Chavonne's Trip to Yellowstone: Day Three

Chavonne at Fairy Falls and Grand Prismatic Spring

On the third day in Yellowstone, Chavonne decides to go on a hike to see one of the many falls in the park.  Chavonne starts on her trek through the plains of the Midway Geyser Basin, over a stream that comes off of Grand Prismatic Springs.

The smell of the spring permeates the air with sulfur, not nearly as bad as around Old Faithful, but it's still not a pleasant smell.

She gets to a fork in the road and heads up a hill.  A steep climb brings her to an over look of Grand Prismatic Springs.

The spring is the 3rd largest spring in the world, measuring over 300 feet across.  Chavonne marvels at the beautiful colors of the spring, ranging from oranges and reds on the outside to deep blues in the middle.

She finds out the colors are caused by thermophile; bacteria that thrives in the heat of the spring.

After some time Chavonne hikes down the hill and heads towards Fairy Falls.  The three-mile hike through the woods is on a pretty flat, groomed trail. Chavonne passes through a newer forest of Lodgepole pines, only 10 to 15 feet high.

There are charred remains of trees sticking out of the ground or lying burnt and black.  A huge fire spread through Yellowstone in 1988, but since then the park has had anywhere from 1 to 78 fires per year.  It's interesting that Lodgepole pine cones actually need the heat to help open them up and spread the seeds.

So everywhere Chavonne looked, new growth had happened in the midst of the burnt out trees.

Hiking through the forest, Chavonne could finally hear the faint rushing of water.  She sped up, excited to see the falls.  As she walked the path became more narrow and less groomed.

Logs and rocks stuck out at odd angles.  But now she could see the top of the falls.

A skinny ribbon of water plunges 200 feet to a small stream bed.  Chavonne climbs over the rocks and logs to get a better view.

Mist sprays off the falls and into her face.

The single line of the falls is dashed into many mini falls by a large rock outcropping.

Chavonne feels like she could stay there all day, but decides that she should probably head back to the cabin.

She stops along the path back to look at some of the wildflowers.  The different colors and simplicity of them make them gorgeous.

Birds flutter around, singing as though no one can hear them.

She recognizes the robins and the finches but sees a few birds she can not identify.  A very friendly squirrel runs up to Chavonne, examines her from 2 feet away, then runs off about his business.

It is amazing to see all of the animals and plants.

Chavonne is a little disappointed that tomorrow will be her last day in Yellowstone but is also excited for the adventures it will bring.