What's better than spending your birthday in YELLOWSTONE?!?

Thursday, July 16th, Jenn's 31st birthday... Ben and Jenn hop in the car and cruise up to Yellowstone National Park. It took about 5 hours to drive through Idaho to get to the West Yellowstone entrance to the park. They only had two days to see all the sights but were really looking forward to this vacation. They had a map and the route all planned out. They also had a list of animals that they wanted to see before they left. They both wanted to see bison/buffalo, elk, and bears. Ben really wanted to see a wolf, while Jenn really wanted to see a bull moose. Jenn had a really hard time narrowing more than 300 pictures down to the few you will see here. Enjoy!

Here is Jenn at the entrance to the park in West Yellowstone.

Ben had explained to Jenn what typically happens in Yellowstone: The animals are so used to being around people and they hang out right on the side of the road, if not IN the road. Ben and Jenn didn't have any problems with animals in the road, but they had lots of problems with other tourists stopping in the middle of the road, blocking traffic, just to take a picture. "Come on, people! Pull over and get out of the way!"

When they finally got into the park, around 1:30pm, they were starved and were looking for a place to picnic. Nope. Instead they got backed up in traffic. It was a little exciting to see what animal had caused the bottle-neck but mostly it was a pain in the butt. Just waiting... not sure when the cars ahead would move.

When they finally got to the cause of the commotion, they

were surprised to see a beautiful bald eagle and a nest... with BABIES!

Once past the eagles, they pulled off the road and
ate a picnic next to Gibbon River.

Back on the road, they came to another bottleneck. This time there were several cow elk resting on the other side of Gibbon River.

It was cool to see these animals... until one cow elk jumped in the river and started swimming toward our side of the river. She wanted to eat some pesky tourists who got too close. Not Ben and Jenn, of course, because as soon as that elk jumped into the river, Jenn ran away.

Jenn's a chicken. She doesn't look scary, right? Jenn was convinced, though, that elk was coming to get HER.

Next on their stop through Yellowstone was Beryl Springs. This is just one of the stinky, boiling pots of sulfur and other minerals. Cool colors, though, caused by algae and really tough bacteria.

The water looks nice and inviting, but really it is beyond the boiling point. You WILL die if you get in this water. There were several signs warning tourists that it is against the law to leave the man-made walk ways. "Yeah, you don't need to tell me twice." Ben, on the other hand, needed several reminders.

Next stop on their lovely tour of Yellowstone was the Artists' Paintpots. This trail was about 1/3 mile one way and worth the hike. Although it stunk (and there weren't pink paintpots), it was beautiful.

This is the view from the top of the trail at Artists' Paintpots.

It's amazing the different colors that algae and bacteria create.

This paintpot looks like it needs to be stirred.

"I don't know who would want to paint their house this color." :)

This is Emeral Spring. One of many springs and geysers near Steamboat Geyser.

Between Upper and Lower Falls, they finally saw some bison/buffalo. There were a few more further back in the trees, but these big boys were right up next to the road. Incredible. One man standing nearby said, "Someone get him to chase you. That will make a good picture. One, two, three: not it." That man was funny. Okay, really he wasn't.

Ben hates having his picture taken, so Jenn

sneaked a shot while he was distracted. Hee hee.

Jenn doesn't mind having her picture taken.

In fact, you will notice that she is in several of the next shots.

Here she is at Beryl Spring.

Oh, look. Here she is again at Artists' Paintpots. No, the arrow is not pointing at her leg. There are no paintpots in her shorts.

Here is Jenn again at the Lower Falls of Yellowstone River.

Here Jenn is standing in front of Biscuit Basin. Mmm, biscuits.

Again, here's Jenn. Sitting in front of Firehole Falls.

Ben may not like having his picture taken, but he is a pretty good photographer.

This is Sheepeater Cliff. These rock formations are nuts. They look like they were stacked intentionally by someone. "I wish I had read the sign to learn more.

Oh, well."

This is the face that Ben makes when you ask to take his picture. Just FYI.

But he agreed to have his picture taken while sitting atop a rock in Gardner River near Sheepeater Cliff.

"My turn," says Jenn. That water was bitter. Bitter cold.

This is Wraith Falls off of Lava creek. This waterfall was 1/2 mile off the road but, again, worth the hike. It was so peaceful with only a few other tourists passing by.

This is a petrified tree. "It looks scared to me." :)

This picture was taken in the Old Faithful Lodge. Ben and Jenn weren't sure if they would ever see a bear, so they hoped that this picture would suffice.

