13 Oct 20 As you may recall from the mailings about this time lat year I mentioned having finally gotten to climb the trail behind Prismatic Spring to photograph it from above. I shared a frame or two from that walk. The trail to the top isn't actually marked either on the provided map you get at the park entrance or at the location. Instead you have to look for the Fairy Falls Trail sign which is about a mile past the Midway Geyser Basin parking lot as you drive south. If you begin your morning taking the Firehole Canyon Drive, just after turning right onto the the lower section of the Grand Loop Road at Madison Junction, then stop for the Lower Geyser Basin (first one you come to) and follow that with the Middle Geyser Basin which contains Prismatic Spring, then the walk to the observation deck above the spring, it will make for a FULL morning, although that depends on a) how early you rise, b) the amount of traffic, and c) how fast you mosey along the paths. Of course all this timing could easily be thrown off by what you encounter on the way in along the 14 miles of the West Entrance Road. When you do eventually arrive at the Fairy Falls parking lot, assuming you can find a parking spot, the walk to the falls starts by passing a small hot pond, then crossing a photogenic bridge over a tributary to the Firehole River, then past some hot streams flowing over the opposite river bank, and then meandering along giving you some different views of the area surrounding Prismatic Spring before the trail forks with the left fork taking you to the viewing platform and the right fork continuing on to Fairy Falls, a location I've yet to visit. Today's submission is a shot of Prismatic Spring at almost spring level taken before the short climb up to the viewing platform and shot between some Lodgepole Pines. Although a major distraction to my way of thinking, I've let the humans remain for perspective. The trail is just over a mile in length and wheel chair capable throughout its length although it will require some strength to push/roll a wheelchair up the last several hundred feet (distance not height). This is not a view you'll see on calendars, post cards, posters, or promotional materials. Note the smoke in the background! Along the walk to the location I noticed something that appeared to have fallen out of the pocket of an older couple walking just in front of me. I asked them if they possibly had dropped something; they had, their only credit card. They were quite appreciative of my question.
Other than a little effort in minimizing the smoke effect, this is what the camera saw. Uncommon View Nikon D500; 18 - 200; Aperture Priority; ISO 200; 1/800 sec @ f / 9.
