Yellowstone Lake Hike

Friday, we drove from Cody to Jackson via the East Entrance of Yellowstone National Park. The drive west from Cody was nothing short of jaw-dropping. Chelsea, sitting in the front seat next to me, got upset as I poked her for the umpteenth time to put down the Gameboy and iPod and LOOK OUT THE WINDOW! So sometimes I would play the Blackfield II or "psychedelic" and atmospheric Porcupine Tree of old as a soundtrack to the spectacular vistas unfolding before us.





I decided we should take a short hike in Yellowstone before driving south to Jackson. How could we not?! As we passed over the north end of the lake, I found a trail head near Indian Pond/Mary Bay (just east of Fishing Bridge). We could not stop hiking, since it was such a beautiful day, and this short stroll and stretch of the legs became a 2.5-mile loop hike. It was 80 degrees and sunny with a nice coolish breeze blowing off the lake. I have not spent much time in this area of the park but I want to come back here again. There were only a few people on this trail and that made it so enjoyable compared to the Old Faithful area, which can be unbearably crowded in the summer.

Lupine Growing near Yellowstone Lake

The weather was terrific and it was exciting to be back in Yellowstone but the overwhelming sense of relief I had I think had more to do with the smell of the pine trees and the blooming flowers. I really felt like I was home again. It's really hard to describe what I felt that day but I just felt happy to be back. I could breathe again...