Just back from the "real" WL

[Simba's Mom]

We just got back from a week in Yellowstone, and stopped by Old Faithful Inn, which WL was patterned after. We also hiked to the "real" Artist Point (no resturaunt there, though!) We spent the last two nights in the Grand Tetons. Although we saw bears, elk, moose, coyotes, and rocky mountain big horn sheep, we didn't see the wolves. So Guy's already planning for us to go back next year. It's a real special place-if you get a chance to go sometime, I highly recommend it.

[JimP]

We just got back from a week in Yellowstone, and stopped by Old Faithful Inn, which WL was patterned after. We also hiked to the "real" Artist Point (no resturaunt there, though!) We spent the last two nights in the Grand Tetons. Although we saw bears, elk, moose, coyotes, and rocky mountain big horn sheep, we didn't see the wolves. So Guy's already planning for us to go back next year. It's a real special place-if you get a chance to go sometime, I highly recommend it.

I love Yellowstone. In the 70's, I was stationed in Montana... and Deb and I would camp there any chance we had. I think we spent a few months cumulative in Yellowstone. My favorite was a winter trip... we took snow coaches in, cross country skied everywhere.

/Jim

[carolina_yankee]

I'm glad you had a great time. I know you really looking forward to this.

Now, Pictures!

Dirk

[spiceycat]

glad you had a great trip!!!

[tomandrobin]

Sounds like you had a great trip!

Robin and I want to visit alot more of the country's natural treasures and landmarks. Five years ago we went to Niagra Falls, three years ago we went to Sedona and the Grand Canyon. Lots and lots of things to do and see, hopefully we will get them all in.

[Simba's Mom]

Now, Pictures!

Dirk
Gladly! I just uploaded a few of my pictures this morning. It's so fun to relive it through the pictures.

The "real" Artist Point-
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n309/Simbasmom32/yellowstone-GT-2008/PICT0208.jpg

Lake yellowstone-
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n309/Simbasmom32/yellowstone-GT-2008/PICT0153.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n309/Simbasmom32/yellowstone-GT-2008/PICT0148.jpg

[carolina_yankee]

I'm glad you got see at lease one buffalo, even if he wasn't at the Old Faithful Inn. ;)

The snow capped mountains are beautiful, too. My first visit to Yellowstone was July 4, 1993. And it snowed.

Dirk

[kiapgh23e]

Reminds me of my Alaskan cruise (if never been definietly DO!!). My pics look just like these. Beautiful.

:dancingba

[cheyenne]

Thanks for the beautiful pics. Keep them coming if you have more! I can't wait to take my kiddos there when they're a little older. I'm sure the pics don't even do it justice. I've been to Colorado several times & while my pics are usually great it's just not the same as seeing it for yourself.

[kimberh]

What was the Real Lodge like? This is where I want to stay. I really want to go to Yellowstone. Where did you fly into? I know absolutely nothing about this part of the U.S.

[JimP]

Last time we went... we flew into West Yellowstone MT. I am pretty sure they have some regional service... but I flew myself in.

The airport not open all year... but it is definitely the closest.

Other places would be Billings Mt, Bozeman Mt, and probably the best is Jackson Hole, Wy.

/Jim

[glypnirsgirl]

Your pictures are breathtakingly beautiful.

I am really curious about your trip. Where did y'all stay? Did you drive up? How long did it take? If you flew, what route did you take. When we lived in Colorado (I was a teenager) we drove through Wyoming and on into Montana a few summers. We tent camped somewhere near or in Yellowstone, but I do not know where and my mom has passed away so I have no one to ask. I just remember being up there in August and FREEZING. At the same time, everything was so beauthiful, it was worth it. I love this part of our country.

I am so glad you shared.

Elaine

[Simba's Mom]

We flew into Jackson. Fortunately,we had FF tickets or it would be a pretty expensive airport. I'd recommend looking into Salt Lake City. Another potential problem with Jackson, even in June, is weather. The airport closed for several hours the day we left because of snow. It was our second trip-last year we stayed at Old Faithful Inn, and after WL, the lobby was a disappointment, so much smaller. We stayed at the cabins at Lake Yellowstone (the yellow ones) and we loved them. Feel free to ask questions,glypnirsgirl-I love sharing about our trip.
As you can see, there really was snow-

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n309/Simbasmom32/yellowstone-GT-2008/PICT0239.jpg

[Rozzie]

I've flown into Bozeman and Jackson, and yep, Jackson can be a tough ticket money wise. When I was out there, my mom flew into Salt Lake and drove up and said it wasn't that bad.

