OK, we are convinced this is definitely a must-see park. As the park ranger stated yesterday, while we awaited Old Faithful to erupt, this is why the park was created in 1872. Over half the world's geysers are contained within this park. What historians have phrased "America's best idea", (the national parks) certainly got a great start in Yellowstone.
We were advised to head toward the Tower Roosevelt and Lamar Valley for the greatest chance at wildlife viewing and were not disappointed. There are large herds of bison in the Lamar Valley and along the way we spotted several black bear. We leave the park having missed any large grizzly bear or moose, but have not been disappointed with the wild animals we have observed. Albeit the aggravation of ridiculous tourists who will stop all traffic to take a picture of an animal grazing along the roadside (sometimes the back ups can go on for miles.)
We saved some of the best for our last day. We arrived at the Old Faithful area about 45 minutes before the next predicted eruption and the crowd was already large. As the pressure built below the geyser all began to see small shots of water and steam. With each passing event the crowd reacted with a gasp and then total silence. Not a sound from thousands except for the geysers gurgles and growls. Then, there it was, a short tower of water that quickly built to a thundering stream projecting a hundred or more feet into the air. Repeatedly, now, you hear the awe and wow coming from the onlookers. Then it is over and the 4000+/- gallons of centuries old water streams down the slopes and into the Firehole River.