Vol 3, # 27

   Wednesday, March 10, 1999

YELLOWSTONE
WEATHER
Highs 20s, Lows 10s
Chance of Snow
 

Yellowstone Net Home Page

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (NPS)-- Yellowstone's winter season is rapidly drawing to a close.   This week marks the last week of most winter activities within the Park.

This past Sunday, March 7, Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Dining Room closed for the season, as did the Mammoth Fuel Station.

This coming Sunday, March 14, Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Dining Room closed for the season.  In addition, Old Faithful Four Seasons Snack Shop, the Madison and Canyon warming hut snack bars, and the Old Faithful, Fishing Bridge, and Canyon Fuel Stations will be closing for the season.

The north entrance, via Gardiner, Montana, will remain open during the off-season.  Although no services will be provided, cross-country skiing will continue in the Park for several more weeks.  In addition, automobiles will be able to travel from Mammoth to Cooke City during the off-season.

The summer season in Yellowstone will begin May 1 with the opening of Old Faithful village.

BACK TO TOP

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AND COLUMNISTS

Ralph Maughan
Kim Steinbacher
Kevin Sanders
Steve Brashear
Clint Wilkes
Tim Gourley
Hon. Bob Gammage
Ruth Colter-Frick
Lee Whittlesey
Tom Mazzarisi
Russ Finley
David Monteith
Denise Elmer
Dr. Robert Bara

BELGRADE, Mont. (YNET) -- I recently got this email from a friend of Yellowstone Net living in Arizona. I asked her permission to use it for my column. This is GREAT ADVICE for summer employees that I never would have thought of. Enjoy. (And please send me any ideas or fun stories you have from your summer in Yellowstone.)

Hi Clint,

In your articles, you said you would be following some of the people coming to work for another season at the park. May I offer a piece of advice ... could you recommend to the new/returning employees that they should bring a journal to write in.   I wish I would have done that, not only to tell my family/friends about all the fun things I have seen and done, but for myself during those times I wish I could think about something fun--like during a hard time in my life (tax time for example).  It would be invaluable.  You take so much for granted when you live/work there that if I had one piece of advice that I wish someone would have given me -- it would be for a journal.   I really am enjoying your publication and look forward to the articles you write--especially on Wednesday.  Everyone enjoyed the chocolate article, so your friend continues to touch others even though he is gone.  Keep up the great work.

Alice   
Tempe,  Arizona

BACK TO TOP

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (YNET) --
In 1869, three mine workers named David E. Folsom, Charles W. Cook and William Peterson set out to explore the Yellowstone region. They visited the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, saw the teeming wildlife in the area, and experienced the geysers and boiling pools. According to their recollection, they realized the area needed to be preserved from commercialization. After returning from their outing, Cook and Folsom wrote articles about their trip, but reputable magazine's refused to publish what they considered as unreliable stories.

The following year, General Henry D. Washburn, surveyor-general of the Montana territory, led an expedition into the Park that verified what the Folsom-Cook-Peterson party had reported.  This was followed by an official government expedition in 1871, which in turn led to the founding of Yellowstone as the world's first national park in 1872.

BACK TO TOP

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (YNET) -- In Yellowstone National Park, March is the month that begins to bring hints of spring and the upcoming summer. Although the snow is still deep in the park during March, mild sunny days can become common this time of year. March is also the time of year when the grizzlies of Yellowstone may begin to exit their dens from hibernation in search of water and food.  The males and poorly conditioned bears exit earlier than sows with cubs. After exiting the den, bears seek large quantities of water, and will eat snow if no water is readily available. Although they are not immediately interested in food, the bears will feed lightly on herbs and roots to clear the kidneys and digestive tract.  Eventually, the bears will seek out new vegetation and winter-kill carcasses.

Some areas within Yellowstone National Park are closed to backpacking during the months of March, April, May, and June due to bear activity.  During the spring months, bears utilize certain areas in their search for food (winter-kill carcasses, spawning fish, and new spring grasses).  In an effort to reduce the probability of a human-bear conflict, park rangers close certain areas (to backpacking, camping in tents, etc.) that have higher degrees of bear activity. Locations around Yellowstone Lake are often closed to off-road human activity during the spring months due to bear activity. There are also other specific locations within the park that may be closed due to bear activity in the spring.  The visitor's center at Mammoth Hot Springs will have more specific information on bear activity for any given time.

Spring is also the time of year when sows will introduce their newborn cubs to the outside world. It is very important to remember that bears will aggressively defend their cubs from any perceived threat. A female grizzly or black bear with cubs can be extremely dangerous. Never approach a bear, especially one with cubs! The best way to avoid a bear attack is to take precautionary steps.

First, always respect any closure sign that may be posted. These signs are posted for your safety and the benefit of the bears.

Second, when you do go hiking or backpacking, always remember to make noise (talking, singing, whistling, etc.) to let any bear in the area know of your presence. If a bear detects your presence, it will usually leave the area immediately.   However, if you surprise a bear, the chances of an attack are much greater. Another rule to remember is when camping, hang your food from a tree (inaccessible to grizzly bears) preferably 100 yards away from the campsite. Never store food in your tent or close to where you will be sleeping. Bears can smell food from miles away even if it is packaged or sealed in a container. The sense of smell for bears ranks among the keenest in the animal world. A bear has been known to detect a human scent more than fourteen hours after the person passes along a trail. At any rate, bears have an extremely keen sense of smell and are always seeking food.

In short, when in Yellowstone, obey the trail closure signs, follow the rules of bear country use, and exercise some common sense. The grizzly bear is one of the many awesome and beautiful animals that can be found in Yellowstone National Park. If you have the opportunity to see one on your visit to the park, consider yourself fortunate since these animals are elusive and not commonly seen by visitors.

When you visit Yellowstone, stop by the visitor's center in Mammoth. The park rangers will be able to provide you with more information on current bear activity, the rules to follow in bear country, and defensive measures to take should you have a close encounter with a bear.

BACK TO TOP