Yellowstone Fires

Off in the distance you can see the Yellowstone Beach Fire which started July 18th.

This is one of the aircraft used to fight fires in Yellowstone.

The Beach Fire burned 520 acres and was 95% contained as of July 28th.

This helicopter was refueling at the West Yellowstone airport and was preparing to go back out to the fire.

For more pictures, click here .

To be continued...

Steaks & Birds

Today we had great weather and dragged the grill out for a couple of tasty steaks.

Next to our dining room window, a bird has set up nest. No eggs or babys yet. But she sure is sitting in it a lot.

Here she is now.

For a few more pictures, click here .

To be continued...

Mesa Falls Scenic Byway

Mesa Falls Loop is in Idaho and provides 29 miles of great views from Island Park to Ashton.

Here's a map of the Byway.

Here the cattle have the right of way.

Our first stop was the Upper Falls as evidenced by this sign.

In 1904, Thomas Elliott bought the site and built Big Falls Inn. July 14th, 2001 an official grand opening was held after the building's rehabilitation. For pictures of what it used to look like, click
here .

Here we stand in front of one of the many lookouts over the falls.

The Upper Falls are 114 feet high and 200 feet wide at an elevation of 5,600 feet. From 387 to 967 million gallons of water flow over the falls each day.

The green walls behind us form a microclimate caused by the mist from the falls.

Volcanic rock lines the canyon walls.

The Lower Falls are 85 feet high at an elevation of 5,400 feet.

I think Doug is tired of driving.

A field of yellow.

For more pictures, click here pictures 48-110.

To be continued...