DIS Dads Rocky Mountain Highs (a non-Disney Trip Report) - COMPLETE 2/17

[pkondz]

If she was, you'd know it.

This is one of the most intelligent things I've ever read.

 

[Steppesister]

It's such a gorgeous place. Now you can have a fancy meal at the Wilderness Lodge and have a little more inside Disney knowledge! Never a bad thing.

Merry Christmas! Oh, and got any extra tamales?

Inside knowledge... it's what I live for.

He's got a point there.

You have a point. An idiotic one, but a point. (name the movie...)

Let me know if it works!

Deal!

He must have tried it before.

With the sparkly red shoes...? Pix!

As long as they don't fly out of my butt.

You aren't planning on getting sick, are you?

 

[Steppesister]

You're going to be scarred for life, I can tell.

It's only a trifling of what the next screw up MAY bring.

You don't? I have two.
Although the 18 year old is out of the house frequently.

Actually, I have 5. But it's the Overlord Flying Monkey that occasionally need to be unleashed on THEM.

 

[justafigment27]

LOL on your "bit of a cheat". If you are in Mammoth, then you are practically in Montana and it would be a shame to waste that opportunity (which is how we visited both Idaho and Nebraska ...).

I loved your Artist Point pictures!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Merry Christmas to the Oblivious Family and to all of you. I need to get to cooking and plan to work on an update to my TR today so I don't have time or talent to make a glittery Disney greeting, but I am thinking glittery thoughts for all of you!

 

[franandaj]

We’d done it. We’d found an incredible place to stay, and it was right in the heart of the major tourist center of Yellowstone National Park. We were within walking distance of almost every single famous geyser the park had to offer.


Naturally, the first thing we did the next morning was scarf down some donuts in the room, buy some coffee at the snack bar, and then hop in the van and drive off.

Somehow this does not surprise me.

It was a beautiful morning, cool (temps typically sit in the 40’s at night) and crystal clear.

You're describing Winter here.

Along the way, near Madison Junction, we came across a huge clearing in the forest. And in that clearing was a huge herd of bison—and several baby bison roaming among them.

Totally cool!

Just down the road, we encountered our first Yellowstone traffic jam. These happen quite frequently throughout the day, and there’s not much you can do but wait it out. I suppose you could try and roll down your window and yell at the offending party, or even get out of your car to try and move him off the road, but…well, I wouldn’t recommend it.

I can't imagine why not?

Being an engineer, I’m a fairly direct, literal kinda guy. I’m not one to typically do well in literature class. I don’t pick up on symbolism and metaphors very well. If I read about a man who looks longingly at a stream peacefully flowing through the woods, I’m not going to read that as his momentary reflection upon and longing for a bygone youth spent in innocence and at one with nature. I just think he’s thirsty.

Either that or he's lost.

“No writer spoke to the human condition like William Shakespeare.”


It’s a guaranteed conversation-ender and subject-changer. It sounds deep, but nobody has any idea what that actually means. I don’t even know what it means. However, no one will want to risk looking stupid by asking what it means, so you’ll get a lot of profound-looking nods, an awkward pause, and then you can safely bring up last night’s football game. Trust me.

I think I'd rather talk about Shakespeare, but you know John Steinbeck sure did a good job of addressing the human condition as well...In "The Grapes of Wrath" he really...well, another time I guess.

Artist Point gives you a view of the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River. It’s carved a canyon over many years through rock that has been tinted in several different colors by minerals from the park’s thermal features. The primary color is yellow, thus giving the park its name.

Now I'm going to have some very high expectations of the view at my birthday dinner next year!

Great photo! I think it's cute that Scotty has a sweatshirt with Grand Canyon written on it representing his travels while Dave merely reflects his homestate.

You can see in that last photo that Baby Drew thought this was a special occasion, too. He even wore his Junior Park Ranger outfit.

I'm sure he picked it just for the occasion.

We ran into a large group of Asian tourists piling out of a bus at this overlook. I have to say, they were as hardcore as we were about seeing the sights. In the early morning hours, the only other people we consistently saw out and about were the Asian tour groups. They don’t mess around!

