Beaver Ponds

Weather:  76º, sun 

About this Hike: Yesterday I took some time to explore the Mammoth Hot Springs at Yellowstone.  At the hot springs I noticed the Beaver Ponds Trailhead. 

Beaver Ponds ended up being a fantastic hike. As the name implies, it takes you into the woods beyond the hot springs and to several ponds. One of them had a distinct beaver dam, while another hiker told me she saw a beaver. I waited around the beaver dam for a while, but nobody poked his head up. 

I was nervous about wildlife, having read some previous reviews of this trail. However, I started mid morning and was accompanied by a good number of other hikers. Being as this is a loop, hikers were coming from both directions. 

A beaver sighting would have been nice, but in the end I saw no wildlife. Regardless, the scenery and views were spectacular. 

Undine Falls

Weather:  80º, clouds and sprinkles

About this Hike:  After the unpleasant heat at Hellroaring, a little rain shower was a welcome relief. I visited both Wraith Falls and Undine Falls, but Undine was the more noteworthy. The trail actually begins at Lava Creek Picnic Area. I mistakenly parked first at the Undine Falls Overlook. 

The trail goes through sagebrush meadow and eventually a short side trail leads to an overlook at the top of the falls. The All Trails map continues on past this point, so I decided to see where it would lead.

Eventually the falls come into view again, but this time a lot more distant. On the hike back I noted that Wraith Falls was visible in the distance. 

Hellroaring Creek

Weather:  88º, sun and clouds

About this Hike:  After Monument, I headed to the north end of Yellowstone. Hellroaring was one of the original hikes on my itinerary. I noted this one last fall during a family trip to Yellowstone where we drove through Lamar Valley.

This hike ended in a hell-roarin' disappointment. One mile down a steep embankment, the trail reaches the Yellowstone River. A sturdy steel suspension bridge traverses the chasm. The railings are high, but they are see-thru metal mesh. It's as safe a crossing as you'll ever find. But I couldn't do it. I have severe fear of heights, and seeing down on both sides triggered a panic attack when I attempted the crossing. Sadly, my fear of heights is a hinderance to the outdoor activities I love so much... 

I intended to go one more mile to see the namesake Hellroaring Creek, but it never happened. The hike back up from the bridge was very hot and unpleasant. This wasn't one of my favorites in Yellowstone. 

Monument Geyser

Weather:  86º, sun 

About this Hike:  Monument Geyser Trailhead caught my eye while driving into the park yesterday. After my first day in Yellowstone I did some research. Monument would be my inaugural Day 2 hike. 

The hike initially parallels the Gibbon River then goes through thick lodgepole pine forest. While elevation gain is less than 1,000 feet, it comes at you fast. The climb up to the geyser basin is steep and was challenging in the high-altitude summer heat.

The reward at the end of this trail consists of a chalky geyser basin and some steaming thermal features. There's a small drainage channel from a hot spring, and the water was still sizzling. I carefully used the rocks placed over it to step accross.

Based on the dry drainage channels, I would say Monument Geyser does erupt, but I am unsure of when and how often. It was quiet when I visited. 

Ice Lake and Little Gibbon Falls

 Weather:  86º, sun 

About this Hike:  Ice Lake to Little Gibbon Falls is a loop hike. It goes back into thick lodgepole pine forest and then the namesake lake comes into view. Views are seldom very sweeping, as the lake is surrounded by thick forest. 

It was on this hike that I first began to feel very vulnerable to bears and other potentially hostile wildlife. It didn't help that shortly after starting I dropped my bear spray somewhere on the trail. Thankfully I was able to backtrack and find it. Besides being risky to not carry bear spray in Yellowstone, this one was a rental, so not returning would have cost. 

Having made it around the lake, I did two stream crossings and then reached Little Gibbon Falls. The falls were pretty, and it was in this area that I had my first encounter with another hiking group. I had been completely alone up until then.

After the falls the trail ends at the main road. I didn't realize when I planned this that a little bit of a road hike was necessary to close the loop. Regardless this was a good first 'back country' hike in Yellowstone.

Mt. Washburn via Dunraven

Weather:  77º, sun 

About this Hike:   This was my first hike in Yellowstone National Park. The plan was to climb Mt. Washburn to the fire lookout on top. 

The hike was along an old road which appeared to be decommissioned. I wondered how the park rangers  get up to the top to staff the tower. It turns out a newer road comes up the back side of the mountain. People were also hiking up the active service road.

The trail I took wound through wildflower-filled meadows and mountainous forest. Eventually it gave way to more tundra-like landscape. 

The fire lookout at the top was more substantive than just a simple cabin supported by four tall legs. This tower is set in concrete with multiple levels. The ground floor contained a visitor center with signs to read, a telescope, and restrooms. There are communications antenna and monitoring devices all over the tower. I had full cell service at the top. 

Gneiss Creek

Weather:  77º, sun 

About this Hike:  This hike kicked off the next four days in Yellowstone National Park. Originally I wanted to do either Fawn Pass or Bighorn Pass from trailheads on US 191 north of West Yellowstone. 

Being as I arrived in West Yellowstone late this afternoon, Gneiss Creek was a similar, but closer alternative. Just like the original two trails, Gneiss eventually traverses across the Yellowstone park boundary. I was also surprised at how late the sun sets here. It was settled; Gneiss would be an after-dinner kickoff hike.

The wildflowers in the meadows along Gneiss were stunning. I followed the trail down to the first creek crossing. I was getting uneasy, as it was getting near dusk and that's when bear and other wildlife often become active. 

I never saw any wildlife, but the mosquitos were awful down by the creek. I didn't stay long.

Returning to the trailhead, I made up my mind that I was no longer interested in Bighorn or Fawn Passes. These trails looked long, rugged, and with potential to encounter hostile wildlife. I decided I wanted to maximize my time in the national park starting tomorrow.