Fun in the Rockies

Day 8 - Cody, WY to Yellowstone via NE entrance (through Montana)
First night at Tower Falls campground. Also visited Mammoth Hot Springs today.

Day 9 - Hiked around the famous upper and lower falls of the "Grand Canyon of Yellowstone", climbed part of Washburn Mt., and visited Norris Geyser Basin.
Staying the next two nights at Madison Campground on the west side of the park.

Day 10 - Spent most of the day at Old Faithful. Watched geyser erupt a number of times between groceries, laundry, etc. Also drove over to West Thumb Geyser Basin where the hot springs meet Yellowstone Lake.

Day 11 - Left Madison and stopped at Grant Village (S. Yellowstone) where Eric and Maddy earned another "Junior Ranger" badge. Had lunch in S. Yellowstone area (Lewis Lake). Maddy and Daddy hiked 3 miles to/from Moose Falls collecting volcanic obsidian along the way.
Spent the next 2 nights at Colter Bay campground in Grand Tetons National Park.

Day 12 - Hiked along Jenny Lake, a popular starting point for backcountry hikers, and the kids earned some more Junior Ranger badges.
Had some ice cream in Jackson Hole, WY and spent the night 10' from the raging Hoback River at a campground of the same name in Bridger Teton National Forest.

Day 13 - Drove south to Flaming Gorge Reservoir where we took a tour with the "best dam tour guide" around! Spent some time at the Red Canyon Visitor Center and drove the Sheep Canyon Geologic Loop. This is an interesting lesson in upturned and overturned strata! Stayed at Mustang Ranch Campground (about 100' above the resevoir - straight down!).

Day 14 - Rented a white-water raft this morning and trailered it down to the back side of the Flaming Gorge Dam. Spent the next 7 miles negotiating class 2 and 3 rapids - with no river guide. They just trust you'll end up OK around here. Almost got hung up (bad situation) at deadman's falls but we managed to come through with just a lot of water in the raft for the kids to bail out.
Went fishing and had dinner up at Red Canyon Lodge in the afternoon. Swam near our campsite until 8pm.

Day 15 - Left Flaming Gorge area heading south to Vernal, UT. Crossed over the Uinta Mts. where a major anticline/fault system has the rock strata arranged with the oldest rocks on top and the younger rocks progressively below. From the summit, Rt. 191 takes you through old PreCambian rock first and, as you lose elevation towards Vernal, changes from Paleozoic rock ending finally at Mesozoic Rock (w/plenty of dino fossils!)
Stayed the night in Vernal KOA (fast wireless connection here) and saw Wall-E movie.