WEBVTT 00:00:00.040 --> 00:00:03.000 From Yellowstone National Park, where even more 00:00:03.000 --> 00:00:05.599 roads will open up this Friday, this is that 00:00:05.599 --> 00:00:07.679 Scott guy you know and love with a brand new 00:00:07.679 --> 00:00:21.269 episode of This Week in Yellowstone. This week 00:00:21.269 --> 00:00:23.649 in Yellowstone National Park from May 7th to 00:00:23.649 --> 00:00:27.390 May 13th, 2026, I'll tell you about a ducking 00:00:27.390 --> 00:00:30.449 good time by Hayden Valley, share some tips on 00:00:30.449 --> 00:00:33.369 how to stay safe around bison, let you know of 00:00:33.369 --> 00:00:36.229 a cool hike to see a hidden waterfall, and share 00:00:36.229 --> 00:00:38.810 some bear information. I'll also give you the 00:00:38.810 --> 00:00:41.369 complete weather forecast, the snowpack update, 00:00:41.509 --> 00:00:43.829 the wildlife report, and everything else you 00:00:43.829 --> 00:00:46.810 need to have an incredible time this week in 00:00:46.810 --> 00:00:49.399 Yellowstone. Standard disclaimer, I might miss 00:00:49.399 --> 00:00:51.859 a few details here and there, so please feel 00:00:51.859 --> 00:00:53.539 free to reach out with any questions you may 00:00:53.539 --> 00:00:56.240 have. I also mention the park locations very 00:00:56.240 --> 00:00:58.899 casually, so if you're unfamiliar with any place 00:00:58.899 --> 00:01:00.880 I'm saying, a quick search can help, or once 00:01:00.880 --> 00:01:03.700 again, reach out to me. Please know that this 00:01:03.700 --> 00:01:06.140 report only covers the drivable areas of the 00:01:06.140 --> 00:01:09.079 park. And finally, in this disclaimer, please 00:01:09.079 --> 00:01:11.560 know that this podcast is a passion project of 00:01:11.560 --> 00:01:14.340 mine. I do not get paid, I am not sponsored, 00:01:14.620 --> 00:01:17.159 so if you enjoy it, I'd love a review or a quick 00:01:17.159 --> 00:01:19.659 email. If you want to support my work more, you 00:01:19.659 --> 00:01:21.599 can check out my hiking and wildlife watching 00:01:21.599 --> 00:01:23.920 guidebooks, or join me when you're visiting the 00:01:23.920 --> 00:01:26.200 park for a guided hiking tour in Yellowstone's 00:01:26.200 --> 00:01:29.239 backcountry. For more information on all of that, 00:01:29.620 --> 00:01:33.159 visit outdoor -society .com or just contact me 00:01:33.159 --> 00:01:37.920 directly. Cell phone number for text, 406 -589 00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:42.930 -1873. Again, if you're coming to the park, Consider 00:01:42.930 --> 00:01:45.170 booking a trail tour with me. It'll be an amazing 00:01:45.170 --> 00:01:48.370 time All right this week's Yellowstone news, 00:01:48.390 --> 00:01:51.549 so there's a lot of news this week I'm not going 00:01:51.549 --> 00:01:55.530 to really jump into the grizzly attack too much 00:01:55.530 --> 00:01:58.250 if you're unaware of what I'm talking about There's 00:01:58.250 --> 00:02:01.670 a grizzly a suspected grizzly bear attack Near 00:02:01.670 --> 00:02:04.329 Old Faithful a little north out by Mystic Falls 00:02:04.329 --> 00:02:08.389 trail because of that attack trails are closed 00:02:08.560 --> 00:02:11.319 in that area. So you can't get to Mystic Falls. 00:02:11.659 --> 00:02:13.680 You won't be able to go to Fairy Falls. You can't 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:17.099 go out to Imperial Geyser Basin or Queens Laundry 00:02:17.099 --> 00:02:19.780 or anything like that. There is a map of the 00:02:19.780 --> 00:02:24.219 closure. I will include a link to the press release 00:02:24.219 --> 00:02:26.180 from Yellowstone National Park about this bear 00:02:26.180 --> 00:02:30.520 attack. The story right now is that two people, 00:02:30.639 --> 00:02:33.360 a 28 year old and his 14 year old brother, were 00:02:33.360 --> 00:02:37.069 attacked by a bear out by Mystic Falls. We don't 00:02:37.069 --> 00:02:39.870 have any other information about that, nor do 00:02:39.870 --> 00:02:42.129 we really need it. The park is investigating 00:02:42.129 --> 00:02:46.129 it when they know why the bear attacked. We will 00:02:46.129 --> 00:02:48.650 get that information and you'll see it everywhere 00:02:48.650 --> 00:02:51.610 probably. I will talk about it on here once we 00:02:51.610 --> 00:02:53.590 really know what's going on. I don't think it's 00:02:53.590 --> 00:02:56.310 fair to speculate what happened for that event. 00:02:56.750 --> 00:02:59.689 Thankfully, it appears that both of the victims 00:02:59.689 --> 00:03:02.879 of the bear attack are okay. I do not know this 00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:05.840 for sure, so fingers crossed I am right. Again, 00:03:06.120 --> 00:03:08.259 I will talk about this more in detail probably 00:03:08.259 --> 00:03:11.000 in the next week or two once we have a lot of 00:03:11.000 --> 00:03:13.699 information. For now, there was a bear attack. 