Either that or they have no choice as to when to be on the bus.

 

[Poolrat]

So are you saying you want a TR?

Absolutely!!!!!!

Well.....

What he said !!!

UH-OH!!! Silly math mistakes can be really really bad!!! You get 2 more tries...

You're going to be scarred for life, I can tell.

Liesa, Good to see you still have your sense of humor.

 

[Poolrat]

You are doing great with early mornings and getting on the road to get these spectacular views and with empty parking lots and few people around.

Great research and I for one hope to eventually look back on this TR to plan a trip.

 

[cj9200]

Finally caught up. Belated Merry Christmas to the family. Saw your posts on FB and it looked like you guys enjoyed it even with not feeling 100%.

Given that most visitors want to see the geyser basin (Old Faithful being the most famous), there are three separate hotels located here: the Old Faithful Snow Lodge, the Old Faithful Lodge & Cabins, and the granddaddy of them all, the Old Faithful Inn.

Yellowstone and the Old Faithful Inn are definitely bucket list material. Tried to snag a night at the El Tovar in the Grand Canyon when we went there. Alas to no avail.

This spot is the most breathtaking sight in the park. In fact, it’s one of the most breathtaking sights I’ve seen in the world.

Agreed, even if I haven't seen it.

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Chapter 16: That Ball Wouldn’t Have Made It Out Of A Lot Of Parks.

Name One.

Yellowstone.

What the hell league you been playing in?

California Penal...


(as movies go… that on is high on my list of guilty pleasures)

Naturally, the first thing we did the next morning was scarf down some donuts in the room, buy some coffee at the snack bar, and then hop in the van and drive off.


Why?

Temporary insanity?


Naaaa… just kidding.
We know there’s nothing temporary about that when it pertains to you.

Well, there’s more to see in Yellowstone than just the geyser basin.

Now don’t be tryin’ to wheedle out of this by cluttering up the story with glaring logic.
Not your strong suit ya’ know (and it messes up our opportunities for imparting undeserved abuse).

Our plan was to try and cover most of the park’s “other” attractions on this day, get the driving out of the way, and then have an easier second day, which was to be spent exploring the main geysers.

Hummmm…
Oddly, this seems to make sense.

Sounded good on paper.

Yes it did…
That’s what’s troubling me here.
That and the fact that you wrote it.

It would be a 42-mile drive

Of course it was…
42 is the answer to everything.

Weirder still if you’ve spent a couple of days previously hiking in 100-degree temperatures in the desert.

We encounter that on a lesser scale when we head up into the mountains to see our boy at school. But it ain’t near as drastic a variance as y’all are encountering.
Everything is a bit more extreme out there on that part of the map.

Along the way, near Madison Junction, we came across a huge clearing in the forest. And in that clearing was a huge herd of bison—and several baby bison roaming among them.

Quite the site, to be sure.
The steam rising up at various points beyond the heard is interesting as well.


Unless it just big piles of steaming... ummm…
Never mind, what was it you were saying?

We sat, quietly amazed for a few minutes. Seeing these amazing creatures up close was a special experience, so we certainly weren’t going to rush.

Oh good…
If y’all weren’t rushing off, than it was jest the regular old hot springs type of steam.

(like, that’s a common sight on our coast)

Hey, little guy! Please tell me your mom is not behind me right now.

What? And deprive the rest of the herd of our best entertainment?

Where does a 2-ton bison go on the highway? Anywhere it darn well pleases.

So long as the chickens aren’t already there.
The two unions have a mutual non-competition agreement worked out on that point.

We drove directly to an overlook known as Artist Point.

That’s a fairly pricey and highfalutin spot for an ADR.
Oh wait, wrong park…

Being an engineer, I’m a fairly direct, literal kinda guy. I’m not one to typically do well in literature class. I don’t pick up on symbolism and metaphors very well. If I read about a man who looks longingly at a stream peacefully flowing through the woods, I’m not going to read that as his momentary reflection upon and longing for a bygone youth spent in innocence and at one with nature. I just think he’s thirsty.

