this way someday, I’ll avoid YS.

I wanted the morning to be somewhat easy, so I tried to do the full loop of the Old Faithful geyser basin. At least I tried.

One of the connectors was closed, but I did close to 4mi anyway. Most of the basin is hot pools, springs, and geysers that will erupt just-as-soon-as-I-leave. Two I did catch are Little Cub Geyser and Old Faithful. A shorter video this time as the 2min version wouldn’t upload.

I’ve been avoiding taking pictures of Buffalo as they are a pest, but this old fellow caught my eye. I think he’s just shedding his winter coat.

This afternoon I tried to hike to the Prismatic overlook, but couldn’t find a parking spot. Anywhere. With 10+ cars circling. Gave up. 😖