00:03:13.979 --> 00:03:16.560 Bear attacks are extremely rare in the park. 00:03:17.180 --> 00:03:19.259 Yes, one happened last year and one happened 00:03:19.259 --> 00:03:22.360 this year. However, for having like over 4 million 00:03:22.360 --> 00:03:25.099 people visit the park a year, very few people 00:03:25.099 --> 00:03:27.979 are attacked by bears. So if you're on the fence 00:03:27.979 --> 00:03:29.740 about whether or not you should still go to the 00:03:29.740 --> 00:03:32.460 park because of this, come to the park. Just 00:03:32.460 --> 00:03:34.860 follow all the rules and regulations. If you're 00:03:34.860 --> 00:03:37.439 uncomfortable hiking someplace, do not hike there. 00:03:37.680 --> 00:03:40.419 If you want to hike but don't feel safe, hire 00:03:40.419 --> 00:03:42.879 somebody like me as a guide who knows the area, 00:03:43.219 --> 00:03:45.580 can keep you safe in bear country, and teach 00:03:45.580 --> 00:03:48.699 you how to continue to be safe when you are in 00:03:48.699 --> 00:03:51.060 the backcountry of the park. Obviously accidents 00:03:51.060 --> 00:03:53.800 are always going to happen. It's very unfortunate 00:03:53.800 --> 00:03:57.419 and hopefully this is just a one -off and we 00:03:57.419 --> 00:03:59.860 continue to have a good year aside from this 00:03:59.860 --> 00:04:04.300 blip. Other news for the week the south entrance 00:04:04.300 --> 00:04:07.560 is opening that includes the area driving around 00:04:07.560 --> 00:04:12.620 the lake So basically after this Friday all of 00:04:12.620 --> 00:04:15.199 the roads except for Dunraven pass will be open 00:04:15.199 --> 00:04:17.579 There is another road that's opening this week 00:04:17.579 --> 00:04:19.699 that I'm very excited about and that's a road 00:04:19.699 --> 00:04:23.160 from Roosevelt up to Tower Falls That passes 00:04:23.160 --> 00:04:26.800 Cal site Springs. I talked about it a little 00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:29.800 while ago talking about the Bermuda Triangle 00:04:29.850 --> 00:04:31.810 This little section of road that two and a half 00:04:31.810 --> 00:04:34.850 miles from Roosevelt Junction up to Tower Falls 00:04:34.850 --> 00:04:37.170 and back, that's part of the Bermuda Triangle. 00:04:37.649 --> 00:04:40.149 It is a good place to see bears. Please know 00:04:40.149 --> 00:04:42.350 if you go up there, there may not be rangers 00:04:42.350 --> 00:04:45.089 up there. There may not be park staff. If there 00:04:45.089 --> 00:04:47.889 are bears near the road, do not get out of your 00:04:47.889 --> 00:04:52.050 car unless you can maintain 100 yards. That is 00:04:52.050 --> 00:04:55.160 an entire football field. You will see people 00:04:55.160 --> 00:04:57.459 getting closer than that. I'm gonna talk about 00:04:57.459 --> 00:04:59.920 that when it comes to bison a little later in 00:04:59.920 --> 00:05:02.680 this episode But don't get close to wildlife, 00:05:02.680 --> 00:05:05.540 please. It's not it's not safe. It's not a good 00:05:05.540 --> 00:05:08.439 idea You can watch them from appropriate distances 00:05:08.439 --> 00:05:12.560 or from inside your car and you'll be fine Again 00:05:12.560 --> 00:05:15.139 south entrance is opening that means you can 00:05:15.139 --> 00:05:17.920 drive around the lake You can drive over Craig 00:05:17.920 --> 00:05:20.360 Pass connecting Old Faithful to the south entrance 00:05:21.000 --> 00:05:23.660 Really, this is the opening that everybody's 00:05:23.660 --> 00:05:26.399 been waiting for. Now you can do the southern 00:05:26.399 --> 00:05:28.740 loop of the kind of that figure eight that everybody 00:05:28.740 --> 00:05:30.620 talks about a couple of weeks from now. I'm going 00:05:30.620 --> 00:05:32.480 to talk about why that's not the best way to 00:05:32.480 --> 00:05:34.779 view the park. But for now, you can drive that 00:05:34.779 --> 00:05:37.600 southern loop. You can kind of have a good experience 00:05:37.600 --> 00:05:41.680 that way. And it's a great time to visit. I will 00:05:41.680 --> 00:05:43.720 be in the park multiple days this coming week. 00:05:43.899 --> 00:05:47.699 So if you see me, say hi. Otherwise, be safe. 00:05:47.939 --> 00:05:50.980 Follow all posted rules. and let's get to the 00:05:50.980 --> 00:05:54.439 experience of the week my experience this week 00:05:54.439 --> 00:05:58.379 is titled a ducking good time south of Hayden 00:05:58.379 --> 00:06:00.240 so if you're in Yellowstone National Park and 00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:02.379 want to see something most people completely 00:06:02.379 --> 00:06:06.339 overlook it helps to slow down around the rushing 00:06:06.339 --> 00:06:09.430 water especially this time of year Places like 00:06:09.430 --> 00:06:12.329 Lehardy Rapids don't look dramatic at first glance. 