All About Mormons

Going through Salt Lake City we made the obligatory stop at the famous Mormon Temple located right downtown.  Good thing Trey Parker and Matt Stone helped us out with what to expect.

The tabernacle

Large pipe organ

In front of the main temple

How you become a Latter-day saint

Entrance to the Joseph Smith Center

At the Genealogy center

With Joseph Smith

Inside the Joseph Smith Center lobby

The temple as viewed from floor 10 of the Joseph Smith Center

Across the street in the convention center

Myth Confirmed at Antelope Island!

Today we made a stop at Antelope Island on the Great Salt Lake to test the myth that you float better in really salty water. MYTH CONFIRMED.

The island is fascinating with small mountains, scrubby vegetation and free roaming antelope and bison. It is also buggy! Imagine a carpet of small flying insects on the shoreline and the top of the water. That is not an exaggeration. Enjoy the photos!

I highly recommend this stop to anyone visiting or passing through Salt Lake City!

 

Grand Teton

Grand Teton National Park was surprisingly strong: towering mountain ranges, waterfalls, and lakes (we even got a boat ride).  We woke up early from Yellowstone, broke down camp, and hit the road at about 7:30 giving us plenty of time to explore the Yellowstone's little brother to the south before coasting into Salt Lake City via South-Eastern Idaho's picturesque mountain passes.  Pictures follow.

Animals of Yellowstone

We thought they deserved their own post. My biggest goal was to see bison. I succeeded.

There were bison on the hilltops...

...bison laying down...

...bison in the road...

...bison on the thermal features, and even bison in the parking lots :-)

These adorable chipmunks were everywhere.

 Elk in the road!

I haven't yet identified this little guy.

Here's a shout out to the un-pictured yet still awesome animals we saw: the birds, the flying squirrels, and the mule deer. I'll be back for you bears. You cannot hide forever.

Yellowstone Photo Dump

My first visit (and Ray's second visit) to Yellowstone did not disappoint! We saw a little bit of everything. In some cases a lot. Here is the evidence!

 Ranger lead hike at the canyon.

 Bear claw markings!

 The Upper Falls at the canyon.

We watched Old Faithful erupt 3 times!