Our first day was spent at touristy sites, so spectacular looking but very busy. At the West Thumb geyser basin a mum elk and 3 babies along with a male elk and 2 other females have chosen to jump over the fences and spend time next to the warm thermal springs. The sound of the elk calls was stirring.

We had to go and see Old Faithful as well as the many other geysers around this site. You spend all your time in an active volcanic crater with 1,000 to 3,000 earthquakes every year. Trees die around the thermal springs from the acidic outpourings, but the wildlife reseeds everything.

Morning Glory pool

Old Faithful

yet another geyser