Yellowstone National Park

Revered for it’s wildlife and landscape since the Lewis and Clark expedition, Yellowstone National Park continues to contain it’s natural environment. I generously thank Ferdinand V. Hayden, an American geologist, for the hardworking effort in convincing congress to make Yellowstone the first national park in the world which I had the opportunity to visit recently. Some would believe that they could experience the awe inducing wonders of the park with a click of an internet link but High Definition pales in comparison to the actually setting foot there.

Since I am accustomed to the hustle and bustle of the city, I was in for quite a change of scenery. I was free from the distraction of wi-fi hotspots and phone reception so that I could gaze upon the such glorious geological formations like the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. It’s hard to believe that so much natural beauty can be considered “natural” at all. The foundation of vibrant colors between lush plant life and rocky terrain are complemented by the brilliant formations around the park. Surveying the naked land will make you wonder why we litter the it with buildings and other monstrosities. I am starting to understand why artists would spend so much time painting one specific scene.

Knowing how meticulous a painter in his acrylic scented studio slowly counts his brush strokes on his masterpiece work, it’s no surprise that a park so full of vibrant colors took thousands of years for the Earth to create with the fresh Wyoming air mixing with the  pungent smell of sulfur and other deposits from the geothermal activities far beneath the park. It goes without saying that the ceremonial viewing of Old Faithful’s calculated eruption is a mandatory experience to behold. It is a bit unsettling to know that reports show that the geyser is becoming progressively weaker and does not spout as high as it used it. Since there are a good amount of springs and geysers around the park, it’s hard to determine which ones to go out your way for and stopping at all of them can end up becoming tedious. One that I recommend that you just can’t miss, aside from Old Faithful obviously, is the Norris Geyser Basin. The acidic based water within the basin helps encourages a particular bacterial growth and algae growth which can be distinguished between the various colors of the basin. The listening to the pulsing heartbeat of gurgling geysers caused me to reflect on how alive the Earth can appear to with natural wonders like these.
Coexisting with the heated bubbling water are the many wild animals roaming freely around the park. It is important to remember that we (humans) are the visitors in their natural homeland and we should remember to exercise caution and respect during our visit. Noticing all the telephoto lenses and animals from afar, I realized how ill prepared I was with my basic zoom lens. Luckily we had the misfortune to have a few up close encounters with the iconic wildlife in Yellowstone. The most memorable was a herd of buffalo grazing around the road near the Dragon’s Mouth Mud Volcano. One buffalo literally walked next to the car. I would have taken a picture but I admit that I was worried the sound of the shutter of my camera right next to buffalo would have agitated it.

Another encounter was in the form of a black bear foraging for food downhill from the road. I was filled with a mixture of fascination and fear with each step I took towards the bear who was ignoring a group of us shutter happy tourists. The self reassuring fact that I was more fit then most of the people in the spontaneously formed group, meaning I could at least outrun them if the bear decided to charge us, was what ultimately allowed my legs to move closer to the Ursus americanus. I consider myself very fortunate to be able to look into the very eyes of the these untamed beasts especially on a two day trip.
If I ever get the chance to return to Yellowstone, I shall be more prepared with a variety of lenses along with accurate information on the local hang out spots of the many other animals around the park.

I’m sure there are more astounding shots floating around the internet, but I take a lot of pride in the pictures I have taken. It is a testimony to my experience traversing the raw environment. I waded knee high in the Yellowstone River. I stood ten feet away from a hungry bear. I walked the same sun beaten trail that trappers and explorers from long ago helped create. I felt the cool spray of geyser water. Returning back to city, I start to question how many people will ever get to experience a fraction of what I have at Yellowstone National Park.