Sunday, July 31st

We spent Sunday hiking around the north rim trail in the Canyon area by the Upper and Lower Falls. Dodged some rain showers but at least it cooled it off a little. We were up over 80 degrees - hot for here.
Everyone says how poor the soil is in Yellowstone which is why lodgepole pines are the predominant tree because they
don't require a lot of nutrients which is evident in the first picture. This rock is sitting right in the middle of the Gibbon
River. Talk about determination!
We took a drive by Virginia Cascades. It was really different - not like a waterfall more a water slide. It was a big
slanted rock that the water was sliding down.
The steps are Uncle Tom's trail. It descends 500 feet (387 steps) down to the top of Lower Falls which is 308 feet high. Not sure I want
to try that trail or not.
Went to the brink of the Upper Falls (109 feet high).  The volume of the water going over is just incredible.



























The bison are already starting to grow their shaggy winter coats.  Nice of this guy to pose for us.


We walked around Norris Geyser Basin which is one of the largest geyser areas in the park.  It looks like a moonscape it is so barren from all the heat and acidic conditions. Steamboat Geyser is the tallest in the park (up to 400 feet) but not very predictable.  It has been almost 9 nears since the last eruption. The last picture is of a steam vent at Norris.  It sounded like a steam locomotive chugging along. 

All for this weekend - will keep you posted

Ann & Jim