Well, we're coming down to the wire. We've had a number of set-backs the past week or so, but now things really seem to be coming together. Most importantly, rooms opened up in Canyon Village in Yellowstone!!!
No, that doesn't mean much to most people, but it matters to our trip.
When the researching on this trip first began it became clear to my handlers that they wanted to stay in the beautiful and hisotric Old Faithful Lodge in the park. Only steps away from the famous geyser and with excellent access to the best thermal features of the park, it seemed a pefect choice. As all rooms in the park fill up early, they decided to jump right in and get rooms, even though they had intended this trip to be somewhat "reservation-less" adventure. They made reservations for 2 nights in the oldest (and cheapest) part of the lodge...with shared showers and not much in the way of amenities.
Well, time went on and the research continued. The handlers eventually had to grudingly admit that 1.5 days in America's premier national park was probably not going to be enough to see all the wonders it had to offer. They extended their reservations to 3 nights.
It was then that my handlers really started looking at maps of the park and realizing that the Old Faithful Lodge was not exactly centrally located. This would not usually be a huge problem, except for the fact that major points of interest in Yellowstone tend to be 50 or so miles away from each other and...yeah...lots of driving. Plus, their research further turned up the information that the road between Norris and Madison would be closed to construction during their stay. No, you wouldn't have any idea what that means unless you had a map of Yellowstone laid out right in front of you, but take it from me, it means that we would have to travel the LONG way around from our hotel to get to...well...just about everything.
So, based upon these findings, and the suggestions of some anonymous friendly persons on the internets, the handlers decided to look into alternative housing within the park.
They didn't find much.
It really is hard to find rooms in the park unless you book some 6 months ahead of time. Those rooms that were open were either in places my handlers weren't interested in staying (like near the Mammoth Hot Springs) or were prohibitively expensive. They figured they were probably out of luck, but that they'd check every day before they left to see if anything happened to open up.
Joy of joys, it did.
Now we are booked for 2 nights at the Pioneer Cabins in Canyon Village, with one night still at the Old Faithful Lodge. Canyon Village is about as close to the "center" of the park as you can get, and is strategically located right next to the picturesque grand canyon of the Yellowstone. So, we should have excellent access to that, as well as to the wildlife filled Hayden and Lamar valleys!
Unfortunately, this may also mean that the previously scrapped plans for hiking Mt. Washburn at sunrise may be back on. Hmpf! If those idiots want to go climbing around on a mountainside with goats and bears and everything before it's fully light out, well, more power to them. I'll be staying in my nice warm cabin, thank-you-very much!
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