00:06:12.410 --> 00:06:14.149 Yeah, there's a little pull off there and a quick 00:06:14.149 --> 00:06:17.050 little boardwalk walk, but it doesn't appear 00:06:17.050 --> 00:06:19.290 to be that much more than a little bit of a cascade. 00:06:20.329 --> 00:06:24.769 But this stretch of churning river, which is 00:06:24.769 --> 00:06:27.189 the Yellowstone River, is one of the best spots 00:06:27.189 --> 00:06:29.930 in the park to stumble across some unique birds, 00:06:30.329 --> 00:06:33.490 the harlequin duck. Now I know birding isn't 00:06:33.490 --> 00:06:36.220 for everyone. But it's a short -lived experience 00:06:36.220 --> 00:06:38.319 and one that, if you're in the park right now, 00:06:38.480 --> 00:06:42.319 is pretty cool to see. Once you notice harlequin 00:06:42.319 --> 00:06:44.519 ducks, they're hard to forget. The males are 00:06:44.519 --> 00:06:46.819 especially striking with deep blue -grey bodies, 00:06:47.019 --> 00:06:49.600 chestnut sides, and crisp white markings on the 00:06:49.600 --> 00:06:53.160 face and neck that almost look painted on. The 00:06:53.160 --> 00:06:56.199 females, like most bird species, are mostly understated. 00:06:56.379 --> 00:06:58.360 They're mostly brown with a small white patch 00:06:58.360 --> 00:07:00.540 near the eye, but they still stand out if you 00:07:00.540 --> 00:07:03.620 take a moment to scan the water. The turkey part 00:07:03.620 --> 00:07:05.620 is actually spotting them in the first place. 00:07:05.959 --> 00:07:07.939 They tend to blend into the movement of the river, 00:07:08.480 --> 00:07:10.759 disappearing against the foam, rocks, and shadows 00:07:10.759 --> 00:07:13.639 of the current. What really makes these ducks 00:07:13.639 --> 00:07:16.519 memorable is how they live. Harlequin ducks are 00:07:16.519 --> 00:07:19.500 one of the only waterfowl in North America that 00:07:19.500 --> 00:07:22.790 specialize in fast -moving water. choosing turbulent 00:07:22.790 --> 00:07:25.949 rivers and rapids over calm lakes and ponds. 00:07:26.189 --> 00:07:27.990 They spend their time diving into the current 00:07:27.990 --> 00:07:30.949 to feed on aquatic insects and other small invertebrates 00:07:30.949 --> 00:07:33.670 clinging to rocks below the surface. Watching 00:07:33.670 --> 00:07:36.589 them in action is half the experience. They paddle 00:07:36.589 --> 00:07:39.029 upstream against a surprisingly strong current, 00:07:39.490 --> 00:07:42.069 then vanish underwater and pop back up somewhere 00:07:42.069 --> 00:07:44.670 else entirely, completely at ease in water that 00:07:44.670 --> 00:07:47.569 looks far too rough for a duck. Which is why 00:07:47.569 --> 00:07:49.569 Lee Hardy Rapids is such a good place to look 00:07:49.569 --> 00:07:52.250 for them. The rapids stretch across the Yellowstone 00:07:52.250 --> 00:07:55.050 River just north of Yellowstone Lake, and a short 00:07:55.050 --> 00:07:57.230 boardwalk makes it easy to walk right up to the 00:07:57.230 --> 00:07:59.990 edge of the action. In spring and early summer, 00:08:00.569 --> 00:08:03.730 this area becomes especially lively. Harlequin 00:08:03.730 --> 00:08:05.810 ducks often gather here during breeding season, 00:08:05.870 --> 00:08:08.850 which is right now, and at the same time, Yellowstone 00:08:08.850 --> 00:08:10.850 cutthroat trout are pushing upstream through 00:08:10.850 --> 00:08:12.889 the rapids to spawn, sometimes leaping out of 00:08:12.889 --> 00:08:15.449 the water in bursts of energy. The whole scene 00:08:15.449 --> 00:08:18.370 feels active and alive, even if you're just standing 00:08:18.370 --> 00:08:21.379 still watching. If you want the best chance to 00:08:21.379 --> 00:08:24.720 see the ducks, timing helps. Early morning tends 00:08:24.720 --> 00:08:26.420 to be better, that's kind of the rule of thumb 00:08:26.420 --> 00:08:29.060 with everything. It's softer light and there's 00:08:29.060 --> 00:08:31.600 more wildlife movement. You'll also want to bring 00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:33.620 binoculars to see them since these birds are 00:08:33.620 --> 00:08:36.120 surprisingly easy to miss even when they're right 00:08:36.120 --> 00:08:38.039 in front of you. They'll be tucked into pockets 00:08:38.039 --> 00:08:40.200 of calmer water between the waves or just sitting 00:08:40.200 --> 00:08:43.179 on a rock looking like nothing. I walked out 00:08:43.179 --> 00:08:45.200 there once and I was like, oh, I don't see any. 00:08:45.259 --> 