Summer Vacation, Part 3

The kids just reminded me that I should really finish posting the pics from our vacation, since it was a whole month ago now.  Since it is already becoming more difficult to remember all of the details, they are probably right. :)  So, here goes.  After spending the third night at a hotel in the Mammoth-Hot Springs area just north of Yellowstone, we spent day 4 visiting Mammoth-Hot Springs.  I really wasn't sure what to expect, since I have never been to that area.  It was really quite beautiful!!!

 This is Liberty Cap, a dormant hot spring cone.  The kids thought it looked pretty cool!

These are pictures of Palette Spring.  The columns, arches and terraces are incredible!  Knowing that they were not created by human hands, but rather by God's hand through the use of the water and hot springs is pretty awesome!

These are pictures of an area called Cleopatra Terrace.  Again, the terraces, along with the contrasting colors, are breathtakingly beautiful, especially in person. :)

Sheepeater Cliff was really cool also (again, much more so in person.)

Here we see evidence of the massive wildfire that spread through the area in 1988.

This was my very first encounter with hot spring pools.  It was really neat to see the water bubbling and steaming, and I was also surprised at the vibrant colors.  We learned that darker the blue, the hotter the water.  

I just realized that I didn't get any pictures of Steamboat Geyser.  We didn't see it erupt, as it is very unpredictable and can go for weeks or months between eruptions, but they say that when it does go off, it is amazing!

I think it is time to end this post as well before it becomes completely ridiculously long. :)  Stay tuned for the next installment! :)