Yellowstone 13th day - Old Faithful.

Time to “Tourist”. We are going to drive straight through to Old Faithful with no stops. That is 53 miles from the campground.

Of course, we paused to take a few pictures of Elk up in the town of Mammoth.

The use of the word “Mammoth” is excessive here.

Here is a Mammoth gas station.  

Then they top that with the Mammoth Restroom?! Really!

I have to bite my tongue after the first time we passed it to avoid be annoying repeating “Dad Jokes”. (It doesn’t usually work.)

Across from the Mammoth Springs, a small herd of Elk were grazing, a mom feeding her baby, and a very frisky Spike which the ladies were having nothing to do with no matter how persistent he got which I did not include in the video.

After our long drive (average speed is 35mph) down to Old Faithful, we walked out to the famous Geyser.  

​Science Warning:
Geysers are formed when water works its way into a fisher (crack) in the earth.  If below the surface there is lava/magma close enough to heat the water as it is in Yellowstone the water will change to steam.  Steam will increase pressure and force itself to the surface.  If the opening is large it will be a hot bubbling spring but if they are smaller a geyser will form.   In some areas, the water flow and heating creates a very predictable event.  Other areas seem almost random and the time between events may be completely unpredictable.

It was a while before the next eruption so we walked up to the overlook to have a different perspective.  It is only 1 mile round trip and a climb of 200 feet to overlook the old faithful geyser basin.

Our next geyser, Solitary, was somewhat disappointing.

The geyser was only about a foot tall.

Time to go back down to the main geyser field.

 Some of the thermals are directly below the walkway.

Most of the springs and other “features” have names but some are so new they have yet to be named.

 It’s almost time for Old Faithful to erupt so back to the benches.

 We could see another geyser going off in the distance but did not know which one.

 Another one started up, 

and then Old Faithful went off again.

Time to take a walk around the geyser basin. There are deep blue pools, bubbling springs, spitting holes, small geysers, big geysers. All of which are hot and most are over 190 degrees.

 Some Buffalo were walking right through the middle of the geyser area.

 More geysers… I don’t know about you but seeing them never gets old.

​ We have seen buffalo, elk, deer, and wolf prints in the mud along the walkways.  
​
 Firehole River passed right through the center.

​Our last stop was to see the Old Faithful Inn. It is the world's largest log cabin Inn. The main building was constructed during the winter of 1903–1904.  Yes, built in less than 6 months.  Almost all the materials were from local lodge pole pine and stones. When the Inn opened in the spring of 1904, it had electric lights and steam heat.  Something almost unheard of in a building so remote. 

Now for the bad news!  It is closed for Covid.  Really?!  Other hotels in the park are open but the most iconic one is closed.  REALLY!!!!  Yes, it made me angry.  Next door the souvenir shop is open!  The café is open!  BUT NO... THEY HAD TO CLOSE THIS BUILDING!!!! Stupid!

​Time to head home.  We will stop by the cafe (which IS open) for something to drink for the 2 hour or longer drive back to the RV.