00:08:46.820 And then I took a deeper look and I saw like 00:08:46.820 --> 00:08:49.620 15. So definitely take some time to really look 00:08:49.620 --> 00:08:51.860 for them. One of the coolest things about seeing 00:08:51.860 --> 00:08:54.759 a Harlequin duck here, not just for the uniqueness 00:08:54.759 --> 00:08:57.899 of it, is that realizing how unusual this is. 00:08:58.440 --> 00:09:00.500 Most Harlequin ducks actually spend the majority 00:09:00.500 --> 00:09:03.580 of their year along rocky ocean coastlines, riding 00:09:03.580 --> 00:09:06.340 surf and waves along the Pacific. Yellowstone 00:09:06.340 --> 00:09:08.279 is one of the few inland places where they come 00:09:08.279 --> 00:09:10.860 to breed in fast mountain streams, which makes 00:09:10.860 --> 00:09:13.399 spotting one in the middle of the park feel like 00:09:13.399 --> 00:09:16.139 you're discovering a secret. It's kind of like 00:09:16.139 --> 00:09:18.340 an experience that's easy to miss if you're just 00:09:18.340 --> 00:09:21.039 passing through, but once you know how to look 00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:23.460 at it and where to look, it adds a whole new 00:09:23.460 --> 00:09:26.879 layer to this landscape. Now again, some of you 00:09:26.879 --> 00:09:30.320 may think it's just ducks. But this is an experience 00:09:30.320 --> 00:09:32.500 that helps show that Yellowstone isn't just about 00:09:32.500 --> 00:09:35.460 the large animals. There's a smaller ecosystem 00:09:35.460 --> 00:09:38.139 at work that's pretty cool to see, and it's exciting 00:09:38.139 --> 00:09:40.940 to watch. I'm going to be there this week. I 00:09:40.940 --> 00:09:44.539 love this. Of course, I grew up birding, so watching 00:09:44.539 --> 00:09:47.879 them is kind of like what I've always done. However, 00:09:48.559 --> 00:09:51.019 even if you're not into birding, it's still fun 00:09:51.019 --> 00:09:52.879 to watch them. They're like kayakers bobbing 00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:56.659 up and down. It's an extreme bird watching experience, 00:09:56.659 --> 00:09:59.740 and it's really cool to see. Also, there'll be 00:09:59.740 --> 00:10:01.740 some cutthroat trout. There'll be some other 00:10:01.740 --> 00:10:03.940 things. You might see osprey. You might see eagles 00:10:03.940 --> 00:10:06.539 here. Sometimes you'll see bison across the way. 00:10:06.820 --> 00:10:09.600 It's a really cool spot. LeHardy Rapids. Check 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:11.639 it out this week. It's my experience the week. 00:10:11.659 --> 00:10:13.639 Like I said, I'm going to be there. I'd love 00:10:13.639 --> 00:10:16.879 to see other people there and enjoying it. My 00:10:16.879 --> 00:10:20.549 tip of the week. Staying safe around bison. Now 00:10:20.549 --> 00:10:22.490 yes, I probably could be talking about how to 00:10:22.490 --> 00:10:24.490 stay safe around bears. I'm going to be doing 00:10:24.490 --> 00:10:26.590 that later. I'm sticking to my schedule despite 00:10:26.590 --> 00:10:30.149 what the news is going on because right now bison 00:10:30.149 --> 00:10:32.789 are still going to be and will continue to be 00:10:32.789 --> 00:10:35.870 the leading cause of animal human incidents in 00:10:35.870 --> 00:10:39.269 Yellowstone National Park. So this week talking 00:10:39.269 --> 00:10:42.169 about staying safe around bison. So spending 00:10:42.169 --> 00:10:44.169 time around bison in Yellowstone National Park 00:10:44.169 --> 00:10:46.429 is one of those experiences that's like super 00:10:46.429 --> 00:10:49.929 iconic. You want to see bison. And the good thing 00:10:49.929 --> 00:10:52.370 is they're everywhere. They're massive. They're 00:10:52.370 --> 00:10:55.090 calm looking and often closer than you expect. 00:10:55.470 --> 00:10:57.950 They may be right in the road or right next to 00:10:57.950 --> 00:11:02.250 the road. Being closer than you expect is where 00:11:02.250 --> 00:11:06.169 things tend to go wrong. Now the park is nearly 00:11:06.169 --> 00:11:09.590 100 % open. We're days away from the first bison 00:11:09.590 --> 00:11:12.049 versus human encounter of the year. I almost 00:11:12.049 --> 00:11:13.870 guarantee it's going to happen. I would love 00:11:13.870 --> 00:11:15.610 to think it's not going to happen this year, 00:11:15.610 --> 00:11:18.370 but it pretty much always happens. So I figured 00:11:18.370 --> 00:11:21.230 I would give some tips on how to stay safe around 00:11:21.230 --> 00:11:24.269 them. So bison are responsible for more visitor 00:11:24.269 --> 00:11:26.490 injuries in Yellowstone than any other animal, 00:11:27.009 --> 00:11:30.370 and it usually comes from one simple issue. People 00:11:30.370 --> 00:11:33.169 