Harlequin Ducks at LeHardy Rapids: A Yellowstone Spring Highlight
Every May, harlequin ducks return to LeHardy Rapids on the Yellowstone River. For a few short weeks, visitors can watch these boldly patterned sea ducks up close at one of the most accessible spots in the park. It's one of spring's best wildlife moments in...
Hikers injured by bear in Yellowstone National Park
Mystic Falls is a popular day hike in Yellowstone. Starting from the Biscuit Basin area, not far from Old Faithful, the trail forks and leads either to Mystic Falls or to Fairy Falls. On Monday, May 4, 2026, two hikers sustained injuries by one or more bears on the...
Yellowstone National Park to extend fishing season on three rivers
MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – Starting this year, Yellowstone National Park will extend the fishing season on three rivers in the park. The following waterways, located in the west side of the park, will open May 1 for fishing access, weeks in advance of the standard...
Abyss Pool Hotter Than in Over 30 Years
Over at West Thumb, Abyss Pool started heating up this summer. This pool has been quiet since its last active phase over 30 years ago when it erupted often from September 1991 through May 1992. At first, the eruptions came every few days or weeks but sped up to happen...
When does Yellowstone open and close in 2024?
With the summer season quickly approaching in Yellowstone, it’s time to gather all those dates of when Yellowstone is open or closed for 2024. While technically Yellowstone is open year-round, you can’t always get to Old Faithful or other interior locations. Mammoth...
Observations about the Area Above Plume Geyser March 2023
Last month I shared this photo on social media: Social media doesn't allow in-depth thoughts. I want to share those here. But first, I want to help you get your bearings if you still need to become familiar with the thermal features in the area. HISTORY OF THE...
The Heart of Yellowstone
Grand Prismatic Spring is arguably the most impressive thermal feature in Yellowstone. It's the third largest hot spring in the world (the other two are in New Zealand, if you're wondering). Its rainbow of colors are created by the microbes that grow in hot water. The...
Field Journal Entry: West Thumb 18 May 2020
As I work through my photos and notes to add to my field journal, I'm adding in the information here as well. When the Wyoming gates opened on May 18, 2020, my first stop for documentation photos of the thermal features was at West Thumb. In this post, I share the...
Repeat Photography Fall Project
I lived in Colorado most of my life, and I find myself missing time wandering through the mountains to drink in the color of the aspen in fall. Most every year there, the peak color fell on this week - from about the 20th to the 30th. In the posts this week, I'm...
In celebration of fall color
I lived in Colorado most of my life, and I find myself missing time wandering through the mountains to drink in the color of the aspen in fall. Most every year there, the peak color fell on this week - from about the 20th to the 30th. In the posts this week, I want to...
Around Here Mid Sept 2020
This week I house sat at a friend's house. One morning while sitting on the patio sipping my tea, I could hear Sandhill Cranes in the distance - they are gathering in preparation to migrate. On Saturday, I watched a mule deer buck rubbing his antlers on a tree branch...
Photography Play at an unusual Grand eruption
This last weekend I headed into the park for a couple of days. I often don't spend the night, but this time, I just wanted time to catch up on the thermal features. While that was wonderful, I now have a heap of notes to type up and photos to process (which is also...