Vol 3, # 64

   Monday, July 5, 1999

YELLOWSTONE
WEATHER
Highs 70s, Lows 40s
Partly Sunny
 

Yellowstone Net Home Page
 

ROAD REPORT
All entrances
are now open.
There are some
construction
delays in the
Park.
 

PROTECTING YELLOWSTONE
by Bruce Gourley

Yellowstone is a national treasure which is owned by the American public.  Protecting Yellowstone is the responsibility of the American public.   This weekly feature will help identify and explore the issues which are crucial to the ongoing, healthy existence of the "Crown Jewel" of America's National Park system.

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (YNET) -- Although winter is far from most people's mind at this point, Yellowstone officials are continually addressing the ongoing winter use issue in the Park, seeking the solution which is best for the long-term preservation of Yellowstone.  Following is the most recent press release from the National Park Service regarding the winter use issue:

Local and state officials who have been working with the National Park Service on a Winter Use Plan for Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks have had a chance to review the draft plan before it is released to the public later this summer. This is the latest opportunity the three states and five counties adjoining the national parks have had in the past year and a half to participate in the creation of the draft plan.

Under their agreement with the National Park Service, the states and counties are providing technical assistance and expertise in specific areas for use in developing the Draft Winter Use Plan/Environmental Impact Statement as cooperating agencies in the environmental planning process under the National Environmental Policy Act.

Copies of the pre-release draft were sent by overnight courier to the states of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming as well as to Gallatin and Park County, Montana; Teton and Park County, Wyoming; and Fremont County, Idaho. Once input is received from these states and counties, the team creating the plan will have about ten days to review all comments and complete the Draft Winter Use Plan/EIS for release by August 1, 1999. Specific deadlines were placed on the planning process in a settlement agreement with the Fund for Animals over their May 1997 lawsuit. A March attempt at a deadline extension was unsuccessful.

The Draft Winter Use Plan/EIS will contain a range of winter use management alternatives and the justification, anticipated impacts and relevant scientific research regarding each of the alternatives.

The NPS is taking advantage of new technology as it prepares to release the Draft Plan. The plan will be released for public review first on the Internet, and later in a printed version upon request. This allows additional time for writing the document prior to release, will provide for wider distribution of the Draft Plan for review and comment, and has the potential to reduce printing costs.

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. Bob Bara

GLACIER PARK, Mont. -- As part of a national educational effort, Glacier Park, Inc., has teamed with General Norman H. Schwarzkopf and the Center for Wildlife Information to tell the public how to safely view, photograph and appreciate our national wildlife treasures.

According to the center, the vast majority of people hurt in confrontations with wildlife are those who try to get closer for a better photo.

Gen. Schwarzkopf and the center have the following recommendations for safe and enjoyable viewing and photography of wildlife: Stay in designated observation areas and use spotting scopes, binoculars or telephoto lenses;

-- If you are hiking, stay on the trail;

-- If you are driving, use established pullouts;

• Photographs can be enlarged and cropped, so you don't need a full frame view of the animal in your camera;
• Use a tripod or a rest to steady your camera. You can use a bean bag or a folded jacket as a rest for your camera in the field or on your car door. Turn off the car's engine to minimize vibration and camera shake;
• Use a high-speed film to capture photos during the early morning and evening hours when most animals are active.

Write General Schwarzkopf for more information on how to view and appreciate wildlife safely:   Center for Wildlife Information, P.O. Box 8289, Missoula  MT  59807.

BACK TO TOP

INDEPENDENCE DAY - JULY 4TH, 1804, 1805, AND 1806

John Colter and the men of the Lewis and Clark Expedition

JULY 4TH 1804 -

Ushered in the day with a discharge from the bow piece (cannon) on the keelboat. There were 46 men, 4 horses and a dog in the Party. The men were rowing and pulling the boats up the Missouri River. It was very hot and the men stopped rowing and were cordelling the boats. The sand burned their feet, and the shallow water was scalding hot, so it was necessary for the men to wear their moccasins. Capt. Lewis climbed a high mound and could see three paths leading from the mound in three directions. The landscape was a pleasing diversity of scenery, hills, woods, and meadows, with a Lake they named Gosling Lake because of the large number of goslings on it. They also named Independence Creek in honor of Independence Day. A snake bit Joseph Field on the foot causing it to swell. Capt. Lewis treated the wound with barks. Closed the day with an extra gill of whiskey and a discharge from the bow piece.

JULY 4TH 1805 -

The Party is at the Falls of the Missouri. All the men are in good spirits in keeping with the celebration of Independence. The men finished assembling the iron boat and covered it with stitched together skins coated with pitch. The iron boat was a disappointment because it leaked and would not stay afloat. The design was good, but the scarcity of pitch to make it waterproof, was the problem. The original plan was to dispatch a canoe with men down the river from the Falls of the Missouri, but Capt. Lewis decided not to return any of the party home, and all persons would proceed on together until they reached their goal, the Pacific Ocean. A map of the Missouri River from Fort Mandan to the Falls of the Missouri was buried with other private papers below the Falls for safe keeping. Lewis described the "Shining Mountains" with the sun shinging on the perpetual snow. Noises were heard like thunder in the distance, but there were not any storm clouds in sight. They wrote that it sounded like a cannon being discharged in the distance. No further explanation about the phenomenon. They shared a comfortable dinner of bacon, beans, dumplings and buffalo beef. The men received the last of the whiskey, except a little that was reserved for sickness. The fiddle was played and the men danced. Singing and festive jokes continued until late at night to celebrate Independence Day.

JULY 4TH 1806

The Party was on their way home to St. Louis. They were travelling downstream. Sgt. Ordway wrote that he saw a flock of bighorn sheep. William Clark wrote that they had traveled thirty miles and had a sumptious dinner of a fat saddle of venison and roots to celebrate the day of the Declaration of Independence.

JULY 4TH 1999

How did you celebrate the last Declaration of Independence Day in the last year of the millennium?

BACK TO TOP

The National Park Service has now made Yellowstone visitation statistics, both historical and current, available on the internet.  These statistics are helpful for researchers and for students doing school reports.  Over one hundred million people have visited Yellowstone over the years, and this year alone over three million people will visit the Grand Old Park, making Yellowstone one of the most visited of America's national parks this year.

To access Yellowstone's visitation statistics, both historical and current, click here.

BACK TO TOP