CHANGES IN ELEVATION - ALTITUDE ADJUSTMENT

START  :   Thermopolis, WY         TODAY:          172  Miles

END:         Yellowstone NP            TOTAL:        2,489  Miles
CAMPGROUND:  Fishing Bridge—Yellowstone

Since Thermopolis is an active paleontology dig site we took the time to visit the Wyoming Dinosaur Center.  The most famous find in the area was discovered by a fifth grader in 1984.  Famous “Jimbo” is only the second Supersaurus specimen to ever be found.  His fibula along was impressive.  The museum was well done with exhibits from the earliest  algae through the Jurassic Period.  The dig site is still active since only about half of Jimbo has been unearthed.

After a stop at a grocery store to replenish supplies, we headed north.  The key word of the day was “elevation”!  Photos don’t tell the story due to a haze in the area probably caused by nearby fires. 

There was a steady stream of RVs coming south and in the open areas strong crosswinds were very noticeable. 

 At Cody we  turned due west on Hwy 20 which would lead us directly to the East Entrance Gate.  The road was winding and the mountains were no longer distant. 

 

Our excitement was almost palatable.  After 2,500 miles we were finally near our goal.  At 2:00 we entered the park—only 25 more miles to the Fishing Bridge Campground.

Ron drove the s-curve mountain roads like he was in a Lotus—I had to remind him he was pulling a trailer!  A pull-off at  Sylvan Lake was just a prelude of what was to come. 

 It was at Yellowstone Lake that we realized we were now even with the tops of the mountains at 8,530 ft.

The curves just kept coming with one vista after another. 

Then we rounded one more curve to see our first buffalo sighting.  A bit of a pitiful sighting, but a  buffalo none the less.

We arrived at Fishing Bridge to a sign that read “Campsites Full” - good thing we had reservations!  We backed in our site, unhooked the Jeep and got to work setting up camp, happy the long travel days are at an end for now.  Jean headed off to the laundry while Ron took care of hookups.