Epic Odyssey: The Grandest Journey: Rapid City to West Yellowstone

The drive across Wyoming and Montana was long, but this is a L-O-N-G trip with a colossal amount of driving. It all looks crazy on paper and sometimes feels crazier when we're moving down endless miles of pavement. It was worth it, though, when we saw the snow-covered rocky mountains looming in the distance from the red pavement of I-90.

It felt even more worth it when we entered the forest around Yellowstone and saw the mountain streams and breathed the Rocky Mountain air for the first time. There is a giddiness that sets in, a joy that must be the Rocky Mountain High. (Click here and start singing along!)

The sheer grandeur of the mountains, trees, and rivers is magnificent. We were all just happy to be out of the van and moving around.

When we heard from a passing motorist that there were bison up the road on the way to West Yellowstone, we were on high alert. We were not disappointed. We were all kind of dumbstruck when we found ourselves 50 feet from a 2,000 pound male bison on the side of the road. Continuing down the road, we happened upon five more bison about 100 yards off the road. two of them were play fighting, butting heads. They seemed to not notice us creeping up on them, or just not care.

In case you thought bison and buffalo were the same animal - as I did - check out this explanation. We have only bison in the USA.

We were not able to enter the park itself from the west entrance as it is closed until April 17. The only entrance that is open was one we had passed two hours behind us. There is still so much to see and appreciate just being in the mountains. It is impossible to represent this experience in words or pictures. We are extraordinarily blessed to be able to live this!

Today, off to Grand Teton and Salt Lake City.