To Lander, Wyoming

On Sunday we continued our viewing of Yellowstone Park and drove to Grand Teton Park where we had a late lunch. We took a Fire Hole River loop in Yellowstone that neither one of us remember ever seeing before. There is a steep but beautiful climb down to the river for great swimming in a warm, clear river pool. We didn't swim, as we weren't prepared for a swimming hole. The Middle Geyser Basin, which had fantastically large blue pools was amazing. One of the best was Grand Prismatic Pool, which refracts the light and we were able to see all the colors of the prism in the steam rising from the pool. One of the pools dumps 4,000 gallons of boiling water into the Fire Hole River EVERY MINUTE!
We went back to Henry's Lake camp on Sunday night. On Monday we drove back to West Yellowstone, where we visited the Grizzle Encounter to see bears and wolves, then through Grand Teton Park, up through Togwotee Pass, at almost 10,000 feet elevation to Lander, Wyoming. The pass is between the spectacular Absaroka Range and the Wind River mountain range. It was a beautiful drive in spite of a 30 minute wait in a construction zone. On the way to Lander, coming down the pass, we saw at least 60 Pronghorn antelope in three different areas and a moose. We stayed at Twin Pines RV Resort south of Lander, Wyoming. Today, Tuesday, was a 'rest' day. That is to say we only spent five hours on the road instead of 9 to 10. We went to South Pass City, but were disappointed because it's a barely restored old mining town and had nothing to do with the South Pass of pioneer fame. Tomorrow we are going to Martin's Cove, Independence Rock and Devil's Gate, all east of here.