Day 15

This was by far the best campsite that we stayed at in Yellowstone. Right across from the gravity defying Mammoth Springs and to the other side the scrub sage dessert mountains. We started the morning sipping tea and watching the cliff side for any Big Horn Sheep. Not to our surprise we found… none, but never the less it was a enjoyable crisp desert morning.

Once we finished our tea we hit the literally dusty trail. We explored a bit of the Lava Creek Trail.  It started off with the only plant life being the scrub brush sage and maybe a few low lying grasses. Then as we descended to the valley we saw a lush oasis where the creek claimed the land. Junipers with shaggy bark replaced the tall pines we saw just the day before. As we walked beside the creek we found a bridge to cross the creek. It was made of metal cable and metal grates to walk on. Unlike DH the bounce was not nice reprieve from the hard rocky soil.

After this short hike got ready for our half day trail ride. We found a place just 20 minutes away from where we were staying and were glad we decided on a place out side the park bounds. We wound our way up a mountain and crossed an old bridge find the ranch. Our group was larger than we wanted, but the location was perfect. I rode Hickory and DH rode Samson. Both actually fit our personalities quite well.

As we plodded down the well traveled trail we crossed a road that lead to properties further up the mountain, one of the young ladies was not really paying attention and as her horse moved one way she moved the other. She fell off the back and this spooked her horse to kick out a bit. This kick found its way to her shin. As you can imagine this broke her leg resulting in a two plus hour ambulance ride for her.

Once everything settled down a guide asked everyone if they would like to proceed and we did. The ride skirted the northern edge of Yellowstone. We rode up a peek to give us views of Yellowstone lake.

Once we dismounted we drove home to have a relaxing night staring at the silhouette of the mountains.

 

Dani says, "Jason, smile for the camera." Jason says, "I think you have the angle a bit off..."