June 3, 2021 - Day Thirteen, Flight One, Part Two
Yellowstone Lake, Canyon & Falls, Lamar Valley

Yellowstone National Park is 80% wooded; easy to believe as I departed the Old Faithful area and headed east towards Yellowstone Lake.

Looking south.
   
Looking north.
   
Looking south at Shoshone Lake.  The Grand Tetons are visible just right of center.
   
Approaching the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake.
   
Heading northeast up the shore of Yellowstone Lake.
   
Some hot springs on the lake shore.
   
Looking east across the Lake.  I came through the Sylvan Pass over there back in the summer of 2014.  At the time the weather was crummy and I was just happy to get through the mountains, not interested in sightseeing over Yellowstone NP.
   
 
   
The Yellowstone River empties into the north end of the Lake.
   
The view south from the Hayden Valley overlook.
   
Checking out Yellowstone Canyon.
   
 
   
And there is the famous Yellowstone Lower Falls.
   
Close-up.
   
Close-Close-Up.
   
One final picture of the Lower Falls.
   
Passing by some rather good size mountains off to the northwest as I proceed northeast up the Yellowstone River/Canyon.
   
A look at the Yellowstone River.  There are no roads in this section of the Park -- not too many people ever see this area.
   
The canyon starts to peter out as the river starts to bend to the northwest.
   
Passing over some high meadows.
   
The north end of Yellowstone Park is known as the Lamar Valley.  I  was interested in it after reading the book American Wolf by Nate Blakeslee.  It's a non-fiction book about a pack of wolves that inhabit the Lamar Valley, led by a female wolf named O-Six.  It is very well written and interesting; I recommend it.  Anyways, I was always on the lookout for wolves, but didn't see any.  I did see lots of Bisen in the Lamar Valley though.
   
The Lamar Valley is a beautiful area; a wildlife paradise.
   
 
   
Checking out the surrounding grassy mountains.
   
I explored some offshoot valleys.
   
 
   
Now heading west through the main Lamar Valley area.  That's the Northeast Entrance road below.
   
 
   
 
   
Heading west, the Yellowstone River starts to enter canyon country again.
   
 
   
A nice little pass to fly through.
   
I come to the town of Gardiner, Montana.   The Yellowstone River runs right through town as you can see.  There is even a small airport -- Gardiner Airport (29S) in the distance.   The Yellowstone National Park North Entrance is just south of town.
   
I turned south at Gardiner.  Soon I came to the small town of Mammoth where the Yellowstone National Park Headquarters are located.  Fort Yellowstone -- established in 1891 -- is located here.  35 structures remain and now house museums and a visitor center.  The Mammoth Hot Springs are here as well.
   
 
   
I continued south enjoying the beautiful scenery.
   
Flying over Twin Lake.
   
One last look at Old Faithful, then I headed south towards the Grand Tetons.
   
 
   
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