Dorothy, I am not sure I understood your post, did you say you were disappointed in the Inn? :headscrat

You are so right on weather, it can snow any day of the year up there. The weather is so unpredictable, but it's one of the reasons I loved it. You really are at the mercy of nature to predict your day. :)

[JimP]

It was our second trip-last year we stayed at Old Faithful Inn, and after WL, the lobby was a disappointment, so much smaller. We stayed at the cabins at Lake Yellowstone (the yellow ones) and we loved them.

I have always loved Old Faithful Inn... it always seemed so Grand! On our last trip in 2002, it really seemed like it had shrunk... A LOT. WL completely changed my expectation of scale.

Having said that... it is wonderful. The atmosphere is so authentic and the area is beautiful. You can sit on the deck with your morning coffee and overlook the geyser fields and wildlife.

Lodging inside of Yellowstone NP varies... with style/theming ranging from "early nothing" on the high end... down to "1940's army barracks on the mid range", and "you have to be kidding me" on the low end. Still... Even though I could stay in a presidential penthouse just outside the park using my other timeshare... I would prefer stay in Yellowstone anytime. My favorite example was a winter x-c ski trip we made to the "old snow lodge" (before they ripped it down and replaced it). The place was totally delapedated.... but it was so much fun. We didn't have private bathrooms... so we had to use the common bathrooms down the hall. There were 3 or 4 white porcelen sinks in a row hanging off the wall... but your couldn't use them to wash... because everyone had their X-country skis across them hot waxing them for the next day.

/Jim

[Simba's Mom]

Dorothy, I am not sure I understood your post, did you say you were disappointed in the Inn? :headscrat



Yes, I'll admit we were kind of disappointed staying at the lodge. Maybe we should have stayed at the Snow Lodge! Actually, we did like the Geyser Grill at the Snow Lodge. In fairness to the OFI, it was the only hotel accomodation we stayed at in the parks. All the others have been cabins, and we feel much more comfortable staying in cabins in Yellowstone. A hotel just doesn't "feel" right to us in Yellowstone,does that make any sense? Although one of our favorite places to eat in Yellowstone is the General Store next to the OFI. We just wish the buffalo that everyone said would be there had shown up.
JimP, LOL at the "you have got to be kidding me!" That's what we thought when we drove by the Roosevelt Cabins.

[carolina_yankee]

It was our second trip-last year we stayed at Old Faithful Inn, and after WL, the lobby was a disappointment, so much smaller.
Yeah, you definitely want to do it the other way around.

Old Faithful Inn Lobby and Wilderness Lodge Lobbies, compared:
http://carolinayankee.smugmug.com/photos/97495104_4FQHF-S.jpg http://carolinayankee.smugmug.com/photos/102760564_wPkoc-S.jpg

Exteriors are similar, though:
http://carolinayankee.smugmug.com/photos/97494999_EXxrz-S.jpg http://carolinayankee.smugmug.com/photos/102760909_tk244-S.jpg

However, I think that the Awahnee in Yosemite National Park stands up quite nicely to Wilderness Lodge. Of course Queen Elizabeth stayed at Yosemite . . .http://carolinayankee.smugmug.com/photos/313036824_KkyGh-S.jpg

Dirk

[kimberh]

What is the best month to go, we aren't into Snow that much? Does the weather get better later in the summer? Do you travel further into the park and stay or stay in one place? I am totally new to this, we have always wanted to go there. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Rozzie]

Jim, so they tore the old Snow lodge down??? OMG, my heart just sunk. I haven't been back out there since I worked out there, 1995.

Dorothy, I hear what you are saying on the differences. I guess I am really fortunate to have seen the "real thing" before I saw the "fake" thing, LOL. To me, that is why WL has no appeal to me. I would walk around the whole time there comparing it to the masterpiece. But I can see how if you saw the "fake" one first, then seeing the original, how easy it would be to do comparisons. I have many a memory of sitting at the original fireplace on cold nights, thinking of the early days, what manpower it took, over what terrain, to build such a incredible place.

