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WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1998 |
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PARK
WEATHER MORE NEWS The Yellowstone Net Newspaper is published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
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PUBLISHER EDITOR IN CHIEF CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AND COLUMNISTS
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A Weekly YNet Feature YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (YNET) -- The Mineral Hill Mine, Beartooth Highway and a national park management conference all made news this past week in the Yellowstone region. Mineral Hill Mine: A Canadian mining company plans to open the Mineral Hill Mine just outside the north entrance of Yellowstone. Located in Jardine, Montana, which is just a few miles from Gardiner, Montana, the gold mining site has been active off and on since the 1880s. Last operated in 1996, the Mineral Hill mine has had a good environmental record, despite its close proximity to Yellowstone. The Canadian mining company Tyranex Gold plans to re-open the mine in the fall of 1999. Beartooth Highway: Thanks to lower than usual snowpack, the famous Beartooth Highway is slated to open as early as May 23 and no later than May 25. The Beartooth Highway, which runs from Red Lodge, Montana, to the northeast entrance to Yellowstone, climbs to almost 11,000 feet and offers stunning views of Montana's highest mountain range. National Park Management Conference: Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana, is hosting a worldwide conference on national park management. The conference is addressing issues facing Yellowstone and other national parks, and will be in session through May 23.
National Park News: GRAND CANYON, Ariz. (YNET) -- The National Park Service is in the process of conducting a Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposal that would allow extensive development between the entrance to the Grand Canyon's South Rim and the tourist community of Tusayan. The town of Tusayan has it's eye set on nearby forest land on which to expand. The National Park Service is seeking to reduce the enormous number of automobiles (and traffic congestion) at the South Rim, as well as acquiring more employee housing. In the midst of this dilemma, developer Tom de Paulo has stepped in with an offer to develop Canyon Forest Village, one of the alternatives the Park Service is considering. de Paulo has offered to trade some of his parcels of land, scattered throughout Forest Service holdings, for 672 of prime Forest Service land on which to develop the proposed Village. The proposed Village would be an extensive development, complete with almost half a million feet of retail space, visitor education facilities, a library, churches, a school, 3650 hotel rooms, hundreds of housing units, a convention center, and much more. It would, in short, provide much of what the tourist town of Tusayan does not currently provide, while creating some 3000 new jobs. The main problem with the new development is that it would require lots of water, a commodity in very short supply in the desert southwest. Building the Village would require that the Redwall Aquifer be tapped, the aquifer that supplies water for the numerous springs and seeps between the South Rim and the river. Studies indicate that the major springs would be minimally affected, but the untold number of minor springs could well be highly damaged or destroyed. Tusayan developers are fighting the Village proposal because they don't want competition. de Paulo has spent much time and money building support for the development. In addition, he is threatening to develop and exploit his present scattered land holdings if his proposal is not accepted. Many are convinced that the further development of the South Rim is inevitable. However, moving tourists more efficiently from the outlying areas to the South Rim could solve the congestion problem. Thus, other alternatives should be examined before giving in to further South Rim development. To receive a copy of the Draft EIS, contact: Tusayan Growth EIS
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A Weekly Column
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (YNET) -- For any of you that do not already know it- Roosevelt is my FAVORITE place in the Park. The Roosevelt cookout is the best meal you will ever have! There are many reasons Roosevelt is my favorite place. Here are a few:
2. Reading while sitting in the rockers on the front porch. I always sit on the west end next to the Hamilton Store.
3.Going down to the corrals and watching the looks of amazement as many people prepare to ride a horse for the first time in their lives. Watching the Wranglers communicate with both the children and adults is a thrill.
4. The Roosevelt Stagecoach ride, its just as "smooth" as you might expect---imagine in the old west riding hundreds of miles in one of these! The Wrangler drivers of these are some of the finest horsemen (and women) in the world.
Be sure to contact the fine folks at Amfac to schedule the horse rides. You can make your reservations by dropping by any of the Amfac "Activities Desks" within the Park.
National Park Vacations by CLINT WILKES YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (YNET) --
Those of you visiting Yellowstone through the north entrance at Gardiner, Montana may want
to stay at one of these fine campgrounds. Yellowstone RV PARK is located on the west side of the road as you enter
Gardiner. It is along side the banks of the Yellowstone River. It also offers a laundromat
and shower facilities.
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Every Wednesday Clint Wilkes will offer a story of interest to
everyone who loves Yellowstone and the surrounding area. Some stories will be humorous,
others will illustrate a point. You the reader are invited to 
1.
Irene and Bill, a truly terrific couple who are the unofficial summer parents to every
college age employee in the Park. My very first Newspaper column was about these fine
folks.
