Yellowstone

 

We woke up this morning to overcast and snow flurries. We drove to the far northeast side of the park to learn about snow science. After dividing into groups, we dug snow pits and measured the different layers of snow using popsicle sticks, rulers, mass calculators, and thermometers. After our science lesson, we went up to a small canyon, which was a highlight of our trip, according to many of our group members. The canyon had a small river flowing through it that contributed to its many different rock formations and ecosystems. We enjoyed a moment of quiet amongst the canyon's beauties, then headed back to the bison ranch for lunch.

After lunch, one of the ranch managers, Katie, explained how their off grid energy system works, including the chemistry behind hydroelectric energy! We went on a short walk to visit some bison and elk bones, including skulls and antlers. After that, we stopped to learn about the effect of climate change on national parks. Specifically, the flood in 2022 damaged roadways and caused river erosion, which we got to see in action when we saw a boulder fall from the cliff and crash into the water. It sounded just like cracking thunder! Finally, we got back on the bus and made our last voyage down the valley back to the overlook, where we enjoyed s'mores and shared our highlights from the trip.

 

Looking back on our fun adventures, we are so grateful for this experience!