Also, in the Old Faithful Lodge was this nuts, huge fireplace. It is 3 stories high and a good 12 feet wide at the base. And there is a dead animal head on it. Gross.

Speaking of the Old Faithful Lodge. Ben booked a room for the night in one of the adorable little cabins.

This is the gorgeous view from right outside their cabin door.

Jenn, hamming it up, again, in front of their cabin. Cabin #221. So little, and so cute.

This cabin was so little it didn't even have a toilet or a shower. Just a sink. Weird. They used the sink, of course, but... weird.

(sorry about the blur. forgot the change the camera setting)

Don't tell Ben but Jenn sneaked another shot of him collapsing onto one the beds in the teeny cabin. They were both very tired and very dirty from playing outside during their first day at Yellowstone.

The cabins and lodge wouldn't be called Old Faithful Lodge for no reason, right? Right. You could throw a rock and hit the Old Faithful Geyser from the teeny cabins. Luckily Old Faithful is quiet. It is aptly named because it spouts like clockwork every 90 minutes. Ben and Jenn were lucky enough to catch the show just as the sun was setting.

There was a large crowd gathered to watch the geyser... including a big, fat buffalo. Ben and Jenn didn't even notice him as they found their seats for the performance. It wasn't until he started snorting and rooting around that they saw him. Crazy.

After the display at Old Faithful Geyser, Ben and Jenn took one last picture before heading back to the lodge for ICE CREAM!

As Ben is snapping a second picture (just in case) Jenn says,

"What's that noise?"

What is Jenn looking at?

Remember that huge buffalo by the geyser? Yeah, now he is rolling around in the dirt. The crowd is laughing hysterically. The buffalo, then, gets pissed off. He stands up and starts stamping his hoof and grunting. And, once again, Jenn-the-chicken runs away. "Duh, that beast is 5 feet away. I'm getting out of here."

Back in the car, there is yet another delay on the road. This time there is a bull elk hiding in the fallen trees. Can you see him? It's like playing 'Where's Waldo'.

Let me zoom in for you. There, is that better?

Now can you see him? His antlers, at least.

Ben and Jenn's favorite part of the trip was Blacktail Plauteau Drive. This was a 6 mile dirt road that somewhat paralleled the main road, but it was rarely traveled and very scenic. Best part of the trip. As they are driving along, they noticed a coyote inches from the passenger side of the car. He is just sitting there. Now, Jenn, being a chicken and sitting in the passenger seat, rolls up her window with super high speed. "I don't want him to jump in the window." Right, like he's going to jump in the window. Instead, he trots off down the road. Jenn snaps a picture of his butt as he walks away, then starts yelling, "Ben, back up!" Ben whips the car into reverse and they chase that poor man down the road until they meet another car. Who, by the way, get a better shot of the coyote as he is walking right in front of their car. "I hope they are grateful that we decided to chase him backwards. Otherwise, they never would have seen that coyote."

Jenn didn't know her car could drive in reverse that fast. Thankfully Ben is an expert backward driver. Cute little coyote.

See the guy hanging out his window taking advantage of the free shot? Jerk.

After the coyote adventure they spotted another little man. This time it was a Uinta ground squirrel. He's pretty cute, too.

At this point on Blacktail Plateau Drive, Jenn is all eyes. She is convinced that she is going to see another animal. Preferably a bull moose or a bear. Nope. This time it was a Mule deer. Not a bear or moose but still awesome.

It is getting near the end of day two and Ben and Jenn are on their way out of Yellowstone. They had a good time but are disappointed that they didn't see a wolf, bull moose, or bear. Oh, well. Maybe next time.

What's this? Another traffic jam? Of course. It's probably something stupid, like a mouse. Tons of cars are simply stopped in the road and people are getting out and walking up to where a crowd of people are looking up the hillside. After about 20 minutes of waiting in the car, Jenn hops out and Ben tells her to keep walking and he will pick her up past the road block. Jenn, armed with her camera, looks up the hillside.

Do you see it?

It's a bear!!! A grizzly bear! Finally! Jenn is so excited to tell Ben. She snaps off only about 30 pics and races to the car. This was such an awesome vacation. It is incredible that these animals live here without the fear of hunters. Ben and Jenn can't wait until their next trip to Yellowstone. Next time they hope to see a bull moose and the elusive wolf.

"Happy birthday to ME!"