Yellowstone National Park...

A real hot spot - click

....The parks sits right on top of a "super volcano" or Caldera, and that's hot,
and has half of the worlds geothermal features, it's like cooking on a pot;
and that explains the geysers and mud holes that boil,
so please obey the rules, unless you want to bathe in too hot oil.

President Grant commissioned the park in 1872,
and it's been preserved for the likes of me, and you;
even in winter Old Faithful still "spouts off",
and the steam may keep you warm, no need to sniffle and cough.

An Elk in velvet - click

The Firehole River at full speed - click

Snow at elevation - click

Yellowstone National Park...

Old Faithful Geyser, notice the walkway - click

....Wyoming, Idaho and Montana, almost too big to see,
it would take a week or more, if it were me;
Lamar Valley, Hayden Valley the river falls and all,
and wouldn't it be terrific to see it in the fall.

Buffalo herds and antelope, beavers and raccoons,
and if you wait patiently you could see full moons;
water running swiftly or settled in a pool,
if someone can't enjoy this place, their surely playing fool.

An aerial view of Hayden Valley - click

Falls on the Yellowstone River - click

American Otters, you oughta' see 'em -click

Yellowstone National Park, Lamar Valley....

Soda Butte Creek, Lamar Valley-click

...Wyoming, Yellowstone is so big, it's in part of three states,
and there so many features, we'll break it down, no escapes;
Lamar Valley is a section that is very large and so....
..we'll start right there, where the mountain breezes blow.

Grassland and water, buttes and extra large hills,
are all throughout the valley, where nature over spills,
there is sensory overload about everywhere you look,
if we had a month or more, we could write a book.

First snow for the buffalo herd

Reflections in a pond, still water-click

Moon rise Lamar Valley

Kennecott, Alaska in the Wrangell-St.Elias National Park...

The smelter and other facilities, 27 stories tall-click

...over in the corner of this lovely park, it sits,
Kennecott, a company town, now dead and in the pits;
the mine was in the mountains, way over there,
but the ore was processed in this town, it was in their care.

Built by the Guggenheim family and J.P. Morgan, who were already rich,
they took a hundred million dollars, and left us with a ditch,
the place was name for a glacier, Kennecott in name,
see, you can do a lot - if you have the funds and fame.

The Kennecott Glacier-click

Another view of the mills-click

A small river of water, from a very large river of ice-click

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve....

View from a distance-click

...in southeastern Alaska, we have this wilderness place,
saved from development, the people won the race;
this land is a perfect example, of wild and wonderful things,
if you get a chance to visit, you will see what nature brings.

You travel a highway from Anchorage, and two gravel roads,
drive through the park if need be, but you can hike (with heavy loads),
climb among the mountains, see glaciers right up close too,
or you can just look at pictures, that's what I choose to do.

Mount Blackburn, a glacier in front-click

A glacier, seemingly at rest (it's not)-click

View from the Kennicott Lodge-click

Women's Rights National Historical Park...

Wesleyan Chapel site of first convention-click

..."You've come a long way baby", is more than an ad,
these women started a movement, by which they had...
...the start of a woman's right to vote,
with years ahead, it was a rocky old boat.

My mother was seven before women could vote,
a right we all can practice we do so by rote,
by 1920 it was finally achieved,
a 'mere' fourteen years, congress followed their lead.

Those in attendance at the first convention-click

Susan B. Anthony home in Rochester NY-click

A walking path through Victory Woods-click

White Sands National Monument...



The Alkali Flat Trail





White Sand Gypsum Crystals**

Out in that desert place,
where the craft that crashed was from space,
and those alien bodies lie in state,
on a frozen slab of slate….

Nah, that's not what this about.

It's this shining snow white sand,
that buries this hot dry land,
that stretches for many miles,
and brings the geologists smiles.

Is it mineral rich they ask,
as they go about their tasks;
they know it's a special place too,
and that's why they invite you.

**These Crystals are the "white sand".



Gypsum Plant Stand



Some of the scenery

A good place to see the clouds and moon.