Day 39 (Sunday 7/29/12)- Yellowstone, WY

Knowing that today would be a full day with the intent to see much of Yellowstone we were up early and ready to go before our fellow campers had risen. (They perhaps had, for all we know, suffocated in their morass of carpet) The intention for the day was to see the bulk of Yellowstone, starting first with an exploration of its eastern side. This included West Thumb's round of hot springs, a couple samples of Yellowstone Lake, scalding and gurgling pools and caves with ominous and forgotten names, several visitor centers, waterfalls and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Crossing over to the west side we went into Lamar Valley, then back down to camp, stopping to see Fountain paint pots where tragically a ranger had recently burned/drowned. (See picture). (As we did so much and have since lost our map, this is not a comprehensive or accurately titled list) 
As for wildlife, in the morning we saw a baby wolf running in the road, two separate black bear sightings and have variously seen, in all our adventures of Yellowstone and the Tetons, so many buffalo, that we now drive past the crowds at the road's margins who are aiming their camera's at fury dots, which they will later explain to their friends are bison, while we think they should really turn around and head to Mormon Row for a more personal encounter with the loping beasts.

Geyser at Yellowstone

Wildflower that only grows after a fire

View of Yellowstone Lake

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Grizzly bear we saw from the road

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

We thought it was a statue too-

hanging out right outside the Visitor's center

Geyser in Yellowstone

Geyser in Yellowstone

Part of geyser pool-We learned by sneaking onto a private tour that it's orange because it's furthest away from the hottest part of the geyser, like a fire the color determines how hot it is

Lost Ranger hat in geyser pool (see reference above)