If ya'll don't mind a little YNP soapbox? A fellow nurse asked me to help her plan a trip out there, after she found out I lived out there for a while. Well, I could tell it was going to be a major PITA. Her expectations were not reality, and I don't think she was a good candidate to enjoy park accommodations. She said we wanted something "first class" and "no roughing it". The biggest complaints the staff at OF, OFI, SL, etc was "this is it?". And this was 1995, before cellphones or the Internet were even thought of being needed. I can't imagine what it is like out there now for the employees. I lived 4 months without a phone, TV, air conditioning, private bathroom, computer, etc. and it was the best 4 months of my life. Back then, before the Bison herd was culled because of infection, they were EVERYWHERE, and often would come upon my cleaning cart and tumble through it as I cleaned cabins. Or stalk us when we walked drunk from the employee pub. Good times indeed. :D

I guess I say all this to say...if you are planning a YNP trip, remember you are not there for the finer material things in life. It is a opportunity to become one with nature, to breathe in the most majestic air, to look up at a enormous dark sky at night. To see one of the last untouched corners of the earth, where nature still dominates. Leave the road, see the back country. Stay in the back country, it is a spiritual experience like no other. And yep, I am proud to say my mom, the original snooty snoot, stayed at Roosevelt cabins and said "we are in a national park, we aren't supposed to be comfortable." Ahh, I was never so proud of her. :upsidedow

[Rozzie]

What is the best month to go, we aren't into Snow that much? Does the weather get better later in the summer? Do you travel further into the park and stay or stay in one place? I am totally new to this, we have always wanted to go there. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

If it were me, I would plan to stay at all areas of the park. It takes a long time to travel in the park, and that way, you can devote a lot of quality time to each area. They are all different, unique, and wonderful in their own way.

Snow? As we have been talking, it can snow anytime. I think your best bet would be early mid July just from my experience. BUT, that is peak season, and count on crawling at a snails pace to get anywhere in the park.

Good luck, and have fun planning. I have been itching to take Mr. Roz there, and all this talk has me a' thinkin' today about a trip next year.

[JimP]

Here is a brief synopsis of our arrival to Yellowstone in 2002.

We flew in from the east (starting in Oshkosh WI)... over Yellowstone Lake, and then turned NW toward Old Faithful Village. Much to our surprise... Old Faithful was erupting as we passed overhead:

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm191/flynz4/ArealOldFaithful4.jpg

A few moments later... we were past the upper geyser basin... and we had the most spectacular view of Midway Geyser Basin's "Grand Prismatic Spring".


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm191/flynz4/ArealviewofGrandPrismaticSpring4.jpg


From here we headed directly to West Yellowstone airport... Here is a picture of me on final approach:

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm191/flynz4/IMG_1537.jpg

And here we are once we taxied up to the terminal:

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm191/flynz4/IMG_1541.jpg

/Jim

[JimP]

Jim, so they tore the old Snow lodge down??? OMG, my heart just sunk. I haven't been back out there since I worked out there, 1995.


Yes... it is gone. Here is a picture of the new "snow lodge" which replaced the original.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm191/flynz4/ArealViewofSnowLodge.jpg

We stayed in the small cabins located in the upper right corner of the pic.

/Jim

[Rozzie]

Jim, thanks for the shots, they were incredible. :clappingh I worked a lot at the Snow Lodge cabins, I probably cleaned at one point the cabin you stayed in. Small world. Funny story, I remember when Clinton came to YNP, and the secret service came out a couple of weeks in advance to interview all housekeeping staff that had access to the rooms. Well, um, let's just say it was a pretty wild bunch working out there that summer. I think they found out way too much information on their background checks, LOL. :innocent: It was cool to see Marine One land at Old Faithful. I never knew they always used a decoy on arrivals. Thanks again for the shot of the new Snow Lodge. I bet there were some serious tears shed when the old one went down.

[JimP]

Jim, thanks for the shots, they were incredible. :clappingh I worked a lot at the Snow Lodge cabins, I probably cleaned at one point the cabin you stayed in. Small world. Funny story, I remember when Clinton came to YNP, and the secret service came out a couple of weeks in advance to interview all housekeeping staff that had access to the rooms. Well, um, let's just say it was a pretty wild bunch working out there that summer. I think they found out way too much information on their background checks, LOL. :innocent: It was cool to see Marine One land at Old Faithful. I never knew they always used a decoy on arrivals. Thanks again for the shot of the new Snow Lodge. I bet there were some serious tears shed when the old one went down.

We went on a 2nd cross country ski trip in December 1995 if I remember right. We drove to W Yellowstone, then took the snow coaches in. I believe that we were in the "barracks" type buildings between the new snow lodge and the cabins in the picture.

