by Peggy DePersia, guest blogger

Superlative expressions do not go begging when it comes to describing the beauty of the western plains terrain.

With all of the exotic destinations available to world travelers today, the unique grandeur and beauty within our own U. S. of A. can, sometimes, take a ‘back seat’ to more come hither locales.

Case in point: Yellowstone National Park.

Photos never quite do it justice as stunning as they usually are. The raw beauty of mountain sides littered by the fallen trunks of lodge pole pines ravaged by infamous dry weather fires is both is both shocking and austerely lovely to contemplate.

The cold water lakes, streams, and rivers cradled by nature’s ancient earthen hollows, valleys and ravines invite another kind of reflection along with a distinctly auditory appeal……now softly rippling, quietly gurgling, or musically tinkling over and through the landscape.

The unusual variety of geological features from hissing, boiling, colorfully ringed pools of liquid, referred to as ‘paint pots’,  to guessers like the world famous ‘Old Faithful’ or calcite terraces (say that one real fast three times in a row) embedded in the hillsides of the former cavalry installation in Mammoth, Montana near the arched gateway and northern entry into the park, inspire awe……and I haven’t even gotten to my enchantment with the plains terrain, my original starting point leading to this natural wonder.

In addition to the majesty of the land formations and natural phenomena is the extraordinary wildlife it supports and shelters. Viewing a ‘grizzly’ making its way across a frigid stream, admiring a ‘bull’ elk guarding his harem of cows just as mating season is about to ensue, gazing at vast meadows of buffalo feeding on grasses and rolling in patches of dirt for the benefit of ‘scratching’ are not sights I will likely forget and none I will see again anytime soon.

I guess I will have to address my appreciation of the western plains, particularly those around Cody, Wyoming, another time.

‘Yellowstone sort of took my breath away”.

Jerry DePersia is an architect in Grand Rapids, MI and a lover of wood crafts. He took  the photos for this blog post.

Peggy DePersia recently retired as a high school art teacher and now devotes her time to teaching at Kendall College of Art and Design and living creatively.

They both enjoy travel and time with their darling grand son Oliver.