Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Day 9 and 10 Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, and Salt Lake City






Yellowstone Photos
Photos 1 and 2 Grand Prismatic Spring
Photo 3 Midway Geyser Basin pool 
Photo 4 Old Faithful
Photos 5 and 6 Yellowstone Streams

Weather this entire trip has been great.  Mornings chilly.  When we set out at 7am Monday for  Yellowstone Park, it was 36 degrees.  Brrr!!!  But the days have ended up between 75 and 85 degrees.

The hot springs and geysers of Yellowstone are so surreal. Throughout the entire park, everywhere you look, steam is coming out of the ground in several places.  Our favorite spot was the Midway Geyser Basin with the crowning glory being Grand Prismatic Spring (photos 1 and 2).  The steam coming off this spring is multi colored -- pinks, greens, blues.  The very blue color of the water is the sky reflected in particles suspended in the water.  The oranges, yellows, greens, and browns on the outer parameter of the spring are colorful bacteria called thermophiles that thrive in the extremely hot temperatures.  Hope you enjoy the pics of Grand Prismatic Spring.  Bill had to hike a rugged, steep trail of two miles round trip to get them!  Scaredy cat me stayed in the car and read because the trail was marked as an area frequented by bear.  

The upper and lower falls and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone were also magnificent sights.  

We enjoyed the rugged Grand Tetons, but it was late afternoon when we arrived and the weather turned a bit nasty.  The thunderstorms, including hail and lightening, did not lend themselves to photos.  

On to our stop for the night, Montpelier, Idaho, an old western town with a population of just over 1,000.   Drove through several national forests to get there.  Magnificent views.  The landscape was very different from any we had seen thus far.  The mountains were gently rounded and covered with vegetation and some trees.  A nice change from the rugged mountains we had experienced previously.  

On Tuesday, we headed for Salt Lake City.  We went through Paris, ID, a very small town and the sight of the first LDS pioneers.  Thirty families settled there.  In 1888 an awesome LDS tabernacle was built in Paris.  

We drove and drove from Montpelier and couldn't seem to get away from Bear Lake, a 20 mile long and 8 mile wide body of water with white sandy beaches.  

Next town of note we came to was Logan, Utah, population 42,670.  The town is nestled in Cache Valley by the Logan River, surrounded by beautiful mountains.  Home of Utah State University, Logan is a beautiful, pristine city with interesting architecture. 

We spent several hours in Salt Lake City.  Visited Temple Square and took a tour of the Temple, Tabernacle, and Assembly Hall.  The tour was led by two LDS sisters (what they call the women of the faith), one from Japan and one from Jordan.  Both were recent college grads, architecture and mathematics majors respectively. They spoke amazing English and did a wonderful job touring us.  


Photo 1 Paris, ID LDS Tabernacle
Photo 2 Temple Square tour guides and our tour mate, York, of Dresden, Germany  

We toured Brigham Young's home, the Beehive.  Again the tour was led by sisters, one from Mexico and one from California.  (Note: The young women conducting tours are on 18 month missions.  Such missions are voluntary.) The Beehive was a magnificently furnished mansion where Young lived for a period of time, but it was also a place where he received dignitaries and other political figures as he was not only the Prophet for the LDS Church but also the first governor of the Utah Territory.  SLC is an exceptionally clean city with beautiful flower gardens everywhere.  Interesting, modern architecture in city proper.

We wanted to visit the Chase Home Museum of Utah Folk Arts located in Liberty Park.  By the time we arrived in early evening, it was closed.  But we were rewarded by visiting one of the most beautiful parks we have ever seen.  This 100 acre park contains an aviary, the museum, a playground, a pool, tennis courts, a huge fountain, and gorgeous gardens.  A bike path surrounds the park.  We were IMPRESSED!

We are spending the night in Provo.

Signing off till tomorrow (or the next day), Bill and Marsha 




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