Midway Geyser Basin

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

Activity: Day Hike

Distance: 1 mile, 50’ of elevation change, 45 minutes duration, rated Easy

What sets Yellowstone a part from other national parks is the 10,000 hydrothermal features, more than anywhere else in the world combined. Old Faithful is the most famous of these features, but Midway Geyser Basin’s Grand Prism Spring is the most photographed because of it’s bizarre, but beautiful colors: oranges, browns, and yellows adorn the area surrounding it, and the blues, greens, and aquas grace the heated water, throw in the full spectrum of the rainbow, as the sunlight reflects through the rising steam, and you have quite a picture.

Excelsior Geyser is dormant, as far as erupting jets of water into the air, but over 4,000 gallons of 200 degree water flows out and down in the form of a stream into the Firehole River below.

Another fascinating hydrothermal feature, besides the wonderful spouting geyser, heated pools, hot stream, steam vents and hot springs is the fountain paint-pots. The fountain paint-pots are basically boiling mud of a strange consistency and texture that bubble and pop and bits of this mud are flung a short distance into the air.

Midway Geyser Basin is a fantastical and mesmerizing spectacle and the Grand Prism Spring is not to be missed.

• 

• 

• 

  Grand Prism Spring

• 

Marina and boyfriend Austin are enthralled by the colors of the Grand Prism Spring. This is what makes it the most photographed hydrothermal feature in the park even edging out the famous Old Faithful.

• 

• 

  Grand Prism

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

  Fountain Paint Pots, basically boiling mud…

“In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.” -Aristotle

Thanks for joining my daughter Marina, her boyfriend Austin, and I on this shared adventure at our country’s first National Park, Yellowstone. Please FOLLOW, COMMENT, LIKE and SHARE. It is the life blood of a blog and is much appreciated.

Roger Jenkins

Pursuing Balance Through Adventure

Checkout this great aerial video clip of the Grand Prism Spring from National Geographic.

Advertisement

Old Faithful Geyser Loop

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

Activity: Day Hike

Date: August 12, 2019

Distance .75 mile, elevation change 16’, duration 45 minutes, rated Easy

When Yellowstone comes to mind so does Old Faithful. Yellowstone is a hydrothermal wonder with 10,000 it has more features then the rest of the world combined. Old Faithful is the most famous and is definitely something you do not want to miss. The build up and the fame of this attraction is such as it is hard for it to live up to it’s notoriety, that being said, it is still a must and it is still very cool.

The Old Faithful Geyser Loop is easy and everyone can manage it. Keep in mind that you need to stay on the boardwalk not only because the area is sensitive, but also the ground crust can be quite brittle and even thin in places. Underneath can be super-heated water. There is even one heated pool that’s azure in color that has a buffalo bone in it where the animal got to close. Animals and people have been boiled alive, so caution to those with kids.

There are multiple features to checkout along the Old Faithful Geyser Loop. Get out and stretch your legs and instead of planting yourself straight in front of the geyser walk around and enjoy this walk or one of the other nearby trails. Besides getting some exercise you will get a less crowded view if you do. The Geyser erupts every 65-91 mins so you will certainly have a chance to explore around. When Old Faithful does puts on it’s amazing water show it will last around 2.5 minutes.

Old Faithful is pretty darn cool, and everyone needs to experience it’s wonder.

Geysers, white torrents of boiling water and steam, like inverted waterfalls, are ever and anon rushing up out of the hot, black underworld.” – John Muir
Old Faithful, photo credit to Yellowstone National Park Service Display

Yellowstone Lodge and hydrothermal feature

Old Faithful

Inside Yellowstone Lodge

Daughter Marina and boyfriend Austin enjoying the park. You can see the Yellowstone Lodge in the background.

“The park is full of exotic wonders. The wildest geysers in the world in bright triumphant bands, are dancing and singing in it amid thousands of boiling springs .” – John Muir

Daughter Marina and I on the boardwalk on the Old Faithful Geyser hike. It is important to stay on the boardwalk not only because these areas are sensitive, but also for safety sake. Many of the areas have a thin crusts that can break and underneath that layer can be super-heated water.

Please FOLLOW, LIKE, SHARE and COMMENT so we can continue “PURSING BALANCE THROUGH ADVENTURE.”

