FosseOdyssey

Due to all the fires in Montana, we changed our route from Glacier National Park to Yellowstone National Park.  We stayed for a week and were able to explore most of the park and also crossed white water rafting off our bucket list White water rafting was fun.  The water was low as it was end of season with only class 1, 2, 3, and 4 rapids.  Very easy and low key said our guide.  We rafted  for 9 miles down the Gallatin River. The first rapid was the Fluffy Bunny (class 1 easy peasy).  All went well through the class 2 and 3 rapids. The class 4 rapids had more boulders , rocks and of course whitewater .  We made it through the Boulder Garden ,  the Thumb of God and then came the grand finale Box of Rocks. We were almost through the Box when our raft hit a boulder under my seat and bounced me off into the river. Luckily our guide and Tom pulled me into the raft like a beached whale.  Water was freezing but No injuries...you wear a helmet and personal floatation device   Moral of story

Most of Montana on fire, so changing directions.  Instead of going to Glacier National Park (smoke issues) we are going to West Yellowstone for a week. On our way we stayed the night in Butte.  Looking for things to do we read about Deer Lodge.  It's a small town 30 miles from Butte - population 3500 in town and 6000 for area. The old Montana Prison in Deer Lodge  is now a museum.  It was built out by convict labor starting in 1871.  The prison closed in 1979.  Famous inmates included at least one member of the Butch Cassidy gang and 2 of the top 3 suspected Zodiac Killer candiadates.  Interesting that the main cell house is built on almost the same plan as Alcatraz.  It is believed there may be ghosts as 2 men were hanged.  They occurred in 1908 & 1909 the inmates that were executed were the ones that killed the deputy warden and attempted to kill the warden by cutting their throats witH handmade   blades. The hangings  were pretty gruesome - they were a Jerk Up style ( th

Luckily we only had 2 nights in Banff.   I say "lucky" in a disappointing way, Banff is filled with smoke from the Verdant creek wildfire.  The smoke keeps pouring into the valley. We wanted to take the Banff gondola ride, but the cashier showed us the webcam and asked if we really wanted to spend $120 to go up. The visibility was extremely poor...just gray smokey skies.  We appreciated his candor and passed on the gondola We did visit the Caves and Basins historical landmark.  This is known as the birthplace of Canada's national park system it is a natural thermal mineral spring discovered in the 1870's   The waters are said to cure rheumatism, digestion and gunshot wounds.  Hmmmm... We stayed at the Tunnel Mountain RV park.  The trailhead for the HOODOOs starts from this campground.  So what is a hoodoo?  Basically it is composed sedimentary rock covered by harder rock that is difficult to erode.  Once the softer sediment erodes a needle or tower is formed. At