YELLOWSTONE – footloose and fancy free

Friday – today we have planned NOTHING. Yes I know it is hard to believe but we decided that a rest day would be a good idea after all our trekking with Fakers.

We still have 2 more full days to go and Kylie is still not 100% so she has decided to take it easy.  There has been another big snowfall last night and the weather doesn’t look too good but at least it is not raining so I am able to get some photography done, well that’s the plan.

After breakfast it is time to retreat to the room to get geared up.  As I walk back to the lifts this is the view outside the Obsidian Dining Room – I wonder if they will give everyone a shovel to start digging?  This looks great especially when I am inside with the warmth of the fires; am I having second thoughts about going outside? No, definitely not as it will be another adventure to capture.

Once all the gear is on, it is time to head back downstairs to see what is on offer in the way of exciting sights.  Maybe some views of the inside of the lodge or maybe even some of the deep snow outside – whichever way I decide to go I am going to be dressed for it.

Following all the active people who have decided to go trekking and skiing (I am not one of them) I take a deep breath, steel myself and exit the building.  The path to the Visitor Centre has been groomed and is clear, unfortunately the skating rink is still up to its barriers in snow.

Deciding to turn my cameras on the Visitor Centre, this is the view from one of the side entrances to the lodge.  The few people about to start trekking and skiing are making sure their skis or snow shoes are securely fastened to their feet.

My snow booted feet are firmly planted on solid ground, even though some parts are icy, it is about as adventurous as I plan to get.  Have a go at all that snow.  I didn’t realise how big the snowfall was last night until I was actually standing in part of it.

When all the active people have left I just sit and look out over the countryside and enjoy the stillness of the moment.  The cold air entering the lungs certainly makes me feel alive.  You can tell this is not going to be a blue-sky day but we have been assured that the skies will clear possibly tomorrow so at least we can be optimistic.

Time to walk down past the restaurant and discover some more snowy sights.  Out the back door and whoooo – these are the back steps – –

well I think steps may be the wrong choice of word even though they are under there somewhere.  Time also for a change of lens – fisheye for a different perspective.   It has started to snow but it doesn’t feel all that cold and I know that you may think that is because I am wearing all that clothing.  That could be part of it but there is no wind chill factor and it is quite enjoyable out here.

Doesn’t the falling snow look pretty?  This is only a small tree and it is taken with a zoom lens just to be on the safe side.

As we planned this holiday, Kylie was hiring some lenses so she hired a macro lens for me as I wanted to do some more close up photography.  I have not really done a lot of this but I would love to improve another element of my photography interests.  Maybe there will be opportunities for some macro later on?  Let’s hope so.

Unfortunately the depth of the snow has deterred me from any further advances; it’s really not the fact that I would be standing in hip deep snow with which I could cope and enjoy – it is how on earth would I get out without someone to help.  This, plus the amount of photo gear I have secreted in my pockets would make it a distinct possibility that I would become a permanent fixture until the Spring thaw!

Time for me to move on and back through the Lodge, past reception and out to the front of the building.

The front of the building seems to be the place to store your skis until they are needed for the next trek.  On closer inspection these skis are very narrow – I don’t remember my skis being that narrow but then again that was around 50 years ago.  Was is that long since I skied at Perisher Valley?  Lordy, lordy time sure flies.

Looking at these photos and all the photos of my adventures I always have some sort of regret that I didn’t do this or didn’t do that to get a better photo.  If I ever win lotto I will do them all again – but I digress – back to the snow – – –

Don’t you just love these lights – they seem to go so well with the snow.  Another regret is that I did not venture forth at night and get them when they were lit, but let’s not dwell on that.

When I have decided that I have investigated enough, it is time to return to the room and get ready for food.

Tonight we have decided to walk over to the Visitor Centre for a Ranger talk on Yellowstone.  This proves to be very interesting and as I am always interested in anything Yellowstone I am really looking forward to it.  Close to 7pm we head on over and into the new auditorium.  The talk and slides are great and considering this is all done gratis then I can thoroughly recommend these lectures to everyone and I am sure that they are also given during the warmer months.

The lights have come on and on the way back they look so pretty and don’t you agree that some night photography would not have gone astray.  Still I am glad that I got at least one night photo of those wonderful lights.

Once inside we decide that maybe something alcoholic or even some hot chocolate would not go astray so it’s off to the Firehole Bar for a nightcap.

There are a few people here and after the silence of the day it is hard to get used to the noise of their conversations.  We decide to order European Hot Chocolate with cream. Definitely these are not on the Weight Watchers listing but they will provide sustenance for the evening so that we can get a good start in the morning. We sit outside in the lobby where things are a bit quieter and there s a lady cellist further down near reception – now that’s a great atmosphere to partake of our tummy warmer.

We discuss our booked excursions for tomorrow – Day Tour of Yellowstone Grand Canyon and on Sunday – Madison Wildlife.  We will check at reception and see how many people are booked for these tours and take it from there.

After enjoying the remainder of our hot chocolate, reception tells us the tours are fully booked – that is not good.  We explore a different avenue – maybe we can cancel and book a private full day tour for just the three of us on Sunday?  Being cooped up on a snow coach with a full crew of Fakers is definitely not a fun way to spend a day and anyway we have seen the wildlife along the Madison when we did our photo tour.

So – hopefully if things work out – tomorrow is another free day and then we can book our private tour where there will be just the three of us plus our guide all alone in a snow coach – how exciting.

It has been a very relaxing day and even though there was not much action I am tired.

Maybe it is the thin air that drains the energy but then again I did not feel this tired on my previous visits.  Maybe it is the different season?  Who knows but it is still wonderful, which is great as I have been able to sleep almost immediately my head hits the pillow.

We have decided to do a bit of a walk tomorrow – just around Old Faithful so let’s hope that then we wake the skies will be clear for some lovely photographs.

Highlight of the day : once again all that snow