Drinking from a Fire Hydrant
The morning was similar to previous mornings south of Yellowstone – another morning of breakfast cooked over a camp stove, unpacking and breaking down tents, and beginning our day’s journey. What was unique was the serenity of our backcountry site. As we emerged from our tents, the pristine sight of fog over Grebe Lake and frost soon to melt from the grass tips as the sun rose took me aback. This view renewed my vigor for the outdoors. Although my feet were wet (and on the verge of freezing), boots were soaked, and clothes stank, this morning it was of no concern. Into this beautiful visage we began our second trek through the Yellowstone backcountry.
We enjoyed seeing the trails around the Canyon backcountry in a new time of day and at a new angle. As mentioned in my last blog post, this second week is crucial for the development of our crew. Our upbeat and lighthearted nature together, not to mention our growing outdoor capabilities, is definitely an indication of our communal growth. I have experienced my own personal growth, and have witnessed that of my two companions in ways that cannot be captured in a blog post.
Around 11 AM we emerged from the backcountry and set eyes on our Wagon – we took our boots off and settled in once again. We drove over to Canyon Village to take care of some blog posts and eat a lunch of PB&Js and sun chips.
Eager to explore more of the Park, we drove to the Mud Volcanoes and Mammoth Hot Springs to observe more of the ever-evolving natural features. As we entered the northern parts of the park for the first time, we were impressed by the stark change in landscape – the grassland and wooded areas transitioned into mountainous terrain.
After about an hour in Mammoth, we drove out of the park through the Roosevelt Arch entrance in search of camping in Gardiner, Montana. Once again, we were unable to find a campsite with vacancy. Although I vied for continuing to search in Gardiner, Sam and Ben more conservatively – and in retrospect, more reasonably – suggested we begin our final stretch of the Oregon Trail tonight rather than the following morning.
Onward we journeyed, away from the first National Park which those traveling the Oregon Trail would have never seen. We drove through the park one more time, encountering several delays due to bison crossings and late-afternoon crowds observing wildlife of all kinds. Taking in Yellowstone felt like trying to drink water from a fire hydrant: overwhelming, yet refreshing. We have spent three days in Yellowstone, yet have only captured a fraction of its splendor.
In a few hours we reached a Flyin’ J gas station in Idaho Falls, Idaho, where we spent the night in the Wagon. We made a quick dinner of chicken noodle soup, yet our mouths watered at the lingering smell of Subway and Cinnabon inside the Flyin’ J (the ultimate one-two punch for us weary travelers). Similar to gas upon a fire, walking into the gas station to use the facilities fueled our temptation. Certainly settlements along the Oregon Trail would have provided similar temptations for travelers; it is only fitting that we have similar thoughts on our journey. On this journey I have found inspiration in realizing the consistency of the human experience at the most fundamental levels.
The trekkers were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of Cinnabons danced in their heads.
Photos below. If viewing on a phone, turn horizontally to see photo captions.
Thanks for reading.
