Hiking the Bechler Area of Yellowstone National Park

[Bonish Photo]

Jana came over to Yellowstone for a visit and we just finished a grueling 18 mile round trip hike, in 1 DAY!!! We wanted to photograph the Union Falls waterfall and soak in the hot springs and man was it worth the effort! If you're into hiking, this should be on the top of your list of hikes to add to the list. If you arent into hiking, just know this section of the park is amazing and might just be a reason to get you into the sport

Jana and Cindy ready to head out before Sunrise at the Cascade Creek Trailhead


It was the first time we realized we were in the fall season when we visited the Bechler Area where we're camped up in Grant Village, its all Pines, so no fall color


The morning was chilly with the temperatures hovering just above freezing. We werent ready to take off our boots yet for this first stream crossing


The numerous streams, waterfalls and cascades are reason enough to be out hiking before sunrise in the freezing temperatures


Once the sun did come up, the clothes got stripped off but the river crossings were still brutally cold


Moose Antler we found along the hike - Photo by my Wife Cindy Bonish


Union Falls themselves are worth the hike! I believe nature to be my religion, and when viewing a scene like this perched atop a 100' cliff, its as spirtual for me as ones journey to Mecca or the Vatican


From the falls, we decided it would be worth it to add another 1.5 miles to the hike to soak in the hot springs. Imagine finding this tropical looking spring nestled in the backcountry of Yellowstone, all to yourself and with water that's 85 degrees!!


Swimming in the tropical warm waters in Yellowstone National Park. Who'd have thunk it?


Studying the map while hiking back home


My wife Cindy, hiking through the neon colors of the Bechler Area


One last stream crossing just as the sun had set. We still had a few miles to go and it would soon be dark in Bear Country


Getting back to our camp site, well after dark and enjoying the heavens


Full gallery can be seen here. Hope you enjoy!

[ront]

Great photos Pat!! I really enjoyed them!. this is the first time I have heard of Union Falls and it is beautiful!!

Ron

[Edd]

Union falls looks stunning Pat, had a quick look through the other images in your gallery and I have to say the old barn with the darkening blue sky is stunning.

Thanks for posting.

Ed

[MeMe]

Nice pics!!....enjoyed looking at them all (including the gallery), boy I can't wait for my next vacation out west!!

[Photography~girl~]

WOW! that falls pic just AMAZING!!!!!!
looks like you guys had fun though!

[Tom B.]

Pat - just outstanding! Timing of the post could not have been better! My wife and I are in the process of deciding to go to Yellowstone or to the Grand Canyon (Arizona) next year sometime...She is leaning towards the GC, while I like the Yellowstone option...Boy, I'll miss her....

Nice work!!

Tom B.

[oTTer]

Unbelievable falls. How gorgeous. Nature is my religion, too. I'm glad I'm not alone.

[gldiana]

Definitely my religion, too. Beautiful place and photos, now I want to soak up in the hot springs too.

[Bonish Photo]

Thanks for all the comments!! For those planning to take this hike, a few things to remember.

You cant hike the trail before July as the rivers you have to cross are flowing too swift and deep, plus the mosquitoes would eat you alive before August anyways.

If we were to do it again, we'd spend the night at one of the back country sites only a short distance from the hot springs and the falls.

I'd love to try and shoot the falls under a full moon or with the entire thing in shadow so the exposure could be a lot longer. I'd also love to have more time to play around with various lighting conditions around the falls, and we needed to get going as were already knowing we were going to be hiking out in the dark.

Thanks again for the comments, and Ed, that Barn is just a great find along the edge of the road. I was only joking as I dont think I could even afford that right now

[DianaT]

Nice hike-----beautiful falls---they really are different and I love the way you photographed them. I know it was in the middle of the day----what exposure did you use, if you don't mind me asking? Enjoyed these----need to get back to the mountains!

Diane

[Bonish Photo]

Hey Diane, that falls shot was one exposure, no HDR as I'm not that up on the technique yet, with the Canon 5D, simple 28-105 lens with a polarizer on it.

Exposure was

1/60th @ f/19 ISO 400 and it was taken at its widest angle of 28mm

My 5D broke last week and my dial wont work to adjust the shutter speed and aperature I've been struggling trying to make the images work out with the limited way I can change things, but I'm not going to send the camera in for repair till we leave Yellowstone. Cant go with only one body during Rutting Season!!!

[Edd]

Pat a bit of a shot in the dark but is your "On / Off" switch set in the right place. If it's not set to the funny line just above on you can't adjust shutter and aperture in manual.

That happened to me and I even got the manual out and was reading through it when I suddenly realised what had happened.

Is that why you used ISO 400 in that shot ?

Ed

[DianaT]

Thanks for the info, Pat---really enjoyed all the pix---Cindy always makes such a good model.

I hope your camera problem is something as simple as what Edd is suggesting.

[Bonish Photo]

Hey Ed, I tried what you were suggesting and it was also the first thing that Canon had me try. I knew that wasnt the case as it had me fooled when I first got the camera and I too had to get out the manual.

I've reset all the custom functions and pulled all the batteries out and let it sit for the day only to have it happen as soon as I turned everything back on.

Yeah, the ISO 400 was because I was handholding that shot because Jana was using my tripod at the moment. I have another shot when the camera was on ISO50, but the water is too smooth, so I liked this one better

[gldiana]

I had the same wheel problem with my first G10. Fortunately it was only a month old and I brought it back to the store and exchanged it for a new one. Unfortunately it happened while I needed manual mode during the most beautiful sunset in Rio de Janeiro. On another side of news: I posted my 50D for sale on Amazon.com 3 nights ago and the next morning when I woke up it was already sold. FedEx Tracking says it's scheduled for delivery today, that should make a happy buyer (ended up selling it for $810 with extra battery, original box and all the stuff it came with).