After just one night... the US Government did not have an approved budget, and they closed all the National Parks... and we were snow shuttled out of the park. We were not happy to drive from Portland to Yellowstone... just to get booted after 1 day!

/Jim

[JimP]

What is the best month to go, we aren't into Snow that much? Does the weather get better later in the summer? Do you travel further into the park and stay or stay in one place? I am totally new to this, we have always wanted to go there. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

For our 2002 summer trip... I waited too long to get a reservation anyplace in the park, so I booked us into a motel in West Yellowstone. We checked in... then we took off into the parks. When passing one of the in-park hotels (canyon)... I decided to go and ask if there was any chance they had a room for us. Deb sighed... gave me one of "those" looks... and said... "you called and you know there is nothing... why don't you just give it up".

Well... the guy at the front desk looked and looked and said "sorry... nothing for 6 nights". Debbie gave me a smug look, and then the guy said "there are vacancies every night someplace... but I just cannot give you a room for the entire stay.

I really perked up... and we booked a series of 1 night stays, moving to a different section of Yellowstone each day. Lake - West Thumb - Mammoth - Canyon - Old Faithful etc. It actually ended up being MUCH better than spending the entire stay in one spot. We focused on just one area of the park each day... and then we moved on to the next.

My ideal situation would be to move each day... plus spend about 3 days at the Old Faithful Inn.

/Jim

[kimberh]

For our 2002 summer trip... I waited too long to get a reservation anyplace in the park, so I booked us into a motel in West Yellowstone. We checked in... then we took off into the parks. When passing one of the in-park hotels (canyon)... I decided to go and ask if there was any chance they had a room for us. Deb sighed... gave me one of "those" looks... and said... "you called and you know there is nothing... why don't you just give it up".

Well... the guy at the front desk looked and looked and said "sorry... nothing for 6 nights". Debbie gave me a smug look, and then the guy said "there are vacancies every night someplace... but I just cannot give you a room for the entire stay.

I really perked up... and we booked a series of 1 night stays, moving to a different section of Yellowstone each day. Lake - West Thumb - Mammoth - Canyon - Old Faithful etc. It actually ended up being MUCH better than spending the entire stay in one spot. We focused on just one area of the park each day... and then we moved on to the next.

My ideal situation would be to move each day... plus spend about 3 days at the Old Faithful Inn.

/Jim

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed your pictures. Thanks so much. Moving around was excatly what I was thinking, but I didn't know how long to stay at each place. Thanks so much...

[JimP]

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed your pictures. Thanks so much. Moving around was excatly what I was thinking, but I didn't know how long to stay at each place. Thanks so much...
If you want fewer moves... I would plan 3 larger areas:

1) Lake/Grant Village - explore lake, west thumb, and Grand Tetons (2 days if going to GTNP)

2) Mammouth Hot Springs and/or Canyon - Explore the north and east of the park (1-2 days)

3) Old Faithful Village (2+ days) - Explore the gyser basins.

/Jim

[kimberh]

If you want fewer moves... I would plan 3 larger areas:

1) Lake/Grant Village - explore lake, west thumb, and Grand Tetons (2 days if going to GTNP)

2) Mammouth Hot Springs and/or Canyon - Explore the north and east of the park (1-2 days)

3) Old Faithful Village (2+ days) - Explore the gyser basins.

/Jim

Thanks again, I have one more question, Is this the order to do these in? I read somewhere that they have to be booked a year in advance. Is that correct? Oh, That's two questions. :hahahaha: I am seriously getting ready to put a plan together. We have a large Disney trip with a 7 day cruise Aug 09, I will have to see what will work the best for us.

Thanks again,
Kim

[JimP]

I would probably do Old Faithful Village last. I am not too sure about the others.

It has been years since I booked a trip there... so I do not know about the lead times now. Sorry I can't help.

/Jim

[Simba's Mom]

I read somewhere that they have to be booked a year in advance. Is that correct?

Some specific room types at some of the resorts are already booked for the some dates in 2009, I know from personnal experience. Guy said as soon as we got back (actually I think he mentioned it before we left) that he wants to go back next year. Fortunately, they have a pretty good website for lodging, but I was really surprised when I checked, to find some things already fully booked.

[wintergreen]

Great to find this thread, as we will be going to Glacier NP and Yellowstone next summer. I have already booked all of our rooms, and will be staying in the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone. One of the reasons that all of our DVC points are at VWL is because I LOVE the NP lodges. Will report back in a years' time!