underestimate them. They look like cows, they 00:11:33.169 --> 00:11:35.470 look slow moving, they look calm, they don't 00:11:35.470 --> 00:11:37.649 look like they're bothered by much, so people 00:11:37.649 --> 00:11:40.809 approach them. A bull bison can weigh up to 2 00:11:40.809 --> 00:11:45.149 ,000 pounds and run up to 30 to 35 miles an hour. 00:11:45.289 --> 00:11:47.710 That's roughly three times faster than the average 00:11:47.710 --> 00:11:50.730 human. They don't look fast, and they don't look 00:11:50.730 --> 00:11:52.950 aggressive most of the time, which is exactly 00:11:52.950 --> 00:11:56.370 why people get too close. The numbers back that 00:11:56.370 --> 00:11:59.350 up. Yellowstone sees bison -related injuries 00:11:59.350 --> 00:12:02.190 every year, with incidents reported in 2023, 00:12:02.549 --> 00:12:07.850 2024, 2025, so far nothing in 2026, but I'm recording 00:12:07.850 --> 00:12:13.259 this on May 6th at 2 .40pm, so who knows. Looking 00:12:13.259 --> 00:12:16.000 at longer -term data, about 80 % of people who 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:18.480 were injured had actively approached a bison 00:12:18.480 --> 00:12:20.860 beforehand, and nearly half of those injuries 00:12:20.860 --> 00:12:23.360 happened while someone was trying to take a picture. 00:12:24.039 --> 00:12:26.820 Even more telling, research shows that people 00:12:26.820 --> 00:12:30.980 who were charged were, on average, just 11 feet 00:12:30.980 --> 00:12:34.620 away. That's not a safe distance. That's well 00:12:34.620 --> 00:12:37.600 inside the animal's personal space. 11 feet. 00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:42.019 The park's rule for bison is clear. Stay at least 00:12:42.019 --> 00:12:45.919 25 yards away at all times. That buffer exists 00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:50.240 for a reason. What happens more and more is something 00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:54.259 called social context with these wildlife things. 00:12:54.899 --> 00:12:57.539 You see people standing close to bison and it 00:12:57.539 --> 00:13:00.639 creates a false sense that it must be safe. It 00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:03.399 isn't. Bison and every other animal in the park 00:13:03.399 --> 00:13:06.779 do not care what other people are doing. they 00:13:06.779 --> 00:13:09.240 care about how close you are and everything has 00:13:09.240 --> 00:13:14.220 a breaking point that 11 feet away that is less 00:13:14.220 --> 00:13:19.259 than four yards so if you think of 11 feet that 00:13:19.259 --> 00:13:21.419 is an extra foot on top of a basketball hoop 00:13:21.419 --> 00:13:24.940 that's not very far away from a bison and you're 00:13:24.940 --> 00:13:27.899 going to see on your trip people getting too 00:13:27.899 --> 00:13:30.820 close to bison chances are you might get too 00:13:30.820 --> 00:13:33.039 close to a bison however it's important to know 00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:36.080 that at all times you need to try and keep this 00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:40.120 25 yard buffer zone. Now there are some tips 00:13:40.120 --> 00:13:43.500 on what to do even if you're far enough away 00:13:43.500 --> 00:13:46.759 to know if you're going to be angering a bison. 00:13:47.620 --> 00:13:50.299 Bison do get angry pretty fast and so there's 00:13:50.299 --> 00:13:53.320 a way to read their behavior. One of the easiest 00:13:53.320 --> 00:13:56.899 signals is to watch the tail. A relaxed bison 00:13:56.899 --> 00:14:00.230 usually has its tail hanging down When that tail 00:14:00.230 --> 00:14:03.169 starts to lift, stiffen, or flick quickly, it's 00:14:03.169 --> 00:14:05.929 a sign that the animal is getting irritated. 00:14:07.350 --> 00:14:09.909 It's not subtle once you know what to look for. 00:14:10.850 --> 00:14:14.029 If you see that tail go straight up, or curved 00:14:14.029 --> 00:14:16.409 at the top, but mostly up, it's going to do one 00:14:16.409 --> 00:14:18.950 of two things. It's going to charge, or it's 00:14:18.950 --> 00:14:22.750 going to defecate. Maybe both. You also might 00:14:22.750 --> 00:14:26.110 see bison paw the ground, snort, or turn directly 00:14:26.110 --> 00:14:28.919 toward you. These are all clear warnings that 00:14:28.919 --> 00:14:32.720 you need to back away slowly and calmly. Even 00:14:32.720 --> 00:14:35.759 if you are beyond 25 yards, you see that behavior, 00:14:36.080 --> 00:14:39.919 move further away. A bison will run 30 to 35 00:14:39.919 --> 00:14:42.659 miles an hour at you. You probably won't be able 00:14:42.659 --> 00:14:46.559 to react in time. So always keep that distance. 