Day 46 (7/11): Miles traveled: ~ 250

Location: Yellowstone, ending at Best Western in Billings, MT

Science: air quality measurements (both particulate counter and MicroTops measurements) in Billings, MT

When we woke up in Colter Bay Campground, the sun looked like this:

The mountains looked like this -- 

And then, right before Yellowstone National Park, we saw evidence of past wildfires -- 

We first stopped at Old Faithful. It was crowded and very hot. Rosie was fading already. 

We were lucky to only have to wait 35 minutes for the geyser to blow -- 

Next stop was the Grand Prismatic Springs.....it was even hotter now, and we were hiking by hot springs delivering more heat into the air.........

The hike was a bit too much for Rosie, who stated often and loudly that she "felt worse than she had the last time she had the flu," but the views were incredible. 

Here was Rosie's first response to our view at the end of the hike -- 

But when I told her how the colors in the hot springs occur, and the cool bacteria involved, she perked right up -- 

Just kidding. I told her we would get ice cream at the next stop. 

Anyway -- such an impressive display of the power of thermophiles! I love being a microbiologist.

After that hike (I wasn't sure we'd make it back -- the heat wafting off the tiny (and very cute) little hot springs pools on the way back almost did us both in. I also forgot to bring enough water. Anyway -- we next saw an incredible river canyon, and a very dry Mammoth Hot Springs. 

As we exited Yellowstone National Park, we were hit by a fast-moving thunderstorm, which was the first time I had encountered rain since Grand Isle, LA. 

Our final stop for the day was the Best Western in Billings, MT -- every campground we tried to get into before that was overflowing......and the hotel room we got was one of the last available.