Camping at Yellowstone National Park – Becoming a Hard-Core Camper

Early Morning after Getting Snow at Night, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming/Idado/Montana, USA

(June 4 – 10, 2019) Humans and animals share equal status in Yellowstone National Park. Bisons (Buffaloes) don’t mind walking in the campgrounds. Elks often walk by the road. Some people say they have seen bears on the roads and wolves in the valleys.  

When the geysers shoot hot water into the air it feels great as it is still pretty chilly. It felt good to get a bit of natural earthly warmth when it was cold. At a green meadow by the rivers, I sat quietly just watched and listened.

Even the weather was colorful during my stay. When it rained so much with gusty winds, my tent was dancing the twist and getting wet inside. In the middle of the night, I moved my bedding to my car and slept inside. After waking up in the car one morning; I became a child and enjoyed walking on the new fresh snow. It was like a White Christmas in June.

There was a reason that I bought a big old American car on Craig’s List, for this trip. It is roomy on the back seat. It is a foot too short to stretch myself out fully but it is still good enough. When a weather emergency comes, it has been my safe heaven. I have become a hard-core camper now. After getting lots of snow I managed to sleep in 11 degrees Fahrenheit temperature (about -12 Celsius) one night. I wore four layers of clothes top and bottom and wrapped myself in my down sleeping bag, I woke up refreshed the next morning. Accepting and adapting to whatever weather is present has been a lesson learned through last three months of the camping trip.

I have also found a real guru camper family. My neighboring campers happened to be from Florida: Mom with 14 year old daughter and 11 year old son. It is summer break. When we had lots of snow, they (three people) slept in their car, a Mini-Cooper. I was surprised that the family awakened earlier than I did, as I am a super early riser. They were ready to go for a new day when I got up. The 11 year old boy was smiley and excited to be in the park not minding sleeping in a mini-cooper during the night. I later learned his father is in the Air-Force. Being a military family, they have lived in many different countries. When they were in Korea, the 11 year old boy used to translate Korean to English for his parents. He attended a local Chinese Emerging program in the States where he learned how to speak Chinese also. This family has been my inspiration when hardships occur. I am looking forward to visit their blog to find out more about them.

Bisons (Buffalos) at Campground, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming/Idado/Montana, USA
Bear Walking by Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming/Idado/Montana, USA
Elks Nearby Campground, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming/Idado/Montana, USA
Park Ranger at Old Faithful Geiser, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming/Idado/Montana, USA
Bridge Bay Campground, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming/Idado/Montana, USA
Mini Cooper at Campground, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming/Idado/Montana, USA
Three Rivers by Madison Meadow, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming/Idado/Montana, USA
View from Specimen Ridge Trail, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming/Idado/Montana, USA
Isa Lake (EAST side water flows to the Pacific and WEST side water goes to the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico), Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming/Idado/Montana, USA
Artist Point, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming/Idado/Montana, USA
Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming/Idado/Montana, USA
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming/Idado/Montana, USA
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming/Idado/Montana, USA
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming/Idado/Montana, USA
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming/Idado/Montana, USA
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming/Idado/Montana, USA
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming/Idado/Montana, USA
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming/Idado/Montana, USA
Bridge Bay Marina by Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming/Idado/Montana, USA

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