Montana Bed and Breakfast: River's Bend Lodge

Water Falls in Yellowstone National Park mid June 2011

It was hard to leave the Tetons behind, but we were really looking forward to another day in Yellowstone to see the iconic Grand Canyon and both the upper and the lower falls. It seems as if we drove along water most of the day, with smaller lakes dotting the way until we reached the shores of massive Yellowstone Lake, the source of the Yellowstone River. By the time we reached the Lower Falls, we were both hungry and tired. Mary Jane was afraid we had lost the best light of day for photographing the falls. But to our amazement and delight the subdued evening light actually enhanced the depth of color. The Lower Falls were roaring with the spring run-off, wondrous, but making it difficult to talk. The Upper Falls swept through the canyon, like the lesser sister of the Lower Falls, “steaming clouds of glory” in her thundering descent. Even though it was between 5-6:30 pm, the light was quite remarkable as it streaked the canyon’s flanks in a palette of rich earth tones, varying from pale sand and amber to burnt umber and deep orange! Upon reviewing the photos in our little Canyon Village cabin, Mary Jane was ecstatic over what her camera had captured! As a seasoned photographer, she knows such light is rare, if not impossible. That wasn’t our only unexpected blessing of the day.  Well after dark, Mary Jane squealed as she pulled back the curtains and looked outside. “Pat, you won’t believe it. Hurry, get out of bed! Come and see!” Only a sister who knows me so well could anticipate the childlike delight I felt as she whispered, “It’s snowing!” The flakes were small and delicate, more like a fine dusting of powdered sugar covering the ground and our parked car. We squealed aloud together!  Snow, beautiful snow was falling in Yellowstone National Park. It was the fitting close to an already perfect day!

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