Mammoth Hot Springs

Leaving Brock and Leola to pack up their motor home for moving day (July 11) Duane and I played tourist in Yellowstone for the morning.

This time we stopped to explore Mammoth Hot Springs, which gave its name to the town.  We arrived about 10am, before the crush of  late-rising tourists began to filter in.  We were able to find a parking spot right away just across the street from the foot of the area.

The hillside is accessed by wooden boardwalks with steps between several tiers.

We walked across the street and joined the other site-seers ambling along taking pictures of the formations and reading info boards.

As we wandered around we were surprised to find that things weren't always what they seemed at first glance.  

Here a mule deer has found something tasty to graze on.

 

These rock tiers with a pool at their feet

are actually travertine like all the other formations.  This one is active.  It has boiling water springs flowing down the formations

and trickling down the hillside in a little stream.

Some of the formations are inactive now, and may or may not become active again.

If we ever return to the area, this formation could look like the "rock steps" above.

After we were done exploring the "hill" we walked to the area adjacent to our parking lot.In this area is an historic house maintained by the park which is being threatened by this area, creeping down the hill toward the rear of the house.

Back on the bike we rode up the hill to see the top of the hot springs.  Here we found some active and some inactive formations haphazardly scattered around the area.  It looked like a war zone with hot water and travertine vying against living trees, bushes, and grass.   It was hard to tell which side was winning.

 

What a contrast with this area between the foot of the Hot Springs and the restroom,  between the one lone mule deer scavenging for a bite and an elk herd lazily digesting their morning meal of rich green grass!

Next, moving days.

Louise and Duane