Memorial Day Openings In Yellowstone

In Yellowstone National Park Memorial Day weekend marks a few different milemarks for the year. Yesterday marked the opening of two favorite drives in the Greater Yellowstone. Dunraven Pass and the Beartooth Highway are now accessible to area visitors. These roads open so late in the season due to unpredictability of weather and the fact that most years there is a ton of snow late into the Spring and even Summer. They are both subject to closures at anytime due to these factors.

 

Starting on Monday, Memorial Day the backcountry permits for the park will have a required fee that will run through September 10th.

The fees will be $3 per night, per person with a maximum $15 fee per party. 

If you plan to stay over 8 nights in the backcountry there is a frequent user card available for $25.

Stock (horse) parties will pay a fee of $5 per person per night with no breaks. 

This is the first year the Yellowstone has enacted backcountry fees.

All the proceeds from fee collection will go directly into the backcountry program.

There are no fees to dayhike just to camp overnight.

Hiking the Black Canyon of the Yellowstone River. 2007.

Today marks the opening of the 2015 fishing season in Yellowstone National Park.

 There are 3 day passes available for $18, the 7 day pass is $25 and season is $40.

Be sure to check out the regulations because they are different depending on where you would like to fish.

 

Follow this link to the regulations.

http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/upload/15FishReg_revisionTW.pdf

 

Cutthroat Trout, Mountain Whitefish and Arctic Grayling are all native species and are native species and are catch and release only. The saying relating to Cutthroat Trout is, "if it has a red slash, put it back". 

 

Below are photos of three native species of Yellowstone National Park, catch and release only.

Cutthroat Trout. Source www.tripadvisor.com

Mountain Whitefish. https://wgfd.wyo.gov/fishexam/species/frmMoutainWhitefish.aspx

Arctic Grayling. www.fws.gov



Non-native species in the park include Rainbow, Brown, Brook and Lake Trout.

The regulations are different per watershed in the park.

 Make sure that you know the regulations for the specific waterbody you are fishing!

Always have your permit when fishing in the park. You can get them at any of the backcountry offices.

 

Summer is just ramping up here in the northern Rocky Mountains! Come and play, be safe and know the rules of engagement. This place is wild and amazing! I'm glad it has been preserved for generations to come! Keep up the good work America!!!  Oh and NO the Boiling River is not open yet.  

Copy of Yellowstone News Release Issued Today

Rangers Save Man After Fall into Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Date: May 18, 2014 Amy Bartlett (307)344-2015 YELL_Public_Affairs@nps.gov    Yellowstone National Park rangers saved a man from New York after he fell approximately 25 feet into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Shortly before 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 10, a 71-year-old man was attempting to take a picture of a sign at Grand View at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone when he stumbled backwards over a stone barrier and into the canyon. After falling approximately 25 feet, he was able to stop himself at the top of a precipice by bracing his body and feet on opposing sides of a small crevice. A visitor that witnessed the man’s fall ran to a nearby parking lot to call 911. The first two rangers on scene threw looped rope down to the man and secured him to a sign and tree at the top of the canyon. National Park Service employees and members of the Yellowstone Technical Rescue Team responded to the scene and set up a system of ropes and pulleys to carry out the rescue. One harnessed member of the Technical Rescue Team descended to the man’s location and secured him into the pulley system. The man was then able to walk to safety with assistance from the ropes, pulleys, and ranger. According to staff on scene, the man was extremely lucky. The crevice and the angle of his body during the fall helped the man stop at the top of a 200 foot drop. A fall just inches to the left may have resulted in a fatality as the canyon wall is mostly steep loose rock. The man was transported by ground ambulance to a helicopter ambulance for a possible hip injury. Seventeen Park Service staff assisted with this rescue.    http://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/news/15030.htm   These photos are from Yellowstone National Parks Facebook page. Man being rescued in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River Rescued mans location in the Canyon.

Geysers Galore!!!

This weekend marks the opening of Firehole Lake Drive and Fountain Flats Area. They have been closed because the area is considered a Bear Management Area. One of my favorite geysers seen to date is in this area, Great Fountain Geyser! It is a fountain type geyser as the name states. There are two types of geysers, cone and fountain.

 

From www.nps.gov/yell webiste

There are geysers all over the world. Many are still active but other have been wiped out because of geothermal energy research or natural disasters. The second largest geyser field on Earth, the Valley of Geysers on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia was partially buried under a mudslide on June 7, 2003 in an unfortunate event. It was captured on video by film makers of the series Wild Russia.

This landslide covered most of the valley.

 

Luckily there are geyser fields that are still intact like here in Yellowstone. 



From http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/geysers/geysmapw.html

Click on this link to see where the geysers are in more detail.



