CAMPING ON SNOW - THE YELLOW STONE

May 22, 2008. We are in Yellowstone, the first National Park in the world and was established by an act of congress in 1872. Most of the Yellow stone is located in Wyoming and a small portion in Montana and Idaho. We have been visiting for two days in the park but there are a lot of places we haven't reached yet.The area is 3, 472 sq.miles.

There is nothing you see in this park is not amazing.This park is a home to buffaloes/Bison, bighorn sheep, elk,moose, pronghorn, grizzly bear,black bear, wolf, coyotes and others. It is unique for its geysers, hot springs, mud pools and fumaroles.There are more geysers and hot springs than in the rest of the world combined. The largest concentration of geothermal features in the world is in Yellowstone.

The park sits in one of the largest active volcano on earth. When erupted carving out a caldera 28 miles wide and 53 miles long. Each year more than three million people visit Yellowstone. The Yellowstone river in a big valley, the fall, the Yellowstone Lake, the Valleys, the Mountains, the Forest and others are all magnificent.

When we got closer to Yellowstone on may, 22 around 3 PM snow was falling. This park was the top priority in our list to be visited. So when I see the snow, it disappointed me a little bit.We also planned to camp the night. We hold deciding where to spend the night for a moment and started driving around and visiting the park.

The rocky mountain on the left and right side of the road was breathtaking when looking at covered with snow. The snow gave some kind of more beauty to the mountains and valleys.Even before we entered into the boundary of The Yellow Stone National Park we saw a bison.It was my first time to see a bison in front.

We visited the Yellow Stone Lake. Actually it was totally covered with snow. We also got a point where we can see a Yellowstone river. It is not a big river like Mississippi or Missouri, but what makes it amazing is the depth of rocky valley in the left and right side of the river. When we stand on the river bank and look down to the river it is way down to see.We took a picture right there so may be one of the best scenery nature provided us.

We drove by the river and saw many attraction points. One of this place was the Yellowstone Fall on the Yellowstone river. Mind you there are many rivers in this park but this is the biggest.Again it was not a big fall volume wise like Niagara Falls but what amazing is that the depth of the rocky valley left and right side of the fall. It was raining a little bit by the time we got there so I haven't gotten a clear glance of the fall like sunny days look. But I saw that the fall smokes when the water hits the bottom on a deep gorge.

When we got Yellowstone while the snow was started falling, I hate it. Later, after stopped falling I loved it as much as I hate it.Here is the thing. I found the rocky mountains and valleys look better with snow on top of it. The top of mountains and valleys were covered with snow. Whenever I looked at the front view of the rocky mountains and valleys I saw a different kind of colour contrast. Rock mountain or tree covered mountain from front, covered with snow on top with blue or cloudy sky was forming such an amazing contrast.

Finally, we we were in between looking for a lodge or camping ground to spend the night. Our plan was actually to camp rather than to spend in lodge room if there was no snow. Honestly, I didn't want to spend inside a tent because it was too cold for me. Andy and Avi wanted to camp.

We got to camping ground called Mammoth hot springs. It was a nice place with a good scenery in front of a mountain. We put up our tent quickly and immediately I went to sleep. I couldn't wait outside with Andy and Avi for a dinner. I realised that only that way I can stand freaking cold weather. Andy and Avi stayed outside the tent so long fixing dinner. Fortunately, It was not cold inside a tent the night, and had a good sleep. Please keep travelling with us. Yellow stone is not yet touched. A lot of stories coming up.