June 3, 2021 - Day Thirteen, Flight One, Part One
Yellowstone NP (South)
As usual, I got an early start this morning.  I rolled up the sleeping bag and air mattress, took down the tent and rolled it up, untied and loaded the plane, and was soon on my way.  Here I'm taxiing to the north end by a big fire-fighting base.  I saw that funky twin-engine plane in the air when I came in yesterday afternoon.
   
Taking off to the south at Yellowstone West.
   
Turning east, looking down at the town.
   
Looking northwest at the Madison River.
   
The Madison River and Highway 191 head east into Yellowstone National Park.
   
You can see why the road stays close to the river.  Some pretty rugged terrain is on each side.  Notice all the cars heading into the park.
   
Steam rising in the distance.
   
I couldn't believe the traffic going into the park this early in the morning.  Then I looked down and saw the reason.  It's a herd of Bison blocking the road!
   
The famous Yellowstone geysers, pools and hot springs are located in the southwest area of the Park so I headed there first.  It was easy to find -- just head for the rising steam.
   
One last look back west at the Madison River and the way I had come.
   
Approaching the hot spring area.
   
The area was very pretty from the air.
   
Firehole Lake at bottom with Black Warrior Lake at center and Hot Lake at top.
   
 It's easy to see why Tangled Creek gets its hame.
   
This early in the morning, the cool air produced steam off the hot pools.
   
This one had some color.
   
The dark orange contracts nicely with the dark blue on the white background.
   
 
   
 
   
Looking south at the Firehole River.
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
Lower Geyser Basin.
   
A waterfall off to the west.
   
Approaching the number one item on my list of things to see at Yellowstone Park.
   
Wait for it.
   

There it is:  the Grand Prismatic Spring.

From Wikipedia:  The bright, vivid colors in the spring are the result of microbial mats around the edges of the mineral-rich water. The mats produce colors ranging from green to red; the amount of color in the microbial mats depends on the ratio of chlorophyll to carotenoids and on the temperature gradient in the runoff. In the summer, the mats tend to be orange and red, whereas in the winter the mats are usually dark green. The center of the pool is sterile due to extreme heat.  The deep blue color of the water in the center of the pool results from the intrinsic blue color of water. The effect is strongest in the center of the spring, because of its sterility and depth.
   

Largest hot spring in the United States, and the third largest in the world.

The Excelsior Geyser Crater is to the left, obscured in steam.
   
Looking west.
   

Looking down at the Fairy Falls Trailhead.  This trailhead takes you to the Grand Prismatic Spring and goes on to Fairy Falls.  It's five miles round trip.
   
Continuing south down the Firehole River.
   
 
   
I arrive at another area of springs, pools and geysers called the Biscuit Bacon.
   

A closer look at the Biscuit Basin.

The big pool to the lower right is Black Diamond Pool, the little one below it is Black Opal Pool.  At the center of the image is Saphhire Pool.
   
Heading south; numerous geysers ahead along the Firehole River.
   
The beautiful Black Sand Basin -- Iron Spring Creek running throught it -- with Sunset Lake and the smaller Rainbow Pool in the center.
   
Looking back at Black Sand Basin from the south.
   
Looking back north at Iron Spring Creek.
   
The Bottomless Pit, Intermittant Spring, Culvert Geyser, Spa Geyser, Grotto's Indicator Spring, and South Grotto Fountain along the Fireside River heading south.
   
Looking west at the Bottomless Pit area.
   
Approaching Upper Geyser Basin and then the main Old Faithful/Inn/Visitors Center.
   
The main attraction was off my right wing: Old Faithful Geyser at center.  The Old Faithful Inn is at right with the Visitor Center at center, just above the geyser.
   
Close-up of Old Faithful Inn. Lynnette and I stayed here 35 or so years ago.  The main parking lot out front seems empty; I wonder why.
   
A close-up of Old Faithful.  Notice all the people waiting to see Old Faithful blow to its left.
 
The Visitors Center is at far left with the Old Faithful Inn at upper center.
   
 
   
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