Vol 3, # 83

   Monday, September 27, 1999

YELLOWSTONE
WEATHER
Highs 40s, Lows 20s
Rain, Possible Snow

   

Yellowstone Net Home Page
 

Travel News:

ROAD REPORT
Some road
construction
delays.
 

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (YNET) -- We often field questions such as, "What can I do to help Yellowstone's bison (or wolves, or bears, etc.)?"   Indeed, there are many issues which Yellowstone faces as the 21st century looms ever nearer, and the support of the American public is ever more important.

With that in mind, we have added a new section to the Yellowstone Net website for the purpose of helping our readers voice their support for the continued protection of preservation of Yellowstone, the world's first and foremost national park.

Our new "Support Yellowstone National Park" section features an online survey (with the results automatically tallied and made available to the public), a listing of subscription periodicals which support Yellowstone, a listing of pro-Yellowstone organizations which Yellowstone fans can join, listings of congressional email addresses, and information on specific ways in which friends of Yellowstone can lend their support to the Park's most famous residents -- the bison, wolves and grizzlies.

Are you concerned about the future of the Park?  Get involved today in Supporting Yellowstone National Park today!

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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

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. -- On Wednesday, a Seattle man became the second person this year to be mauled by a bear in Yellowstone.    George Langley, Jr., 32, was hiking in the backcountry in the northwest section of Yellowstone when he encountered two bear cubs and their mother.  The grizzly sow attacked, seriously injuring his face, the back of his head, and his ribs.   Langley managed to hike four miles back to the trailhead, where he waved down a passing motorist who called for help.  He was flown to Idaho Falls, where he underwent surgery Wednesday night, and was listed in serious condition this weekend.

Bear maulings in Yellowstone National Park, despite their prominence in the news, are not commonplace.  Most incidents are the result of accidentally stumbling upon a sow with her cubs, such as Langley did.  All visitors to Yellowstone who plan on spending time in the backcountry should carefully obey backcountry rules and regulations, as they are designed for visitors' safety.

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A month-and-a-half old fire in Glacier National Park grew in size to some 3500 acres by this past Friday, until a cool spell and rainy weather moved into the region at the end of the weekend.

Officials have allowed the fire to burn naturally, although it has been monitored closely.  The fire was caused by a lightning strike on August 6.  Low humidity and a dry summer contributed to the blaze's growth from 600 acres on September 1 to the nearly 3500 acres by Friday.  The cooler, wet weather settling over the region is expected to naturally put an end to the blaze.

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A reader writes, "Is it possible to hike to Union Falls.  If so, could you give me some information on this?"

Yes, Union Falls is accessible to hikers.  It is about 16 mile round trip.  The trailhead is actually just outside the southern boundary of Yellowstone, near Flagg Ranch.  Two miles south of the Park on US Hwy 287, turn west on Ashton-Flagg Road.  After about a quarter of a mile, turn right.   The paved road soon turns into a gravel road, and the trail starts just after crossing the spillway at the west end of Grassy Lake Reservoir.  Two-wheel drive vehicles should park at the top of the dam and walk to the trailhead.

Union Falls, at 265 feet, is the second highest waterfall in Yellowstone (Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon is first at 308).  The hike to it is not particularly strenuous, but is a bit long for a day hike.  The waterfall is quite spectacular, and worth the hike.

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