In late July, I travelled to Yellowstone National Park with three colleagues.  Unfortunately, this was a whirlwind tour of the park so Michelle and Cooper did not join me for such a short trip.  We flew into Billings, Montana and drove into the park from the north entrance.  This trip was unique for me since I got to stay in three of grand old inns/lodges/hotels in the park staying at Old Faithful Inn, Lake Yellowstone Hotel, and the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel.

All photo credits go to Aaron Roth.  He took some beautiful shots.  (I forgot my camera).

Roosevelt Arch at the north entrance of the park.  

07/17/06

 Old Faithful Inn from the geyser field.  The Inn was built in 1903-04.  It is currently being

retrofitted in a multi-year project primarily to improve seismic stability.  It is beautiful inside.

The main lobby is a seven-story open space with a grand fireplace.

07/18/06

Large wildfires occurred in Yellowstone in 1988.  Vegetation is starting to

come back in some areas while a few other are still barren.  The following shots

were taken at the summit of Lake Butte near Sedge Bay.

Sunset over Lake Yellowstone from Lake Butte

On Wednesday night we went on wagon ride and cookout in Pleasant Valley.

This is a meadow about 3 miles from Roosevelt Lodge.  Pleasant Valley was the sight of the Pleasant Valley

Hotel which was one of the earliest lodging facilities in the park.  The hotel was built between around 1890

and served early park visitors and miners passing through the area.  The hotel is no longer standing.

07/19/06

We stayed at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel the last two nights in the park.

07/20/06

Mammoth Hot Springs

A large herd of bison in the Lamar Valley on our way out of the park.

07/21/06

We headed out the northeast entrance along the Beartooth Highway.  It was stunning.