Yellowstone National Park--West Thumb
9 June, 2013
We were staying in Grant Village, which is near a geothermal area called West Thumb on the Yellowstone Lake. While it doesn't have erupting geysers like the Old Faithful area, West Thumb is still beautiful and fascinating.
Photo by Eric.
From the top of the hill.
For safety, the trails are all on boardwalks. Eric took a picture of the warning sign, saying, "Goofus steps off of the boardwalk...."
I took a picture of a sign I found amusing. I guess that's really what makes this part of Yellowstone interesting, that the crust is thin here.
Eric took this picture of the mudpots.
Mudpots (rather than geysers or hot springs) are created when the soil is acidic. In Yellowstone, the mud is thinner earlier in the year and thickens as there is less snowmelt runoff.
Closeup of a mudpot.
Eric took a picture of these geothermal pools.
Seismograph Pool.
Look at the depth Seismograph Pool's fissure.
The deep blues of Bluebell Pool.
Imagine a tree growing out of this thin-crusted soil! Photo by Eric.
Colorful spring runoff into Yellowstone Lake.
Patterns in the drainage.
A pool right on the edge of the lake. Photo by Eric.
And geothermal pools visible
in the lake.
Or sticking up out of it
The boardwalk ran along the lakeshore, and Eric took a picture of the rocks on the edge.
Eric took a picture looking back up at the volcanic landscape.
Black Pool. Photo by Eric.
The colorful edge of Black Pool.
Looking into the depths of Black Pool.
An iridescent Tree Swallow practically posing.
Distance hiked: Perhaps almost 1 km, with the distance from the parking lot.
On to Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.