We found Yogi bear!

Another crazy early day, I can't remember what it's like to wake up after 7 am... We got up at 5 am to get ready for our tour which started at 6 am!! It was 3 degrees Celsius outside and there was frost on the ground!! 

We drove into Yellowstone through the west entrance along the Madison River and the Gibbon River, which were steaming due to the difference in water temperature and air temperature, and made the valley look slightly eerie! We saw some elk up really close as well!

We then made our way up to Norris Geyser Basin. There were loads of fumeroles and boardwalks weaving between them! Loads of minerals and bacteria had been deposited around the fumeroles so they were really colourful and pretty! We also went to the Steamboat Geyser which was bubbling away and ejecting loads of steam! 

After Norris basin we travelled to the Yellowstone river, where bison are normally found. We found a whole herd of them! Some of them were fighting and there were also some babies too! We had to get back into the minivan because they started to get too close!! 

Then we headed to Yellowstone Canyon and got amazing photos of the waterfall! The canyon was so impressive, there were steam vents on the canyon walls too! 

We next travelled along the Lamar valley, where the bears usually hang out! We didn't think there was much chance of seeing them as it was really hot and very busy, but the tour guide spotted some about 100m away from the road! It was a Mumma black bear and her two babies!! We set up a telescope and were able to see the cubs up really close, they were so adorable! 

We then went to the North entrance to see the Roosevelt arch, built when Theodore Roosevelt declared Yellowstone the first ever national park in the world! We also passed the 45th parallel of latitude, the halfway point between the equator and the North Pole! 

We then went to Mammoth Hot Springs and visited the hot springs terraces. They were formed as the springs deposited a mineral that solidified and built up until they were really high! Some colourful bacteria had also grown there! 

We then headed back to West Yellowstone for about 3 pm! We went into the town to try and plan some more adventures for our other days here! On the way back to our lovely cabin we grabbed dinner at a bus that did Mexican food! Although Tom looks like he didn't get much to eat, he then went back to get 3 more tacos, so we shouldn't feel too bad for him ;) 

Tomorrow we are NOT getting up early!!!

Zoë x