Memories from my childhood visit to Yellowstone

While growing up there were many things I was forced to do by my parents and the standard line given when I objected was "You'll thank me later when you grow up". I'm still waiting for the day that I am thankful for all the torturous piano lessons but the memories from our family cross country road trip are proving to be priceless even though I certainly did not appreciate it at the time.

It has been almost two decades since I visited yellowstone as a kid and alot of things have changed but just as many are exactly as I remember them. On the first trip I remember seeing the devastation that had been caused by the 1988 fires that savaged much of yellowstone. Now, much of that devastation has been replaced by new growth and life.

Other things are exactly as I remember them. As I approached the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone on this current trip I suddenly had a vivid memory of the location and even though I hadn't been there in so long I instantly knew the view that was coming up around the corner down to the specific intricacies of the waterfall and how the mist provided moisture for vegetation downwind. (I snapped the picture below to help me remember it for next time)
Another memory I had from my childhood visit was of jumping off some rock cliffs into a river, floating down through a canyon into a swimming hole, climbing out, and doing it all over again. Approaching the swimming area on Firehole river everything was exactly how I remembered it except for a sign telling visitors they are no longer allowed to jump off of the rocks.

Other memories included a Buffalo who decided to set up his wallow in our camp site and getting in trouble with a park ranger for chopping down trees with my hatchet. The most interesting thing was that I didn't know that I had many of these memories but being in the park again trigger them on multiple occasions.

Conclusion: come see the Wild West at least once in your life, but preferably twice or more...