Western Holiday Adventure December 2012

February 05, 2013 • 3 Comments

Welcome to our
2012 Holiday Trip to Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming, including Yellowstone National Park

This blog is a shadow of its original self, having gotten messed up
during the migration into ZenFolio.

Of course, a little snow does not phase Denver, and, after a little de-icing, we were off to Bozeman, Montana.

About to land in Bozeman, MT

Cozy Bozeman airport.

Next stop - Mammoth Hot Springs

is a large complex of hot springs on a hill of travertine in Yellowstone National Park adjacent to Fort Yellowstone and the Mammoth Hot Springs Historic District. It was created over thousands of years as hot water from the spring cooled and deposited calcium carbonate(over two tons flow into Mammoth each day in a solution). Although these springs lie outside the caldera boundary, their energy has been attributed to the same magmatic system that fuels other Yellowstone geothermal areas.

	As we neared the Yellowstone area Sheree' spotted these Big Horn Sheep grazing alongside a river.
The Roosevelt Arch is a rusticated triumphal arch at the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park in Gardiner, Montana, USA. Constructed under the supervision of the U.S. Army at Fort Yellowstone, its cornerstone was laid down by President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt in 1903. The top of the arch is inscribed with a quote from the Organic Act of 1872, the legislation which created Yellowstone, which reads "For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People."	Entering Yellowstone at a very historic location. Go to the photo album to see there are NO WHEELS on those vans.
Mammoth Hot Springs would be our home for the remainder of Christmas Day, and we stayed two nights. As soon as we arrived I visited my first ever ski shop to get fitted for cross-country skis and boots. Then off we went, my only lessons being a few YouTube videos, to the groomed trails of the upper springs. Falling was not so bad, but getting up good grief! The next day's professional ski lesson cleared that up.
	We enjoyed a tasty Christmas Day buffet in the dining hall, followed by a presentation on the history of Mammoth Hot Springs.
The following morning we went skiing with the bison.
The most dangerous animal in the park, after humans, and we agreed, it's his road!	Sheree's next place of employment, or where Brian went after skiing? Quaint little skating rink behind the hotel.
Our second night in Mammoth.

	On our way to Bozeman, and the next leg of our adventure, Big Sky, Montana and Lone Mountain Ranch.
	Elk!
	Hope this gives you a feel for what it was like to be there.
Click here to see more (full-size) images from Mammoth Hot Springs.	Stay tuned for our next blog - Lone Mountain Ranch and Yellowstone snowcoaching.