WY - Yellowstone
when things slow down, memories always seem to rise to the surface and beg to be examined. Surely this year is one to reflect upon.
I believe everyone has felt a very full spectrum of emotions this year. I personally went through cycles filled with sorrow, joy, frustration, relief, indifference, triumph, and so, so many more. Some days felt like a battle, while others simply ‘were’. It felt like 2020 flew by, but at the same time SO. MUCH. HAPPENED. When I think back over this year, like many, my first instinct is to tally up all of the negatives of the year; they are so easy to recall. But if I’m really being honest, this year was a turning point year for me. Yes awful things happened, but so did quite a few good things which would have been impossible without the bad. So although we can go through some of the bad bits, let’s not forget to acknowledge the highlights as well. Some of mine include:
The Downs:
My 2020 September wedding was postponed
My grandfather passed away
Hardly leaving my apartment for months (A combination of staying safe and nowhere open to go to)
Letting myself get out of shape in part due to reason number 3 but also because I thrive on routine, and let’s face it - there was nothing ‘routine’ about this year.
The Ups:
Co-founded a company with one of my best friends!
Able to work from home and keep Mika with me throughout the day.
More time to get back into hobbies that I had let slip away due to getting caught up in a busy, stressful schedule.
More time to save and plan an amazing wedding and honeymoon.
Took this incredible trip to Yellowstone with my fiance as a consolation to our re-scheduled wedding
Although Bryce and I had made the decision to postpone our September wedding by Mid-April, we didn’t cancel the flights for our honeymoon until August. But it had to be done. To commemorate our would-be wedding date we planned a week long trip to Yellowstone National Park instead!
Yellowstone is of course beautiful, and fascinating - BUT. The coolest part by far is the amount of wild life you can observe (relatively) up close.
Animals we encountered:
An eagle
So many bison
A momma moose and her two babies
An ‘orphan’ moose
Lots of squirrels and chipmunks
Ducks
A field mouse
A herd of pronghorn gazelle
A wild bison!* We actually saw SO many! - probably around 10 in the actual park and then a large herd on our way to Jackson Hole, WY.
*Disclaimer - I took this photo from the safety of our car quite a ways away. You should NOT approach the wildlife.
A family of Elk! How many do you count? (Don’t forget the babies hiding in the grass!)
The beautiful colors of the geyser run-off, pools and springs took me by surprise. In today’s age of photoshop and filters I truly did not think they would be so vivid in person!
Pro Tip: Grand Prismatic Spring is one of the largest tourist destinations in Yellowstone (along with Old Faithful and The Yellowstone ‘Grand Canyon’) But what they don’t tell you is that the best way to actually see the Spring and all its beautiful colors is from overlook on the way up to Fairy Falls. If you park at the turn-off labeled as Grand Prismatic Spring, you actually won’t be able to see much of the spring at all. The turn off is still worth checking out though for the up close view and to see the Excelsior Geyser Crater. Just make sure to also walk the .5 miles to the overlook too!
“Nature always wears the colors of the spirit”
Sapphire Pool - Biscuit Basin
This was by far my favorite pool of water! And you know what? I didn’t read about it anywhere during my trip research. The entire Biscuit Basin loop, waterfall and overlook were entirely worth the hike in my opinion.
The Yellowstone ‘Grand Canyon’
“Ah, September! You are the doorway to the season that awakens my soul.”
The best part about traveling to the mid-west in September, was all of the fall colors - The #1 thing I miss now that I live in sunny San Diego. Although most of the trees remained lush and green, painted golden ash trees and grasses scattered the plains.
On the way to Fairy Falls
The Yellowstone Grand Canyon is another one of those ‘must’ see places. There are four main overlook points at which to experience this place, and I highly recommend visiting all of them! If you drive along North Rim Drive you can park at each overlook point directly or simply take the short hike along the canyon between them.
Artists Point
The Yellowstone ‘Grand Canyon’
