1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Washburn Hot Springs as seen from the trail
Note the bison skull next to one of the hot pots—a gentle reminder not to mess with deadly hot springs.
Our (mostly) fearless research team
From the right: Dr. Zack Jay, Dr. Viola Krukenberg, Dr. Bill Inskeep, Dr. Mensur Dlakic, and yours truly
Yellowstone Canyon
The views on the trail to Washburn Hot Springs do not disappoint
Bill never misses an opportunity to share some thoughts
Look closely to see each hiker is equipped with high powered pepper spray for grizzly bears in the area
Well hello there!
A nice grizzly print in the snow
Wait, are we following or being followed?!
“Hey, it’s no big deal, just big fresh grizzly tracks in the snow”…as I reach to remember which side of my hip belt I attached my bear spray to.
An extremely large grizzly turd
In case the footprints weren’t enough, this griz decided to leave us a treat so that we’d be certain she was in the area
A bear's footprint near Washburn Hot Springs
Scientists aren’t the only ones who frequent these geothermal features
A seemingly barren landscape
Gases from beneath clear the area from surrounding trees. The geothermal pools are thriving with extremophilic microbial life!