Around Yellowstone Lake, 6-20-2010

Along with the views of the steep canyon walls we saw many areas of dead trees, some with grasses growing at the bases of the trunks and some with still blackened ground. In the information on the park it explained how some of the recent fires started, burned and were partially guided or controlled by the fire crews. The item went on to tell how the forest regrows the trees over a span of up to 300 years. In the distance we could see water between two hills and Ernie said it was Yellowstone Lake and it was over 400 deep feet at points. Gradually we could see more and more of the lake until it showed itself as we reached the shoreline. From our perspective it looked sizable, and it is, 20 miles across one way and 14 miles the other. Over the water there were dark clouds and we could see the rain coming down from them. The rain seemed to just pop up and then dissipate quickly. Sometimes lightning and then thunder were present. At one point we stopped to record the rainshowers and storms over Yellowstone Lake. The turnoff had fumeroles (smoking vents) right down the slope toward the lake. I guess they're old enough to smoke.