There was NO TOMORROW!

We started planning this trip in December 2010 and as far as Yellowstone National Park is concerned, there was no tomorrow....it was today or go home without snowmobiling through the one of the greatest wilderness areas of our country!

We arrived yesterday and noticed a lack of visitors, and when we made our reservations with Yellowstone Adventures, we were told that the National Park would close at 9pm on Tuesday, March 15. It would close to allow the bears to awake from hibernation without feasting on humans, and it would allow the park employees a break as Mother Nature waved her magic wand and melted the snow. Knowing how fickle Mother Nature can be, the park staff also needs time to plow the many miles of roadway to remove the snow that has piled up.....and let me tell you, there is A LOT of the white stuff, and some brown stuff! I just can't believe that there were not many more people like us -- you know, the ones that wait until the last minute to do something?

So, we started today at the Chamber of Commerce to get our National Parks Annual Pass and once we had that in-hand, we proceeded to Yellowstone Adventures for our day on snowmobiles. We were able to rent the complete gear package as well as the snowmobiles and what a good decision that turned out to be. We were give face masks, gloves, helmets, and the weather-impervious jumpsuits. (We had all dressed in layers so we had a good start - not a one of us got cold - except for Chuck's nose!)

We got suited up, saddled up and away we went! It was snowing as we took off and it just got better. We were less than 7 miles into the park and made our first stop to gawk at elk getting water from the Madison River. There was so much snow that we all ended up knee deep in the drifts just trying to get close enough to get pictures of the animals. Within five steps I buried my leg up to my knee ( each time!) and had to be rescued several times. So you are probably laughing now, but let me tell you, the first one who calls me "Knee Deep" will get a snowball thrown directly at them!

Throughout our travels we saw about 200 head of bison, one bald eagle, one chipmunk (he darted out between our snowmobiles!) and lots of elk and Canadian Geese.

We stopped at the Upper Geyser Basin and like other times, neatly parked our snowmobiles in orderly rows as directed. Our guide Dan implored us to take all backpacks with us and leave nothing behind on the snowmobiles. He recounted a story of how he had left his backpack on his ride and asked several who were not taking the walk to the geysers to keep an eye on his pack and not let the ravens get in to it. When he returned to his machine, not only had the raven gotten into his backpack, he had discarded Dan's possessions as trash as he emptied the backpack. He even "tagged" Dan's seat with raven poop. Dan was a little put out and asked those that had stayed behind what happened, and they replied, "just what you think happened, and we have pictures to prove it!". Having heard that I unbungeed my backpack and told the raven in the tree to find some other bag to play with. Little did I know that upon our return, I would find his "tag" on my machine!

We walked on snowcovered boardwalks and saw various geothermal examples like Celestine Pond, Clepsydra Geyser, Jelly Geyser, Fountain Paint Pots as well as cactus growing amidst them all! The boardwalks throughout the area were packed with snow - about 2ft deep in some areas, and some spots had melted and turned to ice. I did a fancy jig at one point and stayed vertical despite the ice! I turned to the folks following us and said "Consider that a public service announcement with fancy dance!"

We saddled up, and headed out to explore more of the frozen wonderland. Humming along at 35 mpg on snow, with a powerful machine under you gives you a Harley feeling -- you know, like when you ride a Harley then you have to go buy one cuz you need to feel that feeling again? Well, you've been warned....

As you can expect the journey had a destination - Old Faithful Geyser. We arrived at the Visitor's Center, ate lunch, shopped and got our National Parks Passport stamped, and again did our part to bolster the local economy! After the display by Old Faithful we headed back to the snowmobiles for the return journey.

We visited Firehole Falls at Firehole Canyon (got to find out why they named it this.....) and despite the warming temperatures (locals said today was supposed to be a warm one -- look for the one that took that seriously in the photos!), it was still snowing as we completed our day in Yellowstone. Snowmobile riding is so fun, except when the snow turns to slush and mush, and your tail end swings out wildly, much like some folks' dancing! (But you got to admit, it is fun to watch!)

After returning to the hotel, the snow continued so Rachel and Ryan built a snow fort, climbed the snow drift that was shown in first photos from yesterday and generally had a good time playing in the snow.....what fun they have! Chuck and I watched it all from the warmth of the hotel room and thought "ain't life grand?". Yes, it is!

Click here to see all the photos we took (yes, even Chuck took pictures with "our" camera!). I let the kids take photos with our older Kodak cameras today and will cull through those photos and post the really funny ones.....I will tell you though that they consider themselves photographers and refer to the Kodak cameras as "their cameras"!

We are off to Salt Lake City tomorrow, one night there then south to Cedar City which will be our "base" as we explore Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks....and any other "National" sites I can convince Chuck into stopping at so I can get stamps for my passport!

Check in later for more frolicking.....
The Featherston Family