If you missed my first post on our trip to Montana and Yellowstone, check it out here.
On our first day in Yellowstone, our first stop was Old Faithful, the world-famous, record-breaking, jaw-dropping geyser that’s a must-see for any visitor.
In fact, when we first started talking about Yellowstone, I remember thinking, “Well, I know about Old Faithful. What else is there to see?” Turns out, that faithful old geyser is just the beginning of the wonders at this famous old national park.
My husband researched for months about where to go and what to do. We chose to stay in West Yellowstone and enter the park through that gate. Because our daughter was traveling with us, we opted for a VRBO rental so we could spread out and also get groceries, cook, and pack our own picnic lunches.
One of the guide books Mart read recommended getting to the park early and starting first at Old Faithful because the crowds would only grow as the day wore on. Early risers that we are, that suited us just fine, and our night owl daughter was a real trooper about it. So on Monday morning, we piled into the car around 7:30 and headed toward the park.
But first, coffee (and tea)! We stopped at Mountain Mama’s for hot bevs because the mornings in Yellowstone can be chilly. I may or may not have also gotten a double chocolate muffin. Hey, it was locally baked! ;)
After that, we drove into the park. As the sun rose higher, the morning turned misty, almost steamy. With the consistency of fog, the mist made it hard to see much in the distance. I looked out the car window and saw something that surprised me: a white rainbow-shape in the mist, made out of mist.
Yes, that photo looks annoyingly blurry, but the mist made it that way.
Along the way, we passed a river, meadows, and something called Fountain Paint Pots. Many cars had stopped there, but we kept going. We would come back to that later.
After about a 45-minute drive, we pulled off at Old Faithful. At this stop, there were a couple of gift shop/general stores, a Native American Heritage Center, the historic Old Faithful Inn, and the visitor center. The approximate times of the geyser eruptions are posted at the visitor center, so we knew we had about 40 minutes until the next one. We went through the visitor center’s exhibits and learned about the geothermal makeup of the park. (More on that in the next post.) We also browsed the gift shop, grabbing souvenirs and drinks.
Then we walked around the boardwalk that lines the geyser. Along the way, we saw some interesting sites that would foreshadow the bigger geothermal features we would spend the next couple of days exploring.
Pretty soon, it was time to head back to find a place on the boardwalk in front of the geyser. We chose a bench with the sun at our backs, so our photos would turn out well. In front of us, a mother and her young children sat waiting. The older brother picked on the youngest sister, who then picked on the older sister next to her. I smiled at their antics and looked forward to their excitement when the geyser erupted.
As the time drew nearer, several of us noticed two birds had landed near the geyser. One of the birds flew away, but the other one walked toward the geyser, looking for food. Most of us commented that the bird had better watch out—if he got much closer and the geyser started up, he’d be a roasted bird. Unperturbed by the danger, he flew away a few minutes later, avoiding an untimely and painful demise.
All of this time, a little bit of steam had been shooting up from the hole and now it seemed to be increasing. A few oohs and ahhs started, and everyone’s phones came up to capture every moment. The increase in the eruption was gradual for a minute or so, and then it began in earnest...
And then a bit more….
And finally, at full height.
It was spectacular. All of that steam and power displayed against a brilliant blue sky.
Typically, Old Faithful shoots an 3,700-8,400 gallons of boiling water to a height of 106-184 feet into the sky for up to five minutes, only to do it again about 90 minutes later. Even after seeing it, it’s hard to imagine how much water it is.
The crowd was quieter than I thought it would be—maybe our caffeine hadn’t kicked in yet. But still, the stunning sight brought on lots of “wows” and laughs, applause, and conversations among friends and strangers, too.
And the kids in front of us? As the plume climbed higher, their excitement grew too.
Next time, I’ll talk more about why Yellowstone is filled geothermal elements and share photos of some of the strange beauty that we saw.
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