Our second day in Yellowstone National Park led us to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone section. As we drove there, we only saw a bison here or there, no big migrating herds, but we did catch sight of a couple fluffy bottomed antelope.
Once we got to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, we drove to some view points to get our bearings.
If I remember right, that is the Lower Falls you can see behind us. The landscape here was truly spectacular!
Then we loaded up our camel-baks (having learned our lesson from the day before) and took the boys along the South Rim Trail.
This was a 2+ mile trail that mostly followed the Yellowstone River. It was still pretty early so we had the trail to ourselves.
At one point along the trail, we passed some powerful white water. The rapids were strong and LOUD! Apparently a little TOO loud for Bobby …
Kevin and numbers 2, 3, and 5 went on an out-cropping to get a better look at the rapids.
Numbers 1 and 4 held on for dear life!
As I watched these men of mine (trying not to think about them being swept away in the current), I had to marvel at this world. I was filled with an immense gratitude. I was grateful to live in this world; grateful to live so close to such a spectacular area; grateful to be able to show my boys amazing things like this; grateful my two year old knows that rapids in a canyon are really loud!
Kevin made me take a picture of this bird. Neither of us can remember why. He likes to take pictures of birds.
After our hike and lunch and some more Yellowstone exploring, we stopped at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center. It is located just outside the West Yellowstone entrance and is a refuge for grizzlies and wolves that can no longer live in the wild. It is a work in progress, but the boys loved being able to sit and watch these animals so close.
Ricky could have sat and watched the prairie dog display for days and Bobby was all about the different wolves.
I thought the wolves were pretty cool myself.
Especially when they all started howling. That was probably my favorite part – the howling! It makes me smile! At least it makes me smile when I know the wolves are not hunting me. If I were in the wild and heard that same howl, I’m not so sure what I’d think!
We also got to see the grizzlies get fed. It was pretty fun watching them forage for the produce under and around rocks where the keepers had hidden it. There was a class of sorts we went to where they taught us what to do if a bear is chasing or attacking you. Pretty much, you protect your face and torso and pray – lots of praying!
A quick pass through the gift shop, complete with a picture on this couch! The boys really wanted to bring it home with us. Sorry, kids, no room in the suburban!
Dinner at Pete’s Rocky Mountain Pizza – good pizza, good bread, good company.
And there is another day.