The Caldera

• Date 8-21-19
• Day:  16
• Start: 1976
• End: 1997
• Miles: 21
• Hours: 11
• High Temp: 75
• Low Temp: 32
• Thru Hikers Met: 10

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Meadow walk this morning 

Frost formed last night so it is very chilly as the sun comes up. Within the first hour and a half there were 3 boots off river crossings. At first I thought this will be brutal, then after the first step into the stream I realized the temperature of the water was warmer than the current air temperature. I actually felt warm crossing. 

The Heart River 

The understory in some of the forest walk are lush grasses

In some places walking thru the meadows the grasses over gang the trail. The frost becomes moose as we hike through getting our trousers wet.  After an hour or so the air temperature warms enough to drop my cool weather gear. The sky this morning is clear and a beautiful blue. The forest is quiet and peaceful. 

Heart Lake

The trail is right on the beach for a short distance 

Some more meadows to cross

As we follow the trail out if the Heart Lake basin  we come upon some thermal features.  We are definitely in the mighty Yellowstone Caldera now. Yes the classic thing to see in Yellowstone is thermal features. 

Witch Creek with a bubbling caldron 

The stream is about 102 degrees. 

Witch Creek invites us to wash our socks, feet and face in a clean bath like water. The water is very soft. Even the drinking water we gathered at the last cool stream the water was soft. 

This feature is right along the trail

More thermal features 

Heart Lake as we leave the basin

While this may not appear to be much it is like the dragons breath. To stand on the rrail here you can smell a slight sulfur scent and feel the warmth of the ground. I needed this spot this morning!

One last thermal feature before we leave this section. You can hear the bubbling of one little pot 

Thunderstorm cells are rapidly developing all around us. They are growing at an alarming rate.  There are a few drops on us but we are able to hike away from the storm that is building east of us. 

Another 8 miles to our campsite. In Yellowstone we need permits and have scheduled planed campsites. So our freedom of choosing is gone but the campsites are flat and established so we don’t need to search for one. Plus there are cross beams for hanging out food bags, very convenient 

There are two female deer that bound through the forest as we approach.  They are the largest animals we have seen in Yellowstone so far. 

We make it to Shoshone Lake campsite about 1700 hrs. This is a huge lake with nothing else here. It’s very secluded and nice. Another wonderful day on the trail.