I have been fortunate to see many great geysers in eruption. These include many eruptions of Riverside and Lone Star, a few Beehives, Castle, Daisy and Grand. I was with my parents their first time to the park and we caught Beehive and Grand! Super great intro for them. The first time my girlfriend came with me we caught Beehive then Great Fountain. I caught a bit of Fan & Mortar and Giantess. Not to mention the countless Old Faithful eruptions. I still have a yearning for Giant and Steamboat eruptions, fingers crossed.

There are more geysers in Yellowstone than all other geyser fields on the planet making this a very special place unlike any other.

So if you in Yellowstone visiting or live in the local area take some time to move past Old Faithful and make some memories you will never forget. Explore the other geyser basins in the park and make sure to stay on the boardwalks because you never know what is lurking just below the surface...stay safe my friends!

 

 

The only thing left to check out are the space geysers such as the ones on Enceladus, one of Saturn's moons!!!

 

http://www.space.com/22181-saturn-moon-enceladus-water-geysers.html

Two Guests Gored By Bison In Yellowstone So Far This Year, They Are WILD Animals People, This Is Not A Zoo!

First it's people getting too close to a black bear mother and cubs, now this. Yesterday a girl was gored by a bison in the Old Faithful area. A 16 year old girl wanted to have her picture taken with some bison in the background. She was too close and was gored and pushed to the ground by one of these large animals. The girl is ok and probably scarred for life, mentally and physically. Bison can weigh up to 2000 pounds. There are two times a year when the bison are on edge, calving and the rut. Baby bison or "red dogs" are dropped around this time of the year. The herd are very protective of their young as most speices of animals are. The rut is when the males are fighting for the females attention and they are trying to mate. Yellowstone National Park offers the seasonal newspaper to guests when entering the park. On the front page there are the top 10 things people should know.

PLEASE READ AT LEAST THE FRONT PAGE!!!

A Second incident happened on June 2nd, again at Old Faithful. A 62 year old Australian man was within 3 to 5 feet of a bison taking picture with a tablet of sorts. Suddenly he was thrown in the air multiple times. This is not a zoo folks. These animals live here year round in the WILD...

There are links to stories on these events at the bottom of the page.
 

The ever so popular warning not many people read, maybe this should be on the front page.

 

The bison are wild animals that are very strong and can be bull headed (pun intended). We humans are only guests in their home. They live in the park year round and have to work hard to survive the winter. So when it comes to the more mellow seasons of the year give them a break and their own space. Please enjoy the wildlife in the park but be cautious. ALL of the animals in the park (besides workers pets, mostly dogs) are WILD! They don't rationalize like humans but then again maybe some of them do... Please obey the rules in any national park to keep everyone safe. Keep your distance and yourself safe.

Here is a link to the safety portion of the Yellowstone Website:
http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/safety.htm
 

Unfortunately this is not my photo, source unknown.


Here is a link to an article on this happening:

http://www.krtv.com/story/29080413/teen-gored-by-bison-in-yellowstone-national-park

The link to the second incident...

http://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/news/15034.htm
 



Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks Separate and Implement New Fee Structure

So this was bound to happen. Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks have been on the same fee system for quite a while. Visitors have been able to access both parks for $25 for 1 to 7 days or get a yearly pass for $50. This will change starting June 1st, 2015 when the fees increase.

 

Fee increases are as follows:

 

Yellowstone National Park: 1-7 days

Car: $30

Motorcycle:$25

Walk/Bike/Ski up: $15 per person

Annual Pass: $60
 

Grand Teton National Park: 1-7 days

Car: $30

Motorcycle: $25

Walk/Bike/Ski up: $15 per person

Annual Pass: $60

 

Both Parks:1-7 days

Car: $50

Motorcycle: $40

Walk/Bike/Ski up $20 per person

Interagency Pass (All national parks): $80
 

If you purchase your Yellowstone/Grand Teton annual pass before June 1st it will be good for both parks until the end of May 2016 and still $50.

 

The best deal after this fee increase is the Interagency Annual Pass. This gives access to ALL national parks for a full year from the month purchased. The price for this pass will remain at $80. There are also passes available to United States senior citizens over 62 years old ($10 for the rest of your life), active military (with valid identification) and permanently disabled US citizens (with paperwork).

 

The great thing about these increases is that 80% of fees stay in the parks that they were collected at. The other 20% will be used to fund programs and parks that do not collect fees.

 

Don't be mad at the nice people that work at the gates the decisions for increased fees came from WAY above them.

These fees will be used to maintain the operations in each park. There are many costs associated with operating a place such as Yellowstone. There are 5 entrances, 9 visitor centers, museums and other contact stations that must be staffed.

