We stayed in one of the campgrounds at West Yellowstone in Montana and drove the car into the park the first day.  A road closure meant we couldn't do the upper loop of the park.  Instead we went as far as Mammoth Hot Springs and then turned around.  The following day we drove the RV down by Old Faithful and out the South Entrance to the park.  The devastation caused by the 1988 fires in Yellowstone was apparent throughout the park.  One of the Visitors Centers had a wonderfully educational section devoted to the fires.  The geysers, hot pools and animals, the features for which Yellowstone is best known, were unchanged by the fires.  Actually, the landscape of forests and meadows, of lodgepole pine and aspens, is created and maintained by fire.   Lodgepole pines bear two types of cones, one that opens on its own and another that is covered by a waxy substance that keeps the cone closed and will survive for twenty years or more.   Fires over 113 degrees will melt the cones and release the seed.  Many young lodgepole pines are everywhere, the results of these seeds released in the fire.   Mother Nature takes care of itself!

We saw several eagles, geese, herds of elk, and other birds.  Although there are Moose and Bison in the park, we didn't see any this trip.

Click on each thumbnail to see larger picture.
Large Elk	Herd	Yellowstone River	Panoramic View	Geyser Area	Old Faithful	Reseeded Area	Leaving

Once again, Gerry dragged me off to another classic car rally with over 200 cars and he had to see them all.  But I have to admit that this was one of the best shows we've seen.   Here's a sample of some of the cars: