Day 5::Norris Geyser Basin & Mammoth Hot Springs

Day 5:  Annika not quite back to normal but feeling much better...Whew!  What a relief! Still we decided to take it easy and not do any big hikes or long walks....

We decided to do a driving trip up North-a giant loop starting at Madison- first stop Norris Geyser Basin followed by Mammoth Hot Springs and then onwards...

Norris Geyser Basin:

Echinus Geyser

Annika in front of Puff-n-Stuff Geyser.  Ah yes, the smell!  If you like the smell of rotten eggs (hydrogen sulfide) you'll LOVE it here!  Best of all, Annika looks like she's enjoying herself again!

One thing I'd like to mention is that these geysers & hot springs & mud pots aren't just about sight and smell....but also sound. The Yellowstone Experience used almost all of our senses (except taste and touch and I wasn't willing to do either of those!!!).

Ava, Rafiqu and Annika in front of the Green Dragon Spring

Annika getting a ride.  While she did feel lots better she did get tired.

Another look at the geyser basin...almost alien, no?

Mammoth Hot Springs: 

Picnic lunch at Mammoth Hot Springs.

Mammoth Hot Springs:

 It was quite a sight to see!  We didn't do a lot of walking (mostly stair climbing) due to sick and tired children (Rafiqu got a splinter from the railing!).

Looking down from the top...you can see the visitor's center and hotel complex in the background.  Rafiqu and Ulz counted the number of stairs going down in German...I can't remember what the final count was but it was a lot of stairs!

One more look at Mammoth Hot Springs before heading out

and here are a few elk near the parking lot....they seem to say, "Just passing through.  Don't mind us."

next stop...some gorgeous waterfalls!