 

It's not that fun when this type of things happen but inevitable. I remember when you could get a candy bar for .25, Pringles for $1 and even .01 gumballs at the post office. Things change so there is no use in getting mad. Just be glad that these wonderful places are here for us to enjoy and not developed beyond repair. If you live in the area and frequent these parks make sure to get the Yellowstone/Grand Teton All Access Pass for $50 before June 1st!!!  Happy trails!

 

I have taken most information from:

http://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/news/15028.htm

 

 



New Black Bear Video Shows What Not To Do! Be Bear Aware People!!!

WOW! That's all I can say after seeing the video of the mother black bear and her three cubs being harassed by tourists in Yellowstone National Park (YNP)!  Check it out for yourself.

I do not agree with the title of this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HslURrpRgGE

Many media sources have reported on this video and said that tourists are being chased by the bears. This is definitely NOT the case. These bears are trapped on the bridge located east of Tower Junction in what is known as a Bear Jam. As you can see from the video there are cars parked on BOTH sides of the bridge. There are no natural escape routes for the bears, they are on a man made bridge over the Yellowstone River. Isn't the point of seeing wildlife in a place like Yellowstone to see the animals in thier natural habitat?

The top ten things to know about YNP are on the front page of thier quarterly newsletter:

1. Give wildlife a brake: Top speed in YNP is 45mph
2. Watch wildlife from pullouts: Don't impede traffic.
3. Campfires in designated areas only.
4. DO NOT APPROACH WILDLIFE.
5. Do not feed ANY wild animals.
6. Stay on designated trails and boardwalks.
7. Unmanned aircrafts (Drones) prohibited.
8. BE BEAR AWARE: Hike in groups, DON'T RUN under ANY circumstances!
9. Control your pet.
10. Cell phone service may not be available.

Three of the top ten things to know were disregarded by the people in the video. This information is offered to everyone coming into the park. I wonder how many people actually read it?

PLEASE BE MORE BEAR AWARE PEOPLE!!!

There are two different kinds of bears in the area. The black bear and grizzly bear. Luckily these tourists did not trap a grizzly bear on the bridge or the outcome could have been very different.

A few Bear Facts:

In Yellowstone National Park you must be at least 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from all other large wildlife. These people look to be 5 feet away and should be fined.
There were two grizzly related deaths in the park in 2011, four years ago.
Bears can run up to 35 miles per hour over varied terrain, much faster than humans.
There are an estimated 150 grizzly bears that make YNP thier home and over 1,000 black bears.
Male grizzly bears can weight up to 700lbs, females up to 400lbs.
Male black bears can weigh up to 320 lbs, females up to 200lbs.
Both are much stronger than humans!
Never turn and run from bears, people in the video were doing the opposite of what they should have.

If you live in the area or are just visiting PLEASE be aware that these are WILD ANIMALS!!! Yellowstone National Park is not a ZOO it's a park set aside "for the benefit and enjoyment of the people". Not the harassment of wildlife.

Yellowstone National Park's Mission Statement is:

 

Preserved within Yellowstone National Park are Old Faithful and the majority of the world’s geysers and hot springs. An outstanding mountain wildland with clean water and air, Yellowstone is home of the grizzly bear and wolf and free-ranging herds of bison and elk. Centuries-old sites and historic buildings that reflect the unique heritage of America’s first national park are also protected. Yellowstone National Park serves as a model and inspiration for national parks throughout the world.

Please be part of that model and help preserve this place, it is wild, epic and amazing!!!
Hopefully this video serves as an example of what not to do. People need to respect this place and all of the amazing things that make Yellowstone National Park the place it is so that all generations to come can enjoy it as we do today!
 

Yellowstone National Park Resources and Issues and Yellowstone Science

So you are wondering what Yellowstone National Park is all about.

  

What are some of the most commonly asked questions about Yellowstone?

What's intersting about the history of Yellowstone?

How are cultural resources of the park preserved for future generations?

What is the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem?

How does Yellowstone work, geologically?

What about those funny looking orange things in the geyser runoff channels?

What kinds of plants are native to Yellowstone?

What about invasive plants?

How does fire impact Yellowstone?

and last but definitely not least

What kinds of animals are in Yellowstone?

 

These questions are basically a summary of the chapters in the Yellowstone Resources and Issues Handbook. This handbook is updated by the Yellowstone National Park staff yearly. It is an amazing resource for the expert and novice alike.

  

 

If you are old school like me when it comes to reading things you can pick up a hard copy at the Yellowstone Association (YA) bookstores which are located in the Visitor Centers and other places in the park. There are also YA bookstores in Gardiner, Montana, The Bozeman International Airport and the Quake Lake Visitor Center.

