Another look at the Rustic Geyser Basin, tucked in beneath the clouds that blanket the slopes of Mt. Sheridan. Heart Lake looks cold this morning, but the waterfowl is enjoying the grey weather. Wedge after wedge of geese pass overhead, circle, then glide in to land over on the east side of the lake, near the point where the Trail Creek Trail climbs up the hillside and turns south towards the Heart River. Sandhill cranes call from the meadow behind the rangers cabin, and though I don't see them, they're also calling from the Witch Creek meadows above the lake.

Bottom photo: I'm having a hard time making a lot of noise this morning, especially now that the wind has died and the rain has slacked off. It's really quiet out here now, except for the wild cries of the sandhill cranes and geese. Making noise here seems a lot like creating a disturbance in church - it just doesn't seem like something that civil people would do. I stand at this spot for a long time, actually considering turning back and returning to the campsite for another night. Maybe it would be a good day to summit Mt. Sheridan, but in the end, I turn and trudge up the hill towards Paycheck Pass.

Take a long hard look at this wild tableau. It's only a small portion of the Yellowstone wild country, but on this day, it's my portion and leaving it behind is one of the hardest things I've ever done. There are a lot of people who hate the idea of National Parks, or for that matter, public land of any sort. They constantly whine and complain about the management of the Park Service, finding fault with every move and every decision that the Park Service has to make. While it's certainly true that there is an element of ineffective bureaucracy in any organization, the National Park Service, or at least the dedicated people that have chosen to work for the Service, has managed to save and protect some of the wildest lands that we have left in the lower 48 states. I don't believe that any government agency in America has a more dedicated work force. For that, they deserve, and get, my deepest gratitude.