Top: Looking north from inside the basin. Shoshone Creek meanders through the basin, with its incredibly clear water mingling with the warm water of the basin. A little effort will find you an excellent spot to take a soothing dip in the stream - it feels really good to trail-worn feet and aching bones. Just be careful to stay out of the hot springs - there are some very good reasons that it's illegal to bathe in the springs, also called "hotpotting." Being boiled alive is one. If you seek to enjoy soaking in the warm waters of Yellowstone's thermal areas, find a spot downstream of the runoff, where the scalding water has been diluted by the cooler waters of the stream. This is something that you really need to take seriously - a lot more people have been seriously injured and even killed by the thermal features of Yellowstone than have been injured or killed by wildlife such as bears or bison. Don't be a statistic - it's a hell of a way to go.

In the bottom photo, I'm standing near the intersection of the geyser basin trail and the point where the horse bypass trail meets it. Horses aren't allowed in the basin, largely because of the marshy ground that surrounds it.

The meadows surrounding the area of this photo are wild and beautiful. It had been a long time since I'd seen any other backpackers when I visited the basin, and it probably looked just as it would have 200 years ago. It's a special place, and it's a very special experience to be able to spend a few days alone in such wild country.