00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:49.360 If a bison walks toward you, keep moving away. 00:14:50.659 --> 00:14:53.500 Now some of you are going to be hiking and there 00:14:53.500 --> 00:14:56.570 is a way to stay safe. around bison while hiking 00:14:56.570 --> 00:14:58.789 in Yellowstone, and that comes down to a mix 00:14:58.789 --> 00:15:01.309 of awareness, distance, and knowing how to react 00:15:01.309 --> 00:15:04.970 before things escalate. It's also being extremely 00:15:04.970 --> 00:15:09.149 vigilant and aware. The key is remembering that 00:15:09.149 --> 00:15:11.830 when you're hiking, you are no longer protected 00:15:11.830 --> 00:15:14.490 by anything. You are sharing the same space as 00:15:14.490 --> 00:15:17.070 the animal and they will move faster on the terrain 00:15:17.070 --> 00:15:20.750 than you. The most important rule, as I said 00:15:20.750 --> 00:15:23.409 before, is straight from the National Park Service. 00:15:23.580 --> 00:15:26.679 keep your distance. You need to stay at least 00:15:26.679 --> 00:15:30.580 25 yards that's 75 feet away from bison at all 00:15:30.580 --> 00:15:33.720 times. That applies on trails and meadows and 00:15:33.720 --> 00:15:36.080 even if the animal approaches you. I'm reiterating 00:15:36.080 --> 00:15:38.259 that fact because I have talked to people and 00:15:38.259 --> 00:15:40.000 they're like well the bison walked toward me 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:44.059 so it was okay. No that is not okay. If a bison 00:15:44.059 --> 00:15:47.179 gets closer you are expected to move away to 00:15:47.179 --> 00:15:51.289 reestablish that distance. Positioning also matters 00:15:51.289 --> 00:15:54.370 more than most people realize when hiking. Trails 00:15:54.370 --> 00:15:56.370 in Yellowstone often run through prime bison 00:15:56.370 --> 00:15:58.730 habitat, especially in places like Hayden and 00:15:58.730 --> 00:16:01.710 Lamar. Bison use those same trails and meadows, 00:16:02.149 --> 00:16:03.889 and sometimes they're gonna be right on the path. 00:16:04.509 --> 00:16:07.490 Avoid getting boxed in. Give yourself an exit 00:16:07.490 --> 00:16:10.350 route at all times, and never put yourself between 00:16:10.350 --> 00:16:14.009 a bison and where it wants to go. If a herd is 00:16:14.009 --> 00:16:17.549 blocking a path, you gotta go clear around them. 00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:20.919 Sometimes that requires a detour of a mile. Sometimes 00:16:20.919 --> 00:16:23.139 it's less than that, but you need to be prepared 00:16:23.139 --> 00:16:27.799 if you're hiking to give bison a wide berth. 00:16:28.139 --> 00:16:29.860 Now there is something that I want to talk about 00:16:29.860 --> 00:16:32.519 here that will probably happen to you the more 00:16:32.519 --> 00:16:35.799 you hike in the park, and that is multiple bison 00:16:35.799 --> 00:16:39.740 spread clear around an entire field. That looks 00:16:39.740 --> 00:16:42.559 like you have to walk multiple, multiple miles 00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:45.110 away. to avoid them. And if that's the case, 00:16:45.330 --> 00:16:47.769 you have to do that. That's just the brakes. 00:16:48.149 --> 00:16:51.250 You can wait and see if they move. Chances are 00:16:51.250 --> 00:16:54.730 they're not moving. This happened to me out in 00:16:54.730 --> 00:16:58.289 Hayden Valley last year. I hiked out, saw one 00:16:58.289 --> 00:17:00.549 bison the whole day. It was clear, super far 00:17:00.549 --> 00:17:03.490 out, didn't care. Got to my turn around point, 00:17:03.490 --> 00:17:05.769 turned around, walked back, got almost to my 00:17:05.769 --> 00:17:08.829 car, and there were about 150 to 200 bison spread 00:17:08.829 --> 00:17:11.390 out completely around. They were up in the trees 00:17:11.390 --> 00:17:13.349 to my left, all the way out on the prairie to 00:17:13.349 --> 00:17:17.450 my right. What I had to do was backtrack, go 00:17:17.450 --> 00:17:20.549 up on the ridge above the trees, and then drop 00:17:20.549 --> 00:17:23.670 down. Even as I dropped down, there were some 00:17:23.670 --> 00:17:26.690 within 30 yards of me. They got scared of me 00:17:26.690 --> 00:17:28.890 crashing through the woods and then they all 00:17:28.890 --> 00:17:31.190 decided to run. They ran across the road in Hayden 00:17:31.190 --> 00:17:33.049 Valley and then across the river and people got 00:17:33.049 --> 00:17:36.569 some pretty cool pictures. However, that was 00:17:36.569 --> 00:17:39.730 less than ideal. I did everything right and they 00:17:39.730 --> 00:17:43.390 still ran and it was still potentially an unsafe 00:17:43.390 --> 00:17:46.529 situation for me. This can happen to you if you 00:17:46.529 --> 00:17:51.890 hike in the park, so be aware of this. Reading 00:17:51.890 --> 00:17:54.170 behavior is just as important as keeping your 00:17:54.170 --> 00:17:57.460 distance. Bison, while I said watch their tails 00:17:57.460 --> 00:17:59.599 and they might paw, you know, things like that, 00:17:59.700 --> 00:18:03.319 they don't always charge with warning. National 00:18:03.319 --> 00:18:05.880 Park Service notes several clear signs of agitation, 00:18:06.619 --> 00:18:10.140 but they may just say, oh, hey, I don't like 00:18:10.140 --> 00:18:14.079 you here and just go right at you. Always keep 00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:16.460 your distance. I just cannot stress this enough. 