Roger Jenkins
Pursuing Balance through Adventure

Norris Geyser Basin

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

Activity: Day Hike

Date: August 11, 2019

Yellowstone is a place of exceptional beauty, but it is also a place unique from anywhere in the world in it’s hydrothermal wonders. Old Faithful is the most famous of these marvels, but there are other spots in the park such as Norris Geyser Basin with boiling pools, steaming vents, hot springs, bubbling mud and other thermal features that truly deliver an other worldly experience. At more than 10,000, Yellowstone has more thermal features than the rest of the world combined making it a scientific phenomenon.

My daughter, her boyfriend and I were tent camping not far from Norris Geyser. Late on the last evening of our Yellowstone adventure it sounded like a jet engine was revving up for takeoff. Since there was no airport anywhere in the vicinity, because after all we were in the wilderness of a National Park, it was a peculiar occurrence. This loud distraction had interrupted the otherwise peaceful night of star gazing and was attracting the attention of some of our fellow campers. We stood in the dark, on an embankment overlooking a meadow, peering into the night. There was a large plume of steam coming from the Norris Geyser Basin. Awhile later a search light illuminated the plume as it trailed up and down the column of steam. The Ledge Geyser has roared back to life this summer after three years of lying dormant adding to a lot of excitement at our campground that night.

Veteran’s Geyser

“Jobs fill your pocket. Adventures fill your soul.” – Jaime Lyn Beatty

The thermal features at Yellowstone provide an otherworldly experience. I am looking forward to our next unique experience “Pursuing Balance Through Adventure”. So FOLLOW, SHARE, LIKE, and COMMENT so you will not miss out.

This video clip sums up the adventure for this day at both the Yellowstone Upper and Lower Falls and Norris Geyser Basin.

South Rim Trail

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

Activity: Day Hike

Date: August 11, 2019

Distance: 2.5 miles, 280’ elevation change, 1.5 hour duration, rated Easy.

When you conjure up thoughts of Yellowstone you may think of the abundant wildlife, Old Faithful, fir trees and wilderness, but in that mix is magnificent waterfalls. There are multiple great hikes to view Yellowstone’s two famous falls, but probably the best is the South Rim Trail.

This is a popular hike, but most people are getting out of the cars after waiting for a parking spot, and snapping a few “Christmas Card” worthy family photos at Artist Point and then heading out. Parking is extremely busy. The turn around time is quick, but in the height of the season getting there early in the day would be beneficial. But, if you are “Pursuing Balance Through Adventure” then you will definitely want to do the South Rim Trail hike. It is quick and easy, and quite scenic, and the bonus is that you will get to see two falls instead of the one that the masses viewed.

The trailhead is at Artist Point and it wraps along the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. First you will have great views of the Lower Falls, and much closer up then that from Artist Point. (Artist Point, of course, is still a must do.) Lower Falls is superb, the green streak of deep water going over the falls is something I do not remember ever seeing before anywhere else.

The next falls is Upper Falls and the hike provides several different looks at it. Waterfalls are both enchanting and mesmerizing and these are two outstanding ones and throw in the Yellowstone backdrop and it is something you will always remember.

• 

• 

  “And every walk with nature one receives more then he seeks.” – John Muir

“Pursuing Balance Through Adventure” is the goal, waterfalls such as these, in the magic they provide, brings us the balance we so desperately seek. Until the next adventure. I hope you will COMMENT, FOLLOW, LIKE and SHARE.

Roger Jenkins, Pursuing Balance Through Adventure

The Narrows

Here is a post from sister site Utah Hiking Pursuing Balance Through Adventure regarding Zion National Park.

Utah Hiking Pursuing Balance Thru Adventure

Zion National Park

Near Springdale, Utah

Activity: Day Hike, river hiking

Date: July 26, 2019

Zion National Park is a special place.  I have hiked and backpacked there multiple times and each time filled with wonder and amazement.  It is a different type of beauty from other National Parks and that in itself makes it so special.  The tan, orange, and brown Navajo sandstone massive rock cliffs, peaks, formations, and canyon are simply a marvel.

