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| FRIDAY July 27, 2001 Vol 5, # 66 |
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| FRIDAY July 27, 2001 Vol 5, # 66 |
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| Site Search | Support Yellowstone! Discussion $7.95 Internet, Email, More Email Newsletter | |
ROAD REPORT PUBLISHER EDITOR-IN-
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FIRE DANGER ABATES IN
JACKSON HOLE News Brief JACKSON, Wyo. -- The Green Knoll fire in Jackson Hole suddenly calmed down somewhat, at least for awhile. Winds died last night, easing, for the moment, immediate threats to about 100 homes near Jackson. The relief came not long after flames had forced firefighters to abandon firebreaks and scramble to save themselves. And although nearby homes have been evacuated, no homes have yet been burned. However, weather forecasts for Friday are calling for the wind to kick up again in the afternoon. The prevailing belief is that the Green Knoll fire, which began on Sunday, could yet develop into a very dangerous situation. Yesterday the blaze jumped a firebreak as strong winds pushed embers as much as a half-mile ahead of the fire and closer to the homes that had been evacuated a day earlier. Freshly bulldozed fire lines near the edges of the north-moving fire were abandoned as the flames jumped ahead. As fire managers sought to put together new containment plans, air tankers dropping retardant were all that were attacking the fire's leading edge. About 400 people were either evacuated or barred from their homes when the blaze made a major advance Wednesday, but many were allowed to return once a major access rout later was reopened. Thursday, smoke was thicker in Jackson Hole, although nearby Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park are thus far unaffected by the fire. A team of investigators arrived to determine the cause of the fire. The probe is being treated as a criminal investigation, with the possibility of arson being involved. |
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AND COLUMNISTS Russ Finley
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LAKE TROUT
NETTING INTENSIFIES YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. -- The war on non-native Lake trout in Yellowstone Lake has been turned up another notch. Park officials are now using a new, more powerful boat to assist in eradicating the disruptive lake trout. Lake trout muscle out native trout, which are an important food source for grizzlies. Efforts to remove lake trout have intensified in recent years. Anglers are required to keep all lake trout caught, and Park officials are trying to net as many of the trout as possible. |
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| SUMMER WEATHER
INFORMATION by National Park Service YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (NPS) -- One of the most often-asked questions by visitors is, "What is the weather like during the summer?" Average maximum summer temperatures are usually in the 70s (25C) and occasionally in the 80s (30C) in the lower elevations. Nights are cool and temperatures may drop into the 30s and 40s (0-10C). Depending on the elevation, temperatures may even fall into the 20s (-5C) with a light freeze. June can be cool and rainy; July and August tend to be somewhat drier, although afternoon thundershowers and lightning storms are common. During lightning storms get off water or beaches and stay away from ridges, exposed places, and isolated trees. At any time of year, be prepared for sudden changes; unpredictability, more than anything else, characterizes Yellowstone's weather. It is recommended that visitors bring a warm jacket and rain gear even in the summer. If visiting Yellowstone during spring or fall, call ahead for current weather and road information since sudden storms may result in cold temperatures, snow and/or temporary road closures. In summer, stop at visitor centers or ranger stations for weather forecasts. Always carry extra clothing when hiking. Good walking shoes and layers of clothing are recommended throughout the year. |
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| SPOTLIGHT: UPPER AND
LOWER FALLS OF THE YELLOWSTONE by National Park Service YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (NPS) -- The Upper and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone are erosional features formed by the Yellowstone River as it flows over progressively softer, less resistant rock. The Upper Falls is upstream of the Lower Falls and is 109 ft. high. It can be seen from the Brink of the Upper Falls Trail and from Uncle Tom's Trail. The Lower Falls is 308 ft. high and can be seen from Lookout Point, Red Rock Point, Artist Point, Brink of the Lower Falls Trail, and from various points on the South Rim Trail. The Lower Falls is often described as being more than twice the size of Niagara, although this only refers to its height and not the volume of water flowing over it. The volume of water flowing over the falls can vary from 63,500 gal/sec at peak runoff to 5,000 gal/sec in the fall. A third falls can be found in the canyon between the Upper and Lower falls. Crystal Falls is the outfall of Cascade Creek into the canyon. It can be seen from the South Rim Trail just east of the Uncle Tom's area. |
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