It’s as much a guy thing as an art thing.

By the way, here’s an engineer’s tip for surviving conversations on the arts. Whenever someone brings up Shakespeare, just say the following phrase:


“No writer spoke to the human condition like William Shakespeare.”

Ahhhh… Bach.

This spot is the most breathtaking sight in the park. In fact, it’s one of the most breathtaking sights I’ve seen in the world.

Ooooo… Pur-ty.
But I’ve got this sinking feeling that all the pictures you showed us here just don’t do it one bit of justice.

Obviously, we’d arrived early because we not only wanted to beat the crowds, but we had wanted to catch the falls in the morning light before it was covered in shadows the rest of the day.

Ahhh, see… now your foolish plan kind’a makes sense.
Ya’ know you’re not supposed to be doing any of that there sense making stuff, don’t you?
We just wouldn’t know how to react to such.

You can see in that last photo that Baby Drew thought this was a special occasion, too. He even wore his Junior Park Ranger outfit.

I’m sure he threw quite the hissy until you relented and allowed it, too.
Do you plan on caving like that when he demands to wear that Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader costume next Halloween?

Using my advanced deductive reasoning skills, I figured that if there was a Lower Falls, there must be an Upper Falls as well.

This is that there engineering thing in action again, ain’t it?

Not only that, but there were signs pointing the way.

You mean you cheated!?!?...
All my delusions have been shattered!

That one’s only 109 feet high. Pfffft.

Seriously…
I might as well be charging admission to have folks see the mud puddle in my front yard

we set out for the Brink of the Upper Falls first. This is a short, easy walk that leads here:

Impressive…


that the hike was short and easy, of course.
Oh and that miniscule little drop off is kind’a cool too, but… you know…

We ran into a large group of Asian tourists piling out of a bus at this overlook.

Quick! Hide Drew, or you’ll never get to your next destination.

We moved on to the trail to the Brink of the Lower Falls. Looking at the map, it appeared to consist of a few switchbacks down the slope to the viewpoint. The map did warn that it was a steep trail, but we figured after Delicate Arch we could handle a few switchbacks. I once again strapped the baby to my back and set off.

I’ve a sneaking suspicion that you’re about to be receiving a practical less on the alternative definition for the word “compleatest”.

Immediately, we knew that the climb out was going to be a beast. The trail itself is 0.75 miles round trip. But it’s 1/8th of a mile down and 17 miles coming back (approximate).

And a demonstration of Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity…
(which is similar to making the Kessel Run in under twelve parsecs).

Who needs a classroom when you’ve got Yellowstone?

Doesn’t look like 309 feet from here, does it?

Don’t believe y’all ought to be testing that theory though, what say?

To give you an idea of the climb, here are Sarah and Scotty just ahead of us after passing one switchback.

Yikes!

Coming Up Next: Mammoth Hot Springs, our first geysers, and cheating a bit to pick up another state.

So…
dead elephant puddles…
A run-of-the-mill yard sprinkler…
And a page out of the Patriots’ play book…

OK, got it.
Should be fun.

 

[Dugette]

Gorgeous waterfall pictures! Every time you wrote Artist Point, it conjured up images of the dining establishment at Wilderness Lodge that shares that name.

 

[jedijill]

Stunning scenery. Love the family photo! Baby Drew is adorable in his Jr Park Ranger outfit!

Jill in CO

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Seems like a good plan to me!

All of my ideas start out like that.

At least you had the sweatshirts for when you needed them.

We were prepared! For once.

If she was, you'd know it.

Ever get that feeling of deja vu?

Eh... it's just like a big cow, no big deal.

Honestly, it really seems funny that they're so used to all the traffic that it doesn't even phase them anymore.

Funny, and a little sad, knowing the place isn't as wild as it used to be. But I'm glad I didn't have to worry about the rental car.

And here we thought you were Oblivious. Just playin' everybody.

Don't hate the player, hate the game.

Looks amazing.

Yep.

You can't have a lower without an upper. Even I'm smart enough to figure that out.

Can't put one past either one of us!

But at least it isn't 100 degrees.

