Salt Lake City, Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park - 2009 |
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Pam and I planned the long awaited and much anticipated trip out west to Yellowstone National Park.. We started our plans the first of February to ensure we would get in-park accommodations. Being in the park is definitely a good way to travel when visiting both parks because it is so far to get to various places of interest. It was a good choice, since most of our accommodations were very good (most). Our plan included flying into Salt Lake City early in the morning and spending the rest of the day touring the city sites such as Temple Square, the Public Library, City Hall, the Capitol building and eventually Logan which is about 45 minutes north of Salt Lake City. Logan was where we would spend our first night before heading up to the places we had only seen on paper or television. The first visual that is contrary to what I was expecting was the lack of a rich forest in the Washatch Range.
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We got to see the geyser shoot off at least 4 times. We even saw a guy propose to his girl during an eruption.
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Slide shows are divided up into trip segments that allows you to return at a later time to continue or review a specific section of interest - considering there are over 340 pictures. The 'CHANGE SIZE' button on the slide show allows high density monitors with high speed internet to see more detail and utilize more viewing space. Unfortunately, my script had a major flaw in that it would preload all pictures, sometimes before even showing the fisrt picture. As a result, I have had to disable the CHANGE SIZE button until I can figure out a better way of presentation. So, if the slide show acts like it is not working when you click NEXT, just wait a while, from 25 seconds to 1.5 minutes. Once it does respond, it works fast. You can overburden it if you click the buttons too fast. If you feel it is not really doing anything, stop the page and refresh.
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Numerous photos of the Salt Lake City Library, an award winning design and a public hub for the city. Other shots of City Hall. Salt Lake City has a great atmosphere about it, public transit, downtown living and a core with plenty of people about.
Salt Lake City is rich in culture and history
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The Mormons have quite an influence on the development of Salt Lake City and Utah in general. Regardless of your theology, you have to admire their dedication, devotion and attention to details; especially as revealed in these photos.
Temple Square - Salt Lake City
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From Logan Utah we head east then north toward our ultimate destination. Initially, Logan Canyon was the spectacular scenic highway; that was until we entered into the Snake River Valley south of Jackson Wyoming and saw all those folks rafting and kayaking.
U.S. 89 and the Snake River rafting
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Besides numerous observations of Old Faithful geyser thrusting upward, we took in the grandeur of the historic Inn, and the next morning we took a ranger guided tour of the multitude of thermal features that surround the famous steamer. We stayed in a basic cabin.
Ranger lead tour of Old Faithful thermal yard
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The first full day in Yellowstone we went to the Lower Geyser region where there are thermals to view every quarter of a mile. The 3 of us ventured off the main boardwalks & onto a path that led us to Mystic Falls. It was about a 5 mile round trip hike - Pam and Barbara did well.
Lower Geyser region and the variety
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Our second and third full days were spent at the Canyon area. Our lodging was very good. But seeing the Yellowstone River, the falls and the canyon was some of the best sight seeing of the entire trip. The Yellowstone river is beyond words or even the photos that follow.
I could spend 3 days here just hiking around
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The last day in the canyon area, we circled up through Norris Geyser area, Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower-Roosevelt, Lamar Valley, Dunraven Pass, and to Grant Village; where we spent 2 nights, took a boat tour on Yellowstone Lake, toured the Lake lodge and drove to the East entrance on U.S. 20
Norris Geyser area provided all thermal types
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It was too early to leave Yellowstone and I had missed the hike up to Mount Washburn, but on to Grand Teton which is entirely different. Lake Jackson and Jenny and the board, flat Snake River valley provided an optimal foreground for the might pinnacles of the Tetons with their majestic reach and dapples of snow.
Grand Teton Nation Park and Snake River Rafting
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This was our second day at Grand Teton, but is a special hike Clark took to put some serious wilderness under his belt. Arriving at about 8, I walked the south Jenny Lake trail up to Inspiration Point and then another 3 or more miles back up the valley between Grand Teton and St. Johns.
Eight mile hike into Cascade Canyon
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