San Fransisco, California

B. Hippo overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge over the San Fransisco Bay.

Travel plans didn't leave much time for exploring the city, but there was time enough to stop and see the fantastic bridge overlook on US-101. Despite being a nice enough day, it sure was foggy, windy, and cold up there!

Yosemite National Park, California

B. Hippo in front of El Capitan, possibly America's most famous rock.

B. Hippo looks out at Lower Yosemite Falls, one of many spectacular waterfalls found in the park. There sure are a lot of tourists in this waterfall! (you can see a few up by the base of the falls)

B. Hippo gazes at the panoramic views of the valley from Glacier Point. Perhaps sometime he'll return to give the Half Dome Summit Trail a go... for now it looks fantastic in the distance.

Though crowded, Yosemite National Park in California is definitely a place to see! Such outstanding beauty is found here, and though most of the falls are fed by snowmelt and dry later in the season, we still saw a little water. There's so much to see, this visit was only a taste. Perhaps we'll come back and do some hiking...

Redwood National Park, California

B. Hippo looks and feels small among the 300+ foot coastal redwoods in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

If the trees in the Hoh Rainforest were impressive, the Coast Redwoods of northern California are utterly astounding. At over 300 feet tall and many more than 1000 years old, these are the tallest trees in the world. B. Hippo explored the groves in both Jedediah Smith and Prairie Creek state parks, and saw some male Roosevelt Elk sparring on the drive between the two.

Olympic National Park, Washington

B. Hippo among the ferns in the Hoh Rain Forest in Olympic National Park

Observing the ancient trees and moss in the Hoh Rain Forest

The Temperate Rain Forest of Washington's Olympic National Park is one of the most unique and enchanting places on the journey to date. They get over 140 inches of rain each year! Everything is dark under the canopy of the huge trees, and mosses cover their branches and trunks. On the floor there are fallen logs and many ferns and Banana Slugs. The Olympic mountains form a sort of ecological island, water to the west (the Pacific), the north (the Strait of Juan de Fuca), and the East (the Puget Sound), as well as lowlands to the south have left many of the species found here on their own for some time. B. Hippo particularly enjoyed learning about the Olympic Marmot, though wasn't able to spot one while hiking.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

B. Hippo visits Old Faithful Geyser in the Lower Geyser Basin at Yellowstone National Park

Old Faithful, shown here, is surrounded by many other geysers and fumaroles, though none are quite as predictable as this one.

Among the geysers, the air smells humid and sulfury. B. Hippo learned about the different geothermal features, of which about half of the worlds supply are here in Yellowstone, at the ranger station before heading out.

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

B. Hippo and K look out over the ridgeline of the Tetons from the shores of Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park.

B. Hippo inspects the flora in a verdant mountain meadow along the Jenny Lake loop trail. Shortly after this was taken, he and his hiking partners would discover a large cinnamon-colored black bear eating berries near the lake.

Powder River Pass, Wyoming

At 9,666 feet above sea level, Powder River Pass is the highest point on US Highway 16 in the Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming. Here B. Hippo learns a bit about the area.

K and B. Hippo survey their high-altitude surroundings.

On the way through here, we encountered a sign that read: "Warning! Winding Road next 72 Miles". While enjoying the steep windy highway drive, we encountered a female moose peeking out of the woods! Too bad we couldn't get a shot of that.

Thermopolis, Wyoming

B. Hippo enjoys a dip in the World's Largest Mineral Hot Spring, located in the town of Thermopolis, Wyoming. The water is nice and warm, but smells of sulfur due to the mineral content.