So we had that going for us, which is nice.

What??? You paid for visitor center snacks??? Where's the PB&J????

Well, it was 10:00 in the morning! We still had PB&J to look forward to.

Man, even Yoda is giving me crap. I can't win.

Sorry. It's what I do.

I noticed. Eventually.

I think.... think we overnighted in a cabin?
And I could be completely off about that.

Sounds right to me!

I think we came in from the north too.

Hey, I'm getting pretty good at this guessing game.

Regularly? We'll call you Old Faithful.

Thank goodness for Depends.

Oh really? Huh. Never would've guessed.

What gave it away?

Nope. Got that right away.
Missed everything else.

I'm glad somebody here understands me.

The TR would've been done, then.

And there would be much rejoicing!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

This is one of the most intelligent things I've ever read.

Ever get that feeling of deja vu?

Inside knowledge... it's what I live for.

Impress your friends!

You have a point. An idiotic one, but a point. (name the movie...)

All About Eve. Sorry, I had to google it.

With the sparkly red shoes...? Pix!

Yes, please!

You aren't planning on getting sick, are you?

Does anyone ever plan to get sick?

It's only a trifling of what the next screw up MAY bring.

Hmm. Better let somebody else make that mistake, then.

LOL on your "bit of a cheat". If you are in Mammoth, then you are practically in Montana and it would be a shame to waste that opportunity (which is how we visited both Idaho and Nebraska ...).

That's exactly what we were thinking!

I loved your Artist Point pictures!

Why, thank you!

Merry Christmas to the Oblivious Family and to all of you. I need to get to cooking and plan to work on an update to my TR today so I don't have time or talent to make a glittery Disney greeting, but I am thinking glittery thoughts for all of you!

I hope it was Merry Christmas Tammie! And that you had a nice trip to visit family. I promise I'll drop in on your TR soon!

 

[pkondz]

Man, even Yoda is giving me crap. I can't win.

I'm glad I didn't have to say it.

Sounds right to me!

That settles it then.

Or I could ask my folks.
But they might not remember either.
We're talking over 40 years ago, here.

Hey, I'm getting pretty good at this guessing game.

Try to apply that on my TR.

And there would be much rejoicing!

Ever get that feeling of deja vu?

No. Never. Have I said that before?

Ever get that feeling of deja vu?

No. Never. Have I said that before?

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Somehow this does not surprise me.

We really do torture ourselves a lot.

You're describing Winter here.

Oh, stop rubbing it in.

Totally cool!

I can't imagine why not?

I don't think I'll try it, but let me know how it goes!

Either that or he's lost.

Sure, I'd buy that.

I think I'd rather talk about Shakespeare, but you know John Steinbeck sure did a good job of addressing the human condition as well...In "The Grapes of Wrath" he really...well, another time I guess.

Crap. You found me out. I don't really know what that means, either.

Now I'm going to have some very high expectations of the view at my birthday dinner next year!

Well, I hope it works out for you!

Great photo! I think it's cute that Scotty has a sweatshirt with Grand Canyon written on it representing his travels while Dave merely reflects his homestate.

It is fun to see the reminders of past trips pop up in the photos. Julie and I had Disney World sweatshirts, of course.

I'm sure he picked it just for the occasion.

He's very much into planning ahead like that.

Either that or they have no choice as to when to be on the bus.

Then those bus drivers are cruel taskmasters!

Absolutely!!!!!!

What he said !!!

I guess I'd better finish up this TR, then!

Liesa, Good to see you still have your sense of humor.

We'll all be worried if that ever goes away!

You are doing great with early mornings and getting on the road to get these spectacular views and with empty parking lots and few people around.

Great research and I for one hope to eventually look back on this TR to plan a trip.

That's high praise! I hope it helps.

Finally caught up. Belated Merry Christmas to the family. Saw your posts on FB and it looked like you guys enjoyed it even with not feeling 100%.

And a belated happy holidays to you and your daughter as well. We were all feeling better by Christmas day, so it definitely could have been much worse.

