By supporting sustainable cuisine,
Xanterra is not only providing highquality, healthy food to our guests,
but is helping to support local food
systems and drive economic growth.
Xanterra believes that we have a
special role as a steward of
Yellowstone to protect the
environment for future generation which is why we strive to provide
Legendary Hospitality with a Softer
Footprint.
I applaud their efforts and ate all my
meals during my two-day visit in their
dining facilities.
The following day I signed-up for the
Firehole Basin Adventure: a threehour exploration of some of
Yellowstone's geo-thermal wonders
that starts at the Inn. The tour utilizes
a 1937 yellow wooden touring car,
one of eight which Xanterra
refurbished at the cost of $237,000
each. The windows are quite costly
and delicate. In fact, my guide
banned everyone on the tour from
closing the doors. He did that
himself, so as to not break any of the
windows.
While jaunting around the park, the
guide explained hot springs and
geysers. Yellowstone sits on a huge
caldera, one that erupted 640,000
years ago. While the earth's crust is
normally 20-30 miles thick, the park's
magma rests just 1-7 miles below
surface. Superheated water gets
pushed up, and rises near the top.
Constriction around the geysers from
deposits of silica cause the pressure
to build until the water finally shoots
out.
Old Faithful, the most famous
geyser, erupts around 17 times a
day and shoots a stream of water
from 80-180 feet high. The next
display can be predicted with a 90
percent confidence rate within a 10
minute variation. It's quite a show
but there are 250 geysers in the
park and over 1,000 thermals. The
Painted Pots area was particularly
eerie and fascinating.
The best part of staying at the Inn,
however, is being right in the middle
of the untamed wilderness. I just
had to keep pinching myself. Before
I left on my last day, I strolled to a
number of hot pools and relished
the magic of Yellowstone after an
overnight dusting of snow.
Fortunately I packed appropriate
attire. Yellowstone's wildlife,
diversity and heritage will not
disappoint. This National Park is an
astonishing gift; see it, treasure it
and pass it on.
All photos courtesy of Debi Lander.
Disclosure: I rented a car at personal
expense for the drive to and from
Yellowstone from Boise, Idaho. Many
thanks to Xanterra Resorts who
provided lodging and the
complimentary Firehole Basin tour.
Xanterra Parks & Resorts
866 439-7375.