Heart of the Caldera Yellowstone

The Yellowstone Caldera, sometimes known as the Yellowstone super volcano, is a volcanically active region in Yellowstone National Park.  You can get a glimpse of the crater from the overlook.  Yellowstone, like the Hawaiian Islands, is believed to lie on top of one of the planet's few dozen hotspots where light hot molten mantle rock rises towards the surface.  Within the past two million years, it has undergone three extremely large explosive eruptions, up to 2,500 times the size of the 1980 Mount St. Helen's eruption.  There is a documentary film that I watched based on "what if there is an Yellowstone Volcanic eruption" and it basically will destroy the entire North America continent and beyond.  That bare tree is a symbol of events to come.

Yellowstone's Grand Canyon

These pictures are of different angles of the Grand canyon.  It is roughly 20 miles long and is the primary geologic feature in the Canyon District. The aqua color water of the Yellowstone River against the golden canyon made a spectacular scene.

A Winding Yellowstone River

 

The Yellowstone River curves and winds its way through the valley.  A bison resting among the wildflowers was a lovely sight to behold.  Such a large and powerful animal resting peacefully among the flowers.

Yellowstone Lake

 



 

We tour Yellowstone from the south entrance and drove up the Grand Loop Road to Yellowstone Lake.  The lake is very large at 132 sq. miles and has a west thumb, south and southwest arm.  The water was a very deep blue.  These pictures were taken from Gulf Point.  It was a very bright day even though there were many clouds that formed over the lake.  The mountains in the distant is the Absaroka Range.

Teton's Call of the Wild

It was an extraordinary visit to Jackson Hole Wyoming and The Grand Teton National Park.  I tried to give as much detail about my visit for those who are interested in visiting the park.  One thing I need to mention is the smell of sage is all over the meadows.  It is a wonderful scent and the wildflowers were endless.  The fresh cool air, mountain rivers and lakes, wildlife, the forest, the call of the wild is beckoning me to come back and I will again and again. 

Jackson Lake Lodge A Surreal Dining Experience

We had lunch at Jackson Lake Lodge and the view was surreal.  I have been at many restaurants where you get views of the ocean, beach, city lights, mountain rivers, etc. but we had a magnificent panoramic view!  There is nothing like it that I have ever experience.

Gros Ventre River

Kelly Loop starts at Antelope Flats Road, passes Mormon Row to the small town of Kelly.  The Gros Ventre Road follows the Gros Ventre River and the Bridger-Teton National Forest. We saw a lot of elk resting in the meadows and in the river.   

Two Ocean Lake and Pacific Creek River

 

It is always fun to take a side road adventure where most tourist usually will not travel.  We drove to Two Ocean Lake by turning onto Pacific Creek Road before we got to Moran Junction.  We were not sure exactly where the road would led but we wanted to see the Bridger-Teton National Forest.  The top photos are of Pacific Creek River and Ocean Lake and the photo right is the view at the intersection of Pacific Creek and Two Ocean Road. Pacific Creek Road is paved but very narrow and roughly follows the river and Two Ocean Road is an unpaved gravel road and is too narrow for two way traffic.  There are trailheads that follows the shoreline of the lakes and river.

Sawmill Pond Overlook at Moose-Wilson Road

 

Moose Wilson is a narrow and scenic little road that winds along the base of the mountains between Moose and Teton Village.  There is barely enough room for two way traffic and at several places it is only one lane.  It passes water falls, beaver ponds and marshy areas. The bottom photo is at Sawmill Pond Overlook which is known for sighting wildlife.

Cascade Canyon

 

Moulton Barn

 

In 1910 the land east of Blacktail Butte was homesteaded by Mormons. The Moulton Barn is a popular photographic subject for visitors as well as the meadows across from the barn.  The area became known as Mormon row and is located on Antelope Flats Road.

Approaching Storm Bridger-Teton National Forest

We drove down Antelope Flats Rd to Gros Ventre Road into the entrance of Bridger-Teton National Forest.  A Storm was approaching so plans to explore the area and drive to Shadow Mountain was postpone.

Mount Moran Turnout

On a cloudless morning with a perfect blue sky, Mount Moran Turnout offered another panoramic view.

Meandering Snake River

In 1942 photographer Ansel Adams took a picture of Snake River standing on a car to give him better elevation and scope.  His pictures are world famous and were taken in black and white.  The photo above is my picture in black and white of the same landscape except there are trees and bushes now blocking the view of the river's curve. How technology and photography has changed since his time.  I am an amateur photographer but the advancement of the digital SLR camera and a computer with editing software gives me as good results.

Schwabacher's Landing and Beaver Ponds

 

At Schwabacher's Landing there were spring creeks, beaver ponds, and a hiking trail around the different ponds.  I was surprised at the number of beaver dams that backed up the water. It is located down a marked dirt road north of Moose Junction.

Oxbow Bend Turnout

 

Signal Mountain and Mt. Moran dominate the background of Oxbow Bend with a rich array of pine, spruce and aspen trees.  There were many ducks in the water at the far end of the lake. The water surface was very calm and reflected the clouds and trees.  Another nature painting in many colors in process.

Geologic Drama Teton Glacier Turnout

 

This turnout is located between the Moose Visitor Center and Jenny Lake.  It offers a close view of the rugged canyon between the Grand Teton and Mount Owen.  A herd of elk came out into the nearby meadow.

Jackson Lake Shades of Blue

The lake has splashes of blue watercolor shades from the sky, mountain peaks to the mirror reflections in the water.  The depth of the different blue values is dramatic and aesthetic to behold and alluring. This is when photography frustrates me because no camera can possibly capture the stunning panoramic scene.

Valley View at Signal Mountain Summit

 

More spectacular views of the valley from the Signal Mountain Summit.

Signal Mountain Summit

We drove up to the summit on a narrow road to unsurpassed panoramic views of the park.  The road continues to a dead-end parking area, and there is a short trail that leads up a flight of steps.  It is a spectacular spot for views across the valley and the Teton range. 

Jenny Lake Loop Grand Teton National Park