Yellowstone and the Old Faithful Inn are definitely bucket list material. Tried to snag a night at the El Tovar in the Grand Canyon when we went there. Alas to no avail.

El Tovar would be pretty cool as well. But the Bright Angel Lodge is also on the rim, and I have stayed there, so that makes it feel less urgent. I hope you get the chance to see both.

Agreed, even if I haven't seen it.

Well, you have! Sort of.

 

[Lynne G]

Great update. Have to say, the bison bring a fond memory. When I was a teen, we took a summer tour of the west, and to save money, my friends and I camped with tents where ever we could. We found a field near Yellowstone to camp at, so we did. What we didn't know, was the bison also like that field and awoke in a herd of bison. Needless to say, we were awed and scared at the same time, and found another place to camp later that day.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

What the hell league you been playing in?

California Penal...


(as movies go… that on is high on my list of guilty pleasures)

Why on earth would you feel guilty about enjoying that one? It's a fun movie.

Temporary insanity?


Naaaa… just kidding.
We know there’s nothing temporary about that when it pertains to you.

But we must see ALL THE THINGS!

Now don’t be tryin’ to wheedle out of this by cluttering up the story with glaring logic.
Not your strong suit ya’ know (and it messes up our opportunities for imparting undeserved abuse).

I just need you to know where the plans came from before they all go to you-know-what.

Hummmm…
Oddly, this seems to make sense.

It does, doesn't it?

Yes it did…
That’s what’s troubling me here.
That and the fact that you wrote it.

That does seem troubling, doesn't it?

Of course it was…
42 is the answer to everything.

Yes. Yes, it is.

We encounter that on a lesser scale when we head up into the mountains to see our boy at school. But it ain’t near as drastic a variance as y’all are encountering.
Everything is a bit more extreme out there on that part of the map.

Also true. Makes it more interesting, in my opinion.

Quite the site, to be sure.
The steam rising up at various points beyond the heard is interesting as well.


Unless it just big piles of steaming... ummm…
Never mind, what was it you were saying?

That was an awful lot of bison.

Oh good…
If y’all weren’t rushing off, than it was jest the regular old hot springs type of steam.

(like, that’s a common sight on our coast)

There were plenty of reminders that we were all standing on top of an active volcano. Food for thought.

What? And deprive the rest of the herd of our best entertainment?

But what about that rental car agreement? I didn't take the extra insurance!

So long as the chickens aren’t already there.
The two unions have a mutual non-competition agreement worked out on that point.

Leave it to the lawyers to mess up everything.

That’s a fairly pricey and highfalutin spot for an ADR.
Oh wait, wrong park…

Prices weren't quite as bad here. It's just really hard to get to.

It’s as much a guy thing as an art thing.

Point taken.

Ahhhh… Bach.

Looks like we have a couple of MASH fans here.

Ooooo… Pur-ty.
But I’ve got this sinking feeling that all the pictures you showed us here just don’t do it one bit of justice.

You know, I don't believe they do.

Ahhh, see… now your foolish plan kind’a makes sense.
Ya’ know you’re not supposed to be doing any of that there sense making stuff, don’t you?
We just wouldn’t know how to react to such.

Well, luckily I don't make a habit of it.

I’m sure he threw quite the hissy until you relented and allowed it, too.
Do you plan on caving like that when he demands to wear that Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader costume next Halloween?

My kid? In something with the Dallas Cowboy logo on it? This will not come to pass.

This is that there engineering thing in action again, ain’t it?

We is smart guys.

You mean you cheated!?!?...
All my delusions have been shattered!

Well, I am a dad. Cheating is in my DNA.

Seriously…
I might as well be charging admission to have folks see the mud puddle in my front yard

Let me know if it works!

Impressive…


that the hike was short and easy, of course.
Oh and that miniscule little drop off is kind’a cool too, but… you know…

We don't get "short and easy" very often. Have to enjoy it where we can.

Quick! Hide Drew, or you’ll never get to your next destination.

I know, right? I guess he's not as much of a celebrity in Wyoming.

I’ve a sneaking suspicion that you’re about to be receiving a practical less on the alternative definition for the word “compleatest”.

