Hastings Reunion in Ashton, ID - Part 5 (Yellowstone Again)

Thursday we went to Yellowstone again to do the northern loop.  We were much more prepared for crowds and potential separation. It turned out not to be too much of a problem, though, because the hoards focus on the southern loop.  Before we left, Betsy tapped into her Wyoming roots:


First we stopped at Roaring Mountain.  Jim and I had to tag-team a diaper in the trunk as soon as we stopped.

Others are referring to Roaring Mountain as "Mount Doom" - a Lord of the Rings reference that I don't fully appreciate because I don't remember that movie (or those movies) and never read the book(s).

Everdeen taught Betsy the art of shenaniquining.  Planning the shot:

And hitting it:

Next stop was Sheepeater Cliff:

Dolly was eating or sleeping or something at that point, so Jim and I stayed at the car with her while these people walked to this place:

Then we hit up Mammoth Springs, which was really nifty.



 

Betsy had some trials . . .

. . . but recovered:

We had a picnic lunch at a spot near Mammoth Springs and then dropped into a little museum at the end of the block. 



We went on a wildlife drive and didn't see any wildlife, but we did see some elsewhere. 

 

At one point, the car in front of our caravan stopped in the middle of the road, and a lady jumped out, pointing and running after a coyote.  When you don't get to see any bears, I guess you get excited about coyotes.  

We stopped along the road and looked down on a couple lovely little lakes.

 

We also stopped briefly at a burn zone . . .

. . . and some waterfalls.



We went back to the Canyon and looked out at Upper Yellowstone Falls. 

I was told that on day 1 of Yellowstone, we nonlost went to the lookout at the top of the waterfall on the right-hand side of these pictures.  I trust it's true, although I wasn't driving and didn't have a map or bother to pay much attention to where we were stopping.  You can barely see the tiny people: 



Then some of us climbed the 328 steps down Uncle Tom's Trail to view Lower Yellowstone Falls. 



Jim and Chavalyn (Chava Lynn?  I haven't decided) had another Michael Jackson moment:



The way up was a little daunting, especially because I was carrying Chava.  (Funny how Jim seems to end up always carrying her on the easy parts.)



We did it, though, with a stop or two for pictures or a breather. 



At the top, Mamo took pictures of a squirrel - her favorite wildlife of all:

The penultimate stop was the lookout at Artist Point.

The paparazzi were out in force:

Awkward family photos were taken:

Lucy and, to a lesser extent, Clarice, got their dance on:

Last stop was Geyser Basin. 



  

Babies were exchanged:



Geysers were viewed:





We headed out . . .

Betsy was excited to be done for the day.

. . . and then realized we were missing this guy:

 

Christian and Shandra went running back and found him still down by the geyser, a little scared but being watched over by some concerned Asian tourists.  Relief.