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MONDAY, AUG 10, 1998 |
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Volume 2, No 80 | |||
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PARK
WEATHER MORE NEWS The Yellowstone Net Newspaper is published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
ARCHIVES DISCUSSION FORUMS Go to the Yellowstone Net Home Page Send us
your Comments
PUBLISHER EDITOR IN CHIEF INTERN CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AND COLUMNISTS
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YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (YNET) -- The very first People And Places column I did in our Newspaper was on my favorite person I met while spending the summer of 1994 in Yellowstone writing my book. Irene Passfield is easily one of the most wonderful people I have ever had the privilege to know. If you worked at Roosevelt any time in the last ten years then you know exactly what I am talking about. In May of this year when I was visiting my friends Robbie and Dot Risner I was given permission by Dot to pick some of the nicest people I know and give them a "Dot Risner Award". You can see the story I did on this in our Newspaper archives by clicking here. I told Dot that day I already knew who the first recipient was going to be. It was only recently that I was able to get into Roosevelt with my camera and take this photo of the most deserving person to first receive this award.
God Bless You Irene (and Bill) Passfield. He has already blessed us by allowing us to know you.
Yellowstone's Postcards: Wylie's
Way YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (YNET) -- Despite unmarked prairie trails, river crossings without bridges, daily flat tires and absence of service stations, a North Dakota party of nine set out to reach Yellowstone Park, only to find auto touring a prohibited pleasure. Determined not to be dissuaded after having traveled 705 miles, these pioneers stored their 1910 Buick and Inter-State autos at Livingston, caught the 3:25 p.m. train to Gardner (sic), then proceeded to tour Wonderland the "Wylie Way." Garrison's daring automobile pathfinders had the option of first class
hotels with all the social pleasures of elegant dining, chamber music and maid service;
but the Wylie Way was more in keeping with their Permanent camp amenities enjoyed by our nine dudes included sleeping tents with wooden floors covered by scatter rugs, wood burning stoves, restful beds, comfortable furniture and tent attendants. Meals were shared family style in large tented dining halls; plus the evening entertainment included popcorn, dances and sing-alongs by the campfires. Locations for the eight Wylie Camp sites included Swan Lake, the Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone Lake, Grand Canyon and Tower Falls (Roosevelt Camp). Yellowstone coaches, a variation of Concord stage coaches in that all the seats faced forward to enhance sight seeing, picked visitors up at the rail station and transported them between each camp site. The Grand Tour usually took about four days. Campers provided a ready audience for postal card purchases at each of the curio shops located within the Park. Ample time was provided to purchase cards and mail them back home. In 1910, the same year our Garrison auto pioneers visited, F. J. Haynes, Official Photographer of YNP, contracted to publish a set of five Wylie Camp advertising cards. The pre-printed message on the back entreated the recipient to join the fun of an "an ideal coaching and camping tour" and invited them to request a "a beautiful hand-book" with a superlative "Yours-en-route" closing. Hayne's also marketed his 150 count view series -- many of which the sight-seers saw during their coach ride. Our Garrison wayfarers specifically mention the eagle's nest atop Eagle Rock on their trek between the Northern Entrance Arch and Swan Lake Camp. Although Haynes was a part owner, The Wylie Permanent Camping Company also published cards under their own name. Their photographs were taken by Harry Shipler of Salt Lake City. Shots included coaching parties and tent interiors, with backside notes claiming travelers going the Wylie Way find "rustic simplicity, absolute privacy and comfort, and outing-pleasure." In 1916 the government declined to renew Wylie's concessionaire license, forcing him to sell to the to the company that eventually became the YP Camps Company. Their advertising postcard pictures the same brightly striped tents and a YP touring car! Automobiles were officially allowed into YNP in 1915. As luck will have it our Garrison auto pioneers were just a few years too early.
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A YNET Weekly Feature
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (YNET) -- On Friday, the government buyout of the New World mine finally came to a conclusion. It was two years ago this month that president Clinton announced an agreement with Crown Butte Mines Inc.to prevent mining for gold near Yellowstone's northeastern boundary. The proposed New World mine was a threat to waterways near and within Yellowstone. The threat to Yellowstone received worldwide attention, and the Clinton administration begin seeking a resolution to the pressing problem. The government paid Crown Butte $65 million for the new world mining property, following the signing of a consent degree to end 1993 lawsuit filed against the company by environmental groups. Crown Butte will spend $22.5 million of the settlement on cleaning up mine waste at the New World site. Thus, one threat to Yellowstone has come to a happy ending, although many threats and challenges remain, the foremost of which are the bison and brucellosis issue and the winter use dilemma. Indeed, Yellowstone will always need the support of the American public if it is to remain the special place that it now is.
College Guide to a Summer Job in
Yellowstone  This column is based on my interactions with people who have worked
in Yellowstone (or who want to work in the Park). Some of these stories will be the
"behind the scenes" story of why I wrote a particular story in my book. If
you have a story to contribute to this column, email
me. For more information about my book, College Guide to a Summer Job in Yellowstone, click here.
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (YNET) -- Last Tuesday while in the Park I was at the cafeteria at Canyon. As I was paying the young lady at the cashier stand she looked at me and said, "are you Clint Wilkes?" I replied "yes," whereupon she jumped up and gave me the nicest and one of the biggest hugs I've ever had. As I jokingly was gasping for air she was saying, "Clint, I'm Danielle, don't you remember me. I could see the look of disappointment in her eyes when I replied that I was very sorry but, no I did not remember her. I have met thousands of absolutely wonderful young adults since writing my book in 1994. It is just impossible to remember everyone.
As Danielle started explaining how she had attended one of my Barnes and Noble book signings in San Antonio I became very confused. As she told me how she had met me two years before I could not figure out why she had waited until now to get a job in Yellowstone. Then Danielle said, "Clint, I was only sixteen when we met. I just graduated from high school in May." When she completed this sentence I instantly said, "You were with your mom, I definitely remember meeting you!" Even though I did not remember everything exactly, I do remember a young lady with her mom being at my event. I remember she had an incredibly sharp mind and asked me some of the most thoughtful questions I have ever been asked. I distinctly remember her saying, "When I graduate in 1998 I'm going to get a job in Yellowstone." Let me say it is very obvious that Danielle has gotten even wiser over the past two years. She was telling me how she has gotten her mom to help her and she has put together a plan to work for a year to save money, then attend San Antonio Community College, then UTSA and get a degree in Anthropology. I am very confident Danielle will be successful in any challenge she meets in life. Editor-in-Chief Needed Yellowstone Net Newspaper is looking for
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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.