00:18:17.099 --> 00:18:20.140 If a bison does charge towards you and you've 00:18:20.140 --> 00:18:22.859 kept that distance, the advice is simple, but 00:18:22.859 --> 00:18:26.140 not always intuitive. Move away as fast as you 00:18:26.140 --> 00:18:29.019 can. You're not supposed to run from bears. Run 00:18:29.019 --> 00:18:31.579 as fast as you can away from a bison. Put distance 00:18:31.579 --> 00:18:33.819 between you and the animal, and if possible, 00:18:34.180 --> 00:18:36.519 get behind something solid like a tree up on 00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:39.140 a rock, something like that. Unlike bear encounters, 00:18:39.859 --> 00:18:42.339 do not stand your ground with a bison. Create 00:18:42.339 --> 00:18:46.369 space as fast as you safely can. It's important 00:18:46.369 --> 00:18:49.470 again to know how fast things can change. Bison 00:18:49.470 --> 00:18:52.150 are going to run around 30 to 35 miles and can 00:18:52.150 --> 00:18:56.190 jump obstacles despite their size. That means 00:18:56.190 --> 00:18:59.549 what feels like a comfortable distance can disappear 00:18:59.549 --> 00:19:02.589 in seconds if you're not paying attention. Group 00:19:02.589 --> 00:19:05.009 behavior can help keep you safe in this, and 00:19:05.009 --> 00:19:06.849 while this is often discussed more with bears, 00:19:07.049 --> 00:19:09.589 the same applies. Hiking with others increases 00:19:09.589 --> 00:19:12.190 awareness and makes it easier to spot wildlife 00:19:12.190 --> 00:19:15.269 sooner. Staying alert, scanning ahead on the 00:19:15.269 --> 00:19:17.930 trail, and avoiding distractions like headphones 00:19:17.930 --> 00:19:21.190 can give you time to react. One final thing that 00:19:21.190 --> 00:19:24.910 gets overlooked is the mindset. Many bison incidents 00:19:24.910 --> 00:19:27.309 happen because people treat them like slow -moving 00:19:27.309 --> 00:19:30.549 predictable animals. In reality, they're wild, 00:19:30.849 --> 00:19:33.470 defensive, and highly sensitive to personal space. 00:19:34.009 --> 00:19:36.069 If your presence caused the bison to change its 00:19:36.069 --> 00:19:39.849 behavior at all, you're already too close. The 00:19:39.849 --> 00:19:42.240 main takeaway here... Keep your distance, watch 00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:45.019 for warning signs like tail movement and agitation, 00:19:45.259 --> 00:19:47.579 avoid passing or crowding them on trails, and 00:19:47.579 --> 00:19:50.460 always give yourself room to back away. Do that, 00:19:50.779 --> 00:19:53.019 and hiking in Yellowstone around Bison becomes 00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:55.819 not just safe, but one of the more memorable 00:19:55.819 --> 00:19:59.599 parts of being in the park. So what about roadside 00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:02.579 encounters? In places like Lamar Valley and Hayden 00:20:02.579 --> 00:20:04.839 Valley, Bison jams are part of the experience. 00:20:05.539 --> 00:20:07.740 When traffic stops, it's tempting to get out 00:20:07.740 --> 00:20:10.019 for a closer look. Don't get out of your car. 00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:11.960 Don't get out of your car in the road. You're 00:20:11.960 --> 00:20:16.740 on a road. Stay in your car. 25 -yard rule applies 00:20:16.740 --> 00:20:19.359 when you're out of your car. It does not apply 00:20:19.359 --> 00:20:22.880 if you're in the vehicle. But know that every 00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:25.500 single year bison damage cars. But that's usually 00:20:25.500 --> 00:20:27.359 during their mating season in July and August, 00:20:27.400 --> 00:20:29.380 which I'll talk about once we're in that time. 00:20:30.920 --> 00:20:34.400 Again, the easiest way to not be charged, tossed, 00:20:34.819 --> 00:20:37.680 and gored by a bison is simple. Keep your distance 00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:40.299 from them at all times and stay in your car when 00:20:40.299 --> 00:20:44.019 you can. My random Yellowstone fact of the week. 00:20:44.779 --> 00:20:46.740 How many bears are in the park? Again, I wrote 00:20:46.740 --> 00:20:50.339 this down months ago for this week, so what timing? 