Paging Zen- Yellowstone

[RacetrackRejects]

Ok Zen, as our resident national parks explorer, the bf and I are going to Yellowstone in June most likely. If the bf cant' get vacation then, it will be end of July. Is there anything you recommend as must dos? Any vital info I should know ahead of time?

[ZenRider]

Haven't been there in many years and will be going after you and your boyfriend at the end of August. So I may take some tips from you after your trip. ;D

From what I remember and have been checking into:
First of all in June the day temps are usually in the upper 60's lower 70'sF, but the night temps can in the 40's or even have a light frost on your tent (if you are camping) in the morning. That's the mountains for you.
From there, best tip I can give is get out of the car and hike as many trails as you can.
Check at the visitor center for ranger walks. Talk to the rangers, they can give you an idea of what might be extra interesting at that time.
Of course, I don't think anyone is allowed to go to Yellowstone without visiting Old Faithful. It really is pretty neat and when I was there with my grandparents, years ago, one of geysers near by went off that hadn't for several centuries or more. The rangers were quite excited. So, you just never know what you might see. ;D
The Fountain Paint Pot was pretty cool and the Mud Volcano too. The Lower Yellowstone Falls was an awesome sight.

As for the wildlife, remember docile as they may seem at the moment, they are wild. Give them room, lots of it. Grizzly bears even more. Like a horse, don't sneak up on any of them.

Anyway, here's a link to the official park page: www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm

If you have time the Grand Tetons are beautiful too.

Don't know how much time you have, but a white water raft trip in Jackson Hole can be a lot of fun. ;D
In June the water's kind of cold, but the waves are at their highest/most fun!
If you really want to abuse your boyfriend there are some trail rides with lunch or dinner or both options too.

Can't wait to see your pictures.

[RacetrackRejects]

Thanks Zen!!

While I wanted to do Yellowstone under Canvas and stay in a fancy tent, the bf said that no matter how fancy, he was not staying in a tent. He found some little cabins to rent and that's what we are getting. I will be there from June 27-July1, but I'm flying into SLC and we are driving to Yellowstone, so it's not a ton of time. BF did mention the Grand Tetons as well, but not sure we'll have time this trip.

I wanted to do a horseback ride but bf was worried it would be too boring following a guide around. I still might talk him into it. BF wants to do some sort of water excursion, be it kayaking, canoeing, or rafting.

I plan on layering clothes as that's what the bf said is the best strategy for the area.

I can't wait to TAKE pictures! LOL. I'm already stressing over buying an extra battery and more SD cards.

[ZenRider]

Pretty sure this is the one I went out with one of the years I went through there. snakeriverwhitewater.com/ Pretty sure this is the one the guide took a rapid that we shouldn't have avoiding other rafters. Let's just say all I could see was a small hole of sky and a lot of water and the people across from me! The guy across from me could only see water and the look on the faces across from him! We only had one person pop out and all ended well. OK, It WAS AWESOME! OK, later learned why they aren't supposed to go through that section is people have died there. Did I mention it was awesome? As scary things are that one survives. Don't think that happens very often.

[niaru]

Whitewater rafting is so much FUN! Glad you survived, Zen

And RR, I am so jealous! I want to go to Yellowstone too, some day, before I'm all crippled and old!
Have FUN and take TONS of pictures and come post them here! I hope you get to ride, too.

Years and years ago, hubby, his parents, and I went on a 3 week camping trip out west. It was great, we camped the whole time, we hiked Zion, Arches, Bryce, Canyonland, Lake Powell, Canyon de Chelly (with a Navajo guide, since it's reservation land - a 8 hour hike in the sun, I thought my MIL was going to DIE!) and then, I FORCED everyone on a 2 hour horseback ride in Monument Valley with a 15 year old Navajo boy as guide, to whom I said we were "game" for anything he might throw at us. My in-laws had never been on a horse, I think, or very few times. Yet they trotted and cantered with us anyway, hanging on for dear life to those western saddles! It took all of them a while to recover from that ride....Hahahaha!
( I am evil)

Anyway...HAVE A BLAST!

[ZenRider]

You could come out with me Niaru. When do you have to be back to your classes?

[niaru]

Oh I wish I could Zen, but by then I'll have exhausted all my "fun budget" for a year and a half (until Rolex '14!). Plus I'll need that time to prepare for Fall semester. But you, too, must take lots of pics and report!

[RacetrackRejects]

Zen that sounds terrifying and like a complete blast all at the same time. I think I would rather do rafting than canoeing, but we'll see. One place I looked at was $800/person which is a little over budget!! I will check out the place you linked though.

Niaru that sounds like my sort of vacation!

I think the bf thinks that I will be bored on a trail ride, but I'm rarely, if ever, bored while on the back of a horse.

I'm so super excited. My new camera lens should be in soon. I will probably post more photos than you guys care to look at. lol I'm hoping that I get enough good ones to make bf and myself a photo book of our trip.

[Bara]

Bring on the pictures! And give my love to Yogi and Boo-Boo!

[adcooper]

Have a wonderful time! My daughter lives in Idaho, and has been all over the mountains and rivers there. It's so beautiful.

[RacetrackRejects]

Great photos Ad!!

My boyfriend is actually living in Idaho at the moment as well. He's near Pocatello.

[ZenRider]

Your daughters always have great pictures Ad.

RR, $800! Hmmm, now is that for a day trip or a several days trip?
The day trips seem to run between $70 and $120 or so depending on how long the trip is, size of boat and whatever.

Sue and I tend to rent horses when we've gone to Mackinac Island, so nothing weird there. After all, what better way to enjoy the scenery then from the back of a horse. ;D

[RacetrackRejects]

Apparently the $800 people meet you with lunch and take on a wildlife tour.

I would love to rent horses and cruise and take pics. I'm still working on the boyfriend, but since he was thrown from his mother's horse yesterday, I'm thinking it's a no..lol.

[ZenRider]

Ah Ha! perfect. Tell him a ride on a nice safe dude horse is just what he needs. ;D

Eight hundred bucks for a float and a wildlife tour? Must be one hell of a tour. Mostly as in my experiences with wildlife, they just don't always participate.

They didn't go rafting with me, but pretty sure this is the place my grandparents went with me on a breakfast trail ride. I do know that is the last time they both ever got on a horse. In Cody they let me go on a trail ride by myself. What can I say, they were awesome grandparents! The guide was pretty impressed on the Cody ride when I got the horse I was riding to pass another horse during one of the canters. ;D Anyway, the place in Jackson Hole: www.millironranch.net/trail-rides.html They even have a full day with lunch and dinner.

I'm definitely doing the rafting trip, but not sure I'm going to do the other by myself. Frankly, I'm kinda playing everything by ear, but have done my research just in case.

[ZenRider]

Niaru, there's still time. You can work on your school plans while I drive. Just think, you could use pictures from the trip for some of your lessons. You know, me in a tree waiting out an upset bear/elk/moose....