 

You can also find this resource online at:

http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/resourceandissues.htm

Next up is Yellowstone Science:

Yellowstone Science is dedicated to more up to date research projects happening in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). It also tells of conferences related to issues in the area and keeps the general public up to date also. This publication has been going strong since 1992 and is a wonderful resource. My favorite issue of Yellowstone Science has an article on the mushrooms of Yellowstone. This is a great subject because it's about that time of the year. The morels and oyster mushrooms should be popping soon. Be sure to know what you are doing before eating any mushrooms you find yourself.

The most recent issue focuses on climate change research in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

To obtain a free digital copy of this issue please click on the link below:
http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/upload/Accessible-PDF-prepared-for-WEB-of-Yellowstone-Science-23-1.pdf

For an index of all the back issues please follow this link:
http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/yellsci-issues.htm

I hope that this will satisfy the needs of some people. Both of these resources are full of amazing facts about Yellowstone National Park and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and the best part is they are available FREE in digital format.
Have a wonderful day and happy nerding out!

www.exploreynp.com





Yellowstone National Park Camping Rates and Dates 2015

So I have decided to take the time to address some of the common question that people want answers to when heading to Yellowstone National Park (YNP).

 

 It your are interested in when the roads are opening in the park please refer to my previous blog at: http://greateryellowstoneguru.blogspot.com/2015/04/yellowstone-national-park-road-openings.html

 

I would like to address is camping this time. As of today Mammoth and Madison are open and they fill up fast, especially on weekends. During the Summer months all of the campgrounds will fill up daily so get them early.
 

Here is a list of opening and closing dates as well as rates:

Mammoth Year Round $20 per night 

Madison 5/1-10/18 $21.50 per night

Fishing Bridge 5/8-9/20 (hard sided units only) $46.75 per night

Norris 5/15-9/28 $20 per night

Tower/Roosevelt 5/22-9/28 $15 per night

Bridge Bay 5/22-9/7 $21.50 per night

Canyon 5/29-9/13 $26 per night

Indian Creek 6/12-9/14 $15 per night

Pebble Creek 6/15-9/28 $15 per night

Slough Creek 6/15-10/7 $15 per night

Lewis Lake 6/15-11/1 $15 per night

Grant Village 6/21-9/10 $26 per night

 

 Yellowstone is home to many wild animals who go where they please. photo from: tripadvisor.com

In the past backcountry camping permits have been free, that will change this year on Memorial Weekend. The fee will be $3 per person per night or $15 maximum for a group. You will also be able to purchase an Annual Backcountry Pass for $25 good for the season from Memorial Day to September 10th. Permits will be free the remaining parts of the year.  

If you don't get a camping site in the park there are plenty of places outside the boundaries of the park available with rates that are usually cheaper. I know, you're not in Yellowstone but hey at least you have a place to crash! Cheers and we'll see you on the trail!!!

 

 Mammoth, Madison, Fishing Bridge and Norris NOW OPEN! 5/15/15

 

Yellowstone National Park's Boiling River Closed Until Further Notice

Sometimes things happen that we don't like, this is the time of the year that coeds from Montana State University in Bozeman take that 75 mile drive just to be dissapointed. The Boiling River in the northern part of Yellowstone National Park (YNP) is CLOSED until further notice. The reason being a simple one or course, spring runoff from the mountains. It swells the rivers and makes them more dangerous and cold, it is in fact melting snow.  If you do decide to go around the AREA CLOSED sign you will most likely receive a citation...

Here are a few pics of the Boiling River so you can see what people will be missing for a while.



This is where the Boiling River comes out of the ground.

Watch your step, sandals are your friend.

This is what it's all about.

 

Best time at the Boiling River, Winter! Small crowds and warm water.

So you can't go soak in the Boiling River, there are always the pools at Chico and White Sulphur Springs, the later being my favorite because it's less crowded.

 

Well guess what, there is more to to YNP than the Boiling River! Yellowstone is the first national park on the planet Earth, and for many good reasons.

 

1.There is a Super Volcano which is set to go off, well no one actually knows and please don't believe the internet hype that it's going to explode. If it did I'd be the first to know.

2. YNP is home to more geysers than anywhere on the planet. They are like inverted waterfalls caused by superheated water and pressure build up. Most of the big geysers are located in the Upper, Middle and Lower geyser basins near and around Old Faithful.

3. There are grizzly and black bears, bison, elk, wolves, coyotes, mountain lions, lynx, wolverines and many more animals that you might see if you are lucky.

4. There are over 1,100 miles of hiking trails in YNP!!! Yeah 1,100!!!

5. It's YELLOWSTONE!!!

 

So all of you Boiling River enthusiasts from Bozeman keep on coming down to YNP and hit the trails or go for a drive and get beyond the two mile mark!