Thursday 7/13/23 adiue Yellowstone...

A few miles after leaving campsite this a.m., I posed a question: " Hey... what day is to-day?"
Dead silence...
" Since I'm driving, would you check your phone please."
" It's Thursday, 7/13." *Aaaah. "
Certainly, had a long schlep out of YNP, encountered numerous 'lion kills' on the way. Well, OK, we are North Wyoming, not truly lion kill, but cars parked spotting something, bison, elk, deer. Do a large herd of elk yesterday. Also spotted Great Blue Heron at a lovely birding site along Yellowstone River. River that moesies along with hardly a rapid, just "...cruising down the river, on a Wednesday afternoon..." until it hits the Gorge on the North Rim of YNP Canyon - WOW dramatic and what a change!

Sadly, sadly left Yellowstone to receive a true shock when we entered the tourist trap of West Yellowstone. After nearly five days in the Park, the terrible and blatant commercialism came as a slap in this naturalists' face. Then again, if I lived there, with short tourist season, who knows, I might do the same thing - only town for many, many miles - and the shock of seeing 5 white bars on my cell-phone !
Now camped on Swan Creek north of Big Sky, Montana. Struggle to find site for 3-3 nights so we opted for one night that a site was vacant. Why? Tomorrow is Friday and week-enders.
BUT... I WAS WRONG. Well, my apprehension of camping with crowds in a parking lot type of scenario was completely unfounded. However prior conversations helps " Yellowstone? Brace yourself for people". That came from almost everyone. Then came reality slow walking, slow talking - reality. There was not even one noise incident. I was wrong in being apprehensive !
Yea for Yellowstone - what an experience! Thanks Pres. Roosevelt - and Connie!もっと詳しく