Yellowstone National Park was 100 years old in 1972 and that was the first year that I was a visitor to the park. I was 12 that year and it is a time in life when you are not all that interested to go on a trip with your parents so I was not thrilled to be on this trip. But once we entered the park there was so much to see and do that I was thrilled and excited to be on this trip.
We entered the park on the east entrance and the first thing we encountered was Sylvan Pass. The mountains surrounded us and small waterfalls went down onto the road. Flowers grew along the side of the road and the air itself felt clean and fresh. The road curved and went up and down with sharp dropoffs along the side of the road leaving everyone in the car nervous.
Next we drove on to Fishing Bridge and met up with our first bear jam. Bears and cars were everywhere our vehicle included. We did not have air conditioning and it was July so our windows were down and a bear hung his claws on the passenger side window of our car looking for a handout. It was scary, exciting and I would not recommend this to anyone but that is how it was in the park in 1972.
Our next stop was Old Faithful area where I first saw Old Faithful erupt. Hot water rose into the air at an alarming rate with steam and sprinkles of water filling the air. After the eruption was over a small stream of hot water ran away from the geyser into the Firehole River.
A trail went around the geyser area but we did not have time to go see any other geysers because we needed to make up some time and head out to Mammoth area. I really wanted to stay at Old Faithful area to see more of the gersers and I think it affected me because now that I am older I feel the need to go see the geysers in Yellowstone every year.
I have had the privilege of going to the park another 35 times over the years. Each time I visit the park I see something new and exciting. There is truly no place on earth like Yellowstone National Park making it the oldest and the best park in America.