July 2012 - Yellowstone

Our time in the USA is running out so we chose two must-see places that we wanted to see before we leave. The first one is Yellowstone.

Yellowstone is famous for exceptional volcanic activities. It has the highest density of geysers and hot springs in the world. Although we heard and read about Yellowstone, we were amazed by the diversity of colors, shapes and forms in and around the hot springs. While walking between the geysers, we saw two geysers erupting simultaneously to a height of a few tens of meters.

As this was happening, Lotem lost a tooth and we had a long discussion on the probability of these three events happening together. Lotem concluded (and it is probably true) that this is the first time a kid ever lost a tooth while watching these two geysers erupt simultaneously.

Waiting for the eruption of Old Faithful (the most famous geyser - due to its predictability, not its size).

In addition to the geysers, Yellowstone has beautiful mountains, lakes, canyons and waterfalls.

	In the background – bison

Hiking in the large canyon of Yellowstone – smaller than the Grand Canyon, but as impressive.

The longest hike that we did included a visit to a waterfall and a walk through a plain with geysers and hot springs

Unfortunately, the plain was also filled with biting flies

At the end of the trail we were rewarded by swimming next to where a hot spring flows into a snow-melted river

We saw so many animals that we were constantly reminded of an African Savannah.

We saw bison, elk, Pronghorn, Bighorn Sheep, Red Squirrel, Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel, Least Chipmunk, Yellow-Bellied Marmot and even Wolves and Bears.

Michal was very worried by the bears. Although millions of people travel in Yellowstone every year and the number of bear attacks is almost zero, this is one of those fears that is hard to control.

Our first encounter did not help too much. We saw people standing by the side of the road. We got out of the car and spotted a huge bear not too far. At the same time, an additional group of people came from the other side

The bear stood on his hind legs, looked around and then started running towards us for a few seconds that seemed like hours. We ran back to our car and did not dare to get out. Afterwards we realized that it was a black bear that is not dangerous and we were not actually in a dangerous situation.

Moran's logic that getting injured by a bear is less probable than getting hit by lightning did not reassure Michal.

Especially when at the following day a woman was killed by lightning in the area where we were hiking.

We managed also to see a family of Grizzly Bears across the river through binoculars. It was fascinating and not scary at all.

Moran scares Maayan in an educational center on bears.

Although there is a very slight probability that Zoe will remember this trip, she enjoyed her first flight, car drives (usually), hotel, bath, hiking and mostly the attention from her big brother and sister.