This day is a bit different from the other three days. We were anticipating a 9 hour driving day to get back to Cor D'Alene where we would spend a night. We had to repack stuff for a one night hotel stay and we had to pack the car with everything again. Each day we had been putting our laundry into white bags and into the car so that the room did not get too full. The big suitcase was almost empty. We reloaded our small carry on cases with one night in mind. The box of equipment was organized and the ice chest was restocked with ice bags. Camera equipment was still an active part of the trip because were were spending the first 4 hours in the park. After eating breakfast and packing everything, we were ready to check out and hit the road at 8am.
The goal of this last day was to drive to the NW entrance/exit and see the last part of the Grand Staircase/Mammoth hot springs. It was Friday and there was no traffic at the entrance to the Park. Odd feeling. We drove into the park and down the familiar 14 mile stretch to the junction. We headed north and this time we decided to enter the Norris Geyser Basin area. Parking lot was empty. There was a long dirt walkway between some tall trees and I could not see what was at the end. I could not tell how long the walk would be or what was at the end. I decided I had seen many geysers now and didn't need this one. We left and went north.
Driving North, we once again passed the Gibbon Falls and didn't stop. We passed familiar sights and debated whether we wanted to stop again. There was a place where the steam from a hot spring ran under the road and made a fog bank over the road. We stopped for some steamy pictures, then went on. There was no wild life, few cars, and not much to look at until we passed the upper level of the Mammoth Hot Springs.
We wound down the hill to the bottom of the Mammoth Hot Springs area and parked in the first parking lot. There was a wooden path up to a viewing area but I didn't go. Stairs and tired legs from wandering around made me want to relax on this day. I wanted to conserve for the long drive. Then we went to the second parking lot. There was an area I could climb to and sit in my chair. The view was OK but to get the really good pictures you have to go up more and climb stairs. This is a massive feature and I preferred the top area to the lower area. The moon was setting over the springs so we got some artsy shots.
About an hour later we were headed to the village at the North West gate. This was the first village at the park. It provided for the staff and rangers. There is a post office, some restaurants, hotels and housing. It is quite large and had some interesting architecture. We drove down the hill to find some restrooms before we exited the park. I didn't get out here to check for accessibility. There was lots of parking and handicap spaces but nothing I was interested in seeing. We skipped the gift shop and headed to the exit. Getting to the exit was a long drive. I was surprised. We drove along the Yellowstone river for awhile, through a gorge. People were fishing. Then we saw the Entrance/Exit gate and left.
It took us about 4 hours to get out of the park, because we dawdled at each stop, but now we were on the road home. We had to wiggle around in a small city outside of the Park to get to the main highway, but before we knew it we were headed west and out into the wild rolling hills. It was really rather boring landscape after seeing so much inside the park. We stopped to take pictures of a herd of pronghorn. Then we went on, and on, and on. Montana is a big state. There are some interesting differences at some of the rest stops. There is one kind that is mostly for truckers. Little out house, big parking lot. No other stuff. Then there area the regular rest stops with real toilets and picnic areas. There are look out points with no facilities and nothing really to look at. And we decided to stop at a Rest Stop for lunch around 2pm. This was OK because we were going to fall back one hour on the clock due to passing a time zone. It was really only 1pm. I made sandwiches. We had yogurt and fruit.
The drive to Missoula was almost 4 hours from the Park Exit. It was 4 hours from Missoula to the West Yellowstone Entrance. We still had another 4 hours to drive to Cor D'Alene. We got gas in Missoula at the Costco and headed on. We decided to get gas in the morning in Cor D'Alene. I was really tired. We ate a salad and crashed for the night. The drive home somehow was more difficult than the drive out. We missed the last rest stop before descending into the Seattle vortex and there was no place to pull out and have lunch. We had to pass Marysville before we could change drivers. I was the passenger and Eduard was driving for 3 hours in stop and go traffic. Saturday in the Seattle suburbs. We pulled over into the rest stop after Marysville and ate in the car. There was a homeless group working the area and intimidating people.
This blog is about accessibility in Yellowstone National Park. I have to say there were limitations but there were also wonderful things to experience. I managed to get to most of the major sites, have some reasonable walking with a walker or cane and enjoy the experience. Nobody was rude or impatient. I did have to tone down my expectations. I cannot walk or hike like I once did. But it was still fulfilling.
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