A Summer time treat is to hike the famous Narrows.  When the weather is hot, the Virgin River, which cuts through the narrow canyon, is most inviting.  I did this hike with my friend Jackie and her daughter Elena.  The trick is to arrive early to beat the crowd and although we left the Vegas area well before dawn that was still not early enough for this popular Summer time hike.

There is almost always…

View original post 534 more words

Zion National Park

Near Springdale, Utah

Activity: Day Hike

Date: May 10th, 2018

Here are a couple video clips from Spring of 2018. It shows scenes from some great hikes that I took at Zion with my good friend Craig Dowler.

POINT SUBLIME TRAIL

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

Activity: Day Hike

Date: August 11, 2019

Distance 3 Miles, 250’ elevation change, 1.75 hour duration, rated Easy.

This hike starts near the most icon photograph spot at Yellowstone, Artist Point. Here you will find a very busy parking lot, with bus loads of people, but the good news is most are just snapping a few pictures and are on their way in about 15 minutes.

The views are spectacular at Artist Point of the Lower Falls. Just beyond that point is the Point Sublime Trailhead. This is a short hike that is not difficult, but I need to stress to watch your step or it could be your last, as there are plenty of exposed areas with a drop off you will not be coming back from. So enjoy the views, but from a foot or so back.

The trail winds through the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone with steep bluffs and cliffs on both sides where over time the Yellowstone River has etched out a path. The views are wonderful along the way, and I will say that it is not the destination, but the journey when referring to the Point Sublime Trail, as the best views are probably about a third of the way.

Besides the dizzying views from the side of the canyon and worrying about the 3 Asian women standing arm in arm on the side of the cliffs while a stiff breeze blows toward the edge, and the family sitting right on the edge, there are apparently other dangers lurking about. I met a young man who informed me he was turning around, as he was pretty sure there was a bear ahead. He had just heard crashing through the woods, which boarders the other side of the trail, and huffing. I decided to forge ahead. I knew there was a man with his young son ahead of me, but when I saw them heading back as well then I said to myself, “fine, I will turn about too”. But when I saw the 3 fearless young Asian women I decided I would venture on. I knew I could not out run a charging bear, as I saw the viral video of a grizzly chasing a deer through a dense thicket, but I was pretty sure I could outrun at least one of the young women, lol. Nothing bad befell us.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

  Handy Bear Information especially since I read a post on this hike that said, “bears everywhere”, and a person came down the trail saying that he was pretty sure there was a bear ahead. The hiker explained that he just heard crashing through the woods and huffing.

• 

  Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

• 

  “ I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery-air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, “This is what it it to be happy.-Sylvia Plath

I hope that you enjoyed this, my first post on this new site, National Parks Hiking. National Parks are extraordinary and Yellowstone, our first National Park, is one that I had wanted to go to for a long time. Join me and together we will be “Pursuing Balance Through Adventure’” together. What I ask from you is to LIKE, FOLLOW, (and each of my sites are entities in themselves and thus you need to follow each one in order to enjoy them all), COMMENT, (if you don’t comment then I don’t know your are there), and SHARE, (to make this work I need a lot of followers).

Launching National Parks Hiking

Pursuing Balance Through Adventure

Our National Parks are treasures. They are special places set aside so that everyone can enjoy nature, and in my view there are few places as splendid when “Pursuing Balance Through Adventure”.

National Parks are our natural heritage: landscapes like no other, places were we have the chance to view wildlife in their natural habit, trees, flowers, forests, meadows, mountain tops, deep canyons, rivers, lakes, plains, deserts, and so much more. A place to fill our lungs with fresh air, stretch our legs, take flight with our imagination, share togetherness and memories, or find solitude in the quiet of wilderness. Fill our souls.

And from my viewpoint find a little balance to our stressful, plugged in, overworked lives through a taste of adventure in a way that only a National Park can provide. It is the journey not necessarily the destination, or said another way what is important is “Pursuing Balance Through Adventure” and our Nation Parks are a fabulous place to do just that.

-Roger Jenkins

Pursuing Balance Through Adventure

“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity.” -John Muir

Please join me Roger Jenkins as I am “Pursuing Balance Through Adventure” at our National Parks. At least once a year, as a minimum, we need to recharge our batteries in nature and National Parks are a great place to do that. So I implore you if you love our National Parks, then come with me and LIKE, COMMENT, FOLLOW, and SHARE.