is the word 'diary' better than the word 'blog'? probably not.
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Bear in Mind.
Bear in Mind.
Evany did not make out with me, on purpose or by accident. Nonetheless, for some reason I woke up early and OMG-ready for the world today whereas she did not. So who went to the Visitor�s Center and got maps and information and then stopped by the Espresso station on the way back to get Evany Thomas a Latte Grande? I did. I think she was a bit flummoxed by the temporary reversal of roles.
Our intent was to climb Mt. Washburn, elevation 10,275 feet. Then we learned that the road to the trailhead was closed from this side of the park, so in order to begin the hike we would have to drive two hours to approach it from the other side. And we are not really looking for extra miles to drive just now, so we asked the ranger for suggestions, and he sent us to Cascade Lake and Observation Peak, an 11-mile round trip (compared to Mt. Washburn�s 6 miles). We packed our lunches and went for it.
As we approached the trailhead we encountered some serious animal warnings. For instance, signs told us �YOUR SAFETY CANNOT BE GUARANTEED� given that we might encounter bears and bison and elks and foxes and wolves and the like. Not only that, but the signage instructed us on what to do if we were to encounter a bear: do not run. If a bear attacks: drop to the ground and get in fetal position with your hands laced behind your neck. Etc. Not only that, we had to sign in at the trailhead, stating when we started out and for how long we thought we�d be gone. Then we had to sign back out when we emerged, hopefully still alive, unmauled and ungored, from the hike. So the day began with some bearanoia.
The 2.5-mile walk to Cascade Lake was lovely and fairly easy. It led us through forestland that had burned some time ago and was beginning to regrow. The forest was punctuated by lovely meadows. In one of the meadows we saw FOUR BISON. They were cute and huge. The lake was very picturesque, but we decided to keep moving up toward Observation Peak. I immediately, upon beginning to climb, felt weak and faint, and had a hard time breathing. I�m not sure why�. the species of pine and ash must be different in Yellowstone than Yosemite, and that would affect my allergies, which would aggravate my asthma, etc. Plus there is the high altitude. Anyway, at about one mile up (out of three) we stopped and ate our lunches and looked at the amazing panoramic views and sat around for awhile, then set off again. A mile later we decided to turn back because I didn�t think I would make it all the way up and then all the way back to the car. I said to Evany, �are you going to feel defeated if I make you turn around now?� and she said, �no, but I will silently judge you.� Ha. And here she is walking away from me!
On the way back down we talk-talk-talked about the future. And then we saw a BLACK BEAR! It was very far away from us, which made us feel secure, like we were watching the filming of a nature documentary. Nonetheless it was exciting to see a BLACK BEAR. Then we realized that bears can run 30 mph, so we really weren�t all that secure.
Back at the car, unmauled and ungored, we decided to drive to see some geothermal action. We went and saw boiling mud and sulfurous gases and crazy-churning hothot water and a cave that shot steam and hot water out of it while making amazing growling thumping noises. Then we went and looked at the famous Artist�s Point view of lower Yellowstone falls. Then we went to look over the brink of upper Yellowstone falls. Then we were very very tired. We showered and went to dinner. We had some kind of sugar-rimmed yummy drinks and some unremarkable food such as only a National Park could make you pay $20 for. Then we went and looked at silly souvenirs, and bought sterling silver bison charms. On our way back to cabinland, Evany said, �I am SO GLAD you made me not walk those extra two miles today!� And thus I was vindicated.
Stats:
Still in Yellowstone!
8:12 p.m. - August 28, 2004
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