June 16, 2006
 We began our day with an inspiring hike on a trail in the Upper Geyser Basin. Though dubbed the Morning Birding Hike, we were actually treated to several moments that had nothing to do with birds. At the start of the walk — as if on cue — Old Faithful began to erupt. It seems like Mike and Melissa have a button they push to make things happen at just the right time. We were also treated to Castle Geyser’s spectacular tornado-like eruption and Morning Glory Pool’s beautiful blue-green glow. Morning Glory is a hot spring that has been vandalized by careless people throwing coins and other litter into it and causing its colors to fade (by altering its temperatures). Fortunately, according to Ranger Sam, the vandalism of thermal features has lessened in the last few years. The early morning hike was also special because very few people were out on the trails. The early morning sun, the chill in the air, and the steam made for a very memorable experience.
We headed for Mammoth for a final night in Yellowstone. While at Fountain Paint Pots, Melissa and Sam called out a group of teenagers for throwing things into a hot spring — good job guys! Along the Madison River, we stopped to view a huge bald eagle and its even bigger nest. Later we came upon a Bull Elk with a magnificent rack of antlers. We took about a million pictures and became part of an elk jam. When the elk started walking towards us, we all headed back to our van.  One tourist apparently decided she wanted a very close encounter with the elk, getting about 15 feet away from it! She was warned to get back into her car, but she waited too long and had to hide behind a skinny little pine sapling. Boy, was she scared! Fortunately, the elk walked past her and she made it safely back to her vehicle.
Close-up thermal features, close-up wildlife, and close relationships with our travel partners — that’s what this fantastic trip to Yellowstone National Park has been all about.
Q & A for June 16
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