Masochist?

And a demonstration of Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity…
(which is similar to making the Kessel Run in under twelve parsecs).

Who needs a classroom when you’ve got Yellowstone?

I could have used a good pilot and a ship to get out of there.

Don’t believe y’all ought to be testing that theory though, what say?

I'll leave that to others.

Yikes!

So…
dead elephant puddles…
A run-of-the-mill yard sprinkler…
And a page out of the Patriots’ play book…

OK, got it.
Should be fun.

Man, you made it sound way better. You're hired. Finish this TR, will ya?

Gorgeous waterfall pictures! Every time you wrote Artist Point, it conjured up images of the dining establishment at Wilderness Lodge that shares that name.

I figured all my fellow Disney fans here would enjoy seeing where that name came from.

Stunning scenery. Love the family photo! Baby Drew is adorable in his Jr Park Ranger outfit!

I think you were the one who demanded photos of him wearing it last year, right? Don't say I never gave you anything.

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Why on earth would you feel guilty about enjoying that one? It's a fun movie.

You know that, I know that, but the general masses tend to disagree.
Living where I do, I’ve had to become well versed in the art of biting my tongue and keeping any “non-majority” ideas to myself. I forget to turn that little defense mechanism off from time to time.

There were plenty of reminders that we were all standing on top of an active volcano. Food for thought.

And a thought that a fair number of folks are completely unaware of as being the case.

But what about that rental car agreement? I didn't take the extra insurance!

Just call the folks at Deus Ex Machina again.

I’m sure they still have you on file as a customer.
Problem solved.

Leave it to the lawyers to mess up everything.

They’re quite good at that.

Looks like we have a couple of MASH fans here.

Guilty…
But it also seemed like the best response at the time.

My kid? In something with the Dallas Cowboy logo on it? This will not come to pass.

I knew that to be the case, but I just wanted to see what your resolve was like.
Be warned, if they realize this fact they’ll have the perfect vehicle for rebellion when the inevitable time comes.

Man, you made it sound way better. You're hired. Finish this TR, will ya?

OK…
I’ll get on it right after I catch up and finish my current one.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I'm glad I didn't have to say it.

Let Yoda speak for you, you did.

That settles it then.

Or I could ask my folks.
But they might not remember either.
We're talking over 40 years ago, here.

In my version of the story, you arrived in a blimp.

Try to apply that on my TR.

It'll never help. I'm done for!

+1

No. Never. Have I said that before?

No. Never. Have I said that before?

Didn't you JUST ask me that?

Great update. Have to say, the bison bring a fond memory. When I was a teen, we took a summer tour of the west, and to save money, my friends and I camped with tents where ever we could. We found a field near Yellowstone to camp at, so we did. What we didn't know, was the bison also like that field and awoke in a herd of bison. Needless to say, we were awed and scared at the same time, and found another place to camp later that day.

Wow!! That would certainly be quite a memorable experience. I'm glad you made it safely out so you could tell the story later.

You know that, I know that, but the general masses tend to disagree.
Living where I do, I’ve had to become well versed in the art of biting my tongue and keeping any “non-majority” ideas to myself. I forget to turn that little defense mechanism off from time to time.

Huh. I have a few buddies who are fond of that one. Go figure.

And a thought that a fair number of folks are completely unaware of as being the case.

Ignorance is bliss.

Just call the folks at Deus Ex Machina again.

I’m sure they still have you on file as a customer.
Problem solved.

Now there's a blast from the past. Please tell me you're not sitting there memorizing these TR's. There are much better things to waste brain cells on.

But I'm flattered you remembered that one!

They’re quite good at that.

Guilty…
But it also seemed like the best response at the time.

It certainly fits!

I knew that to be the case, but I just wanted to see what your resolve was like.
Be warned, if they realize this fact they’ll have the perfect vehicle for rebellion when the inevitable time comes.

That would certainly be the way to do it. I'd hate to see my kids wearing pentagrams.

OK…
I’ll get on it right after I catch up and finish my current one.

Cool! Well, I'm off for a sandwich.