This was to be an adventure of the highest degree. The rigorous planning began months in advance. We had a camping ground selected while snow had yet to melt. Jay, Daniel, Alison and I were going to Yellowstone. We expected to find geysers, mud pots, bison, elk, deer, and, if we were lucky, a bear.

Note: Jay also has photographs from this trip. To get his view of the trip, head to his website.

First let us introduce the cast.

Alison
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Daniel
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Jay, as we usually saw him.
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The adventure began with Jay and Daniel flying from Milwaukee to Denver, where we packed and left for one of the most unique places on Earth. Little did we know that sulfur has such strong effects.

Denver International Airport
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Wyoming was "interesting." At times, there would be beatiful bluffs through canyons. Other times, there was nothing but desert as far as you could see.

Some of those bluffs.
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Eventually, however, we made it to Yellowstone. Our first stop was the West Thumb Geyser Basin.

Jay begins to worry as he reads this sign.
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Some of that "dangerous" ground.
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One of the persistent fears among our group was bears. Although, sadly, we never saw one, there was concern throughout the whole trip. This sign did not set a good tone for the rest of the trip.
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Our campsite was at the Bridge Bay Campground nestled up in the woods.

Jay prepares wood for the fire. His first time using a hatchet.
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Luckily for Jay, we were not attacked by bears at all that night. We did, however, hear several packs of wolves howling at one another.

The agenda for the first full day at Yellowstone was to do the lower circle of roads, which would include Old Faithful Geyser Basin, Norris Geyser Basins, and a lot of driving.

Jay after a good night's sleep.
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HOT water.
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The bacterial blooms in the Hot Springs were quite magnificent.
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This geyser just wouldn't stop.
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Alison (she's having fun).
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