So...we are finally to the end of the trip out west!!! This last picture was taken the last night in the park before we arrived at Clydehurst. This female elk walked right through our camp and it came within 20 feet for out camp site. It was pretty cool to see one that close up!!
This is one of the most beautiful and large springs in the park. It is quite stunning with its brilliant colors and Crystal clear water!! 
We stopped along the Firehole river to have a picnic lunch and watch the fly fishermen. It was an amazingly beautiful day and the river is gorgeous!!
Right on time! Pretty Amazing! All you can do is just stand there with your mouth open and wonder...how in the world does this happen?
Blue skies, beautiful day for the famous gyser to go off! The board walk was croweded with people as we all waited patiently for the huge amount of water to shoot forth from the earth. Thousands of gallons each hour...and it is really fairly predictable!
Once again...a roadside sighting! This Elk was very impressive...but not too worried about the hord of people staring and takin pictures. He actually looks quite relaxed!
Crystal Clear and beautiful...we stopped back at Yellowstone on our way to camp. Before Old Faithful shot off, Joe and I took a walk around all of the geothermal sights around the area. Very stinky...the sulphur smells is enough to make you choke and your eyes to water. Joe could fart all he wanted...no one ever knew.
Joe jumped out of the car at a roadside stop to capture our last moments with these mountains.
Driving out of the Tetons we happened along a "road side jam". Getting out of the car to see what everyone was looking at, we found this guy! I love this picture...almost like he is right there staring you in the face! We watched for a few minutes...until he started to make his way towards the roadside!
Amazing view here....side note: double click on this picture to blow it up for a better look.
As we were hiking back along Cascade canyon, we happened to look across the river at the exact moment these two magnificent creatures were approaching the water. Munching as they went, we sat and watch for about 20 minutes as they made their way along the river side. Pretty cool!
Here they are! These magnificent mountains we love! The tallest in the middle is called Grand Teton. Wow!
Yellow cat was wanting a campfire, so Joseph gave in and made a great one. Even little cats get cold and need some warmth. We were so glad to have an extra friend with us. We made sure he didn't get too close to the fire though.
Yellow Cat stood watch for us as we left camp today. What a happy little thing...
This picture might raise some interesting questions, we know! O.E. instructors at michindoh, however, will understand completely! (Levi or Glendon or whoever tied this thing...very very sneaky!) We came back to our campsite while still at the Tetons this day, and Joe had to get under the car for some reason. When he did, he noticed a small string of boondoggle (a camp craft) hanging down from underneath the car. To his surprise, the yellow cat was attatched as he yanked the string down from the car. In fact, the cat was zip-tied to the car...crazy!! He had ridden there all the way from Michigan...and was so dirty and just gross! But what a hilarious find that was for us...and a good laugh for our friends back at camp. Wow...totally not expecting that one! When Joe first found the cat, I was off doing something at the campsite, and all I heard was, "There's a cat under the car! A cat under the car!" Of course, I immediatly thought this was some real cat that we had accidentally ran over and now Joe was finding the remains! Ewwww! But it wasn't. I sure made a lot of noise in exclamation over it though. The people at the surrounding campsites were laughing with us! Ok, maybe laughing at us....but it was still great! Thanks guys!
One last final view of this beauty. And yes, there was still snow alongside the river. I think the temp this day was only around the 50's-60's. But the water, needless to say, was FREEZING! Crystal clear, though...just like you would imagine a mountain river.
Here Katie is at the heart of Cascade Canyon in the Tetons...our favorite hike the park has to offer. It is about a 4 mile trek all the way back until the pass splits at the base of another mountain. We stopped at ate a lunch of bagels and cheese and trail mix here. I litterally think my mouth was open in awe the whole time we were hiking. One of my favorite creatures we saw on the trail was a little creature called a Pika. Similar to a rabbit/guinea pig...it darts in an among the rocks, collecting seeds and grass. What a great little thing!
We found them!! These falls aren't so hidden anymore :) Our second day was the longer hike while at the Tetons....We hike all the way around Jenny Lake and on to Cascade Canyon. This was just a little pit stop along the way. My feet were not doing the best though...at this point I have them duck-taped/gause padded to help with the ginormous blisters that formed on my heels. I hiked all day with 50cent piece-sized blisters...talk about adventure!
Another picturesque view of the Tetons. We took a quick break to admire the scenery here at String Lake, one of the many glacial lakes at the base of the Tetons. The geology of these mountains and lakes is actually quite interesting! Hmm...never thought I would say that :)
Here we are! We set the camera on a rock (praying that it wouldn't fall) and took this pretty sweet pic. Man....it was just amazing up there!
The day we drove in to the Tetons, it was cloudy and quite dreary. But this morning was a bit more clear. We camped at a campground called Jenny Lake. A beautiful place! And this was the view we could see from the lakeside, about 100 yards from our site. This mountain is called Teewinot. The Tetons were definitely our favorite place to hike out here so far! Oh yes....notice the fresh coat of snow on the mountain! We woke up this morning to just below freezing temps. Holy Cow...life sure is different out here in the west.
We saw random Bison along side of the road. They are big beasts. This was one of my first wild bison!
We stopped at a few of the hot springs in yellowstone, and happened to come along these tracks. Hmm....who do they belong to? I guess the bears love to visit these spots!
Joe and I hike down and down and down to get to this very point of the lower falls. In fact, we took Joe's favorite trail, Uncle Toms trail. This is the infamous trail that has 328 stairs (thats fairly correct, joe counted :) and the one trail that on their previous trip, Joe and friend Gabe tried to run the stairs! Needless to say, they were gripping the stairwell and gasping for air about half way up! We took it nice and easy coming back up. A fun trail, for sure!
Here is the view facing opposite of the falls at yellow stone. We were actually lucky it was a rainy day, as the colors of the rocky cliffs are much more colorful when wet. What a site!
While we were in Cody we got to spend time with Paul. Here is his home for the season. Nothing like home sweet home!!
Here is Katie red pointing a route on a wall at the North Fork in Cody Wyoming. It was about a 5.8 and about 80 feet. It was a fun climb and a great experience.
When we visited Paul in Cody, WY, we decided to do a bit of climbing at a site Paul had visited earlier in the year. The cliffs were just off of the highway, and rose about 70 to 80 feet in the air. This picture is of Paul belaying Katie up the cliff. Paul actually did some lead climbing to get our rope up to the top and hooked in. Then Joe and I followed! It was pretty amazing for our first trip together on real rock face!
Hey mom....this little one is just for you! We saw these wild burrows roaming around Custer State Park in S. Dakota, and I knew we had to get a picture for you. They used to be used for trail rides through the park years ago. Since then, the rides have stopped and the burrows were released to roam free! I think you like to name all donkeys' "Dorcas". :)
This ladder was part of a hike called the "Notch Trail". On this hike you have to climb up this ladder to a shelf on a cliff, then walk to the end where there is an amazing view fo the vista below. Its a pretty fun hike.