00:20:51.400 --> 00:20:53.339 When most people think about bears in Yellowstone 00:20:53.339 --> 00:20:55.279 National Park, they picture a grizzly walking 00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:58.000 through a wide open valley with a crowd of people 00:20:58.000 --> 00:21:01.599 watching from the roadside. That absolutely happens, 00:21:01.700 --> 00:21:04.259 but it's only part of the story. Yellowstone 00:21:04.259 --> 00:21:06.119 is home to both grizzly bears and black bears, 00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:08.279 and once you start looking at their populations 00:21:08.279 --> 00:21:10.779 and behavior, you get a much clearer picture 00:21:10.779 --> 00:21:13.420 of what your chances actually are of seeing one. 00:21:14.420 --> 00:21:17.000 Let's start with grizzlies, since they are getting 00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:20.000 the most attention. National Park Service says 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:22.740 that there's roughly 150 to 200 grizzly bears 00:21:22.740 --> 00:21:25.640 that use Yellowstone itself as part of their 00:21:25.640 --> 00:21:28.220 home range. Those are the bears most visitors 00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:30.799 are seen in places like Lamar and Hayden, especially 00:21:30.799 --> 00:21:33.059 in the spring and early summer when they're active 00:21:33.059 --> 00:21:36.660 in open areas. However, Yellowstone is just a 00:21:36.660 --> 00:21:39.799 small part of something bigger. Across the entire 00:21:39.799 --> 00:21:42.400 Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, which stretches 00:21:42.400 --> 00:21:45.420 well beyond the park into Montana, Wyoming, and 00:21:45.420 --> 00:21:48.420 Idaho, the grizzly population is estimated to 00:21:48.420 --> 00:21:52.660 be about 1 ,100 bears. That's a huge conservation 00:21:52.660 --> 00:21:54.559 success when you consider that there are only 00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:58.920 130 to 140 grizzlies in the region in the 1970s. 00:21:59.400 --> 00:22:02.619 Today they occupy more than 20 ,000 square miles 00:22:02.619 --> 00:22:05.500 of habitat and many of them move in and out of 00:22:05.500 --> 00:22:07.960 the park. That movement is important because 00:22:07.960 --> 00:22:10.460 it means a bear you see in Yellowstone might 00:22:10.460 --> 00:22:12.660 spend part of its year outside the park and vice 00:22:12.660 --> 00:22:16.039 versa. The park isn't an isolated space. It's 00:22:16.039 --> 00:22:18.140 a heart of a much larger connected ecosystem 00:22:18.140 --> 00:22:20.319 that we all refer to as the Greater Yellowstone 00:22:20.319 --> 00:22:23.559 Ecosystem. Now black bears are a little different. 00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:26.019 National Park Service doesn't give a precise 00:22:26.019 --> 00:22:28.680 population number for black bears in the park, 00:22:29.220 --> 00:22:31.220 largely because they're not a species that was 00:22:31.220 --> 00:22:34.339 nearly wiped out. So their population stats are 00:22:34.339 --> 00:22:37.640 not really as important. Estimates of black bears 00:22:37.640 --> 00:22:41.440 in Yellowstone range anywhere from 150 to 500. 00:22:41.759 --> 00:22:45.920 So not really a good guess, but there's a lot 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:49.569 of them. general rule here it's obviously not 00:22:49.569 --> 00:22:53.150 steadfast and 100 % true but it's a great rule 00:22:53.150 --> 00:22:55.670 of thumb is that grizzlies often feed in open 00:22:55.670 --> 00:22:57.730 meadows and valleys and black bears tend to stick 00:22:57.730 --> 00:23:00.750 to the more tree -filled areas. Black bears are 00:23:00.750 --> 00:23:03.089 excellent climbers and are generally more cautious 00:23:03.089 --> 00:23:06.089 around people. I mean again like that this is 00:23:06.089 --> 00:23:08.509 all generalization of black bear behavior you're 00:23:08.509 --> 00:23:10.089 gonna see black bears right next to the road 00:23:10.089 --> 00:23:13.940 especially by that tower area. but that's again 00:23:13.940 --> 00:23:17.279 a very wood -filled area so that's why you may 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:20.180 see them there. They also might be out in the 00:23:20.180 --> 00:23:22.900 open but you know if you do see a black bear 00:23:22.900 --> 00:23:25.059 out in an open field it's not as common as like 00:23:25.059 --> 00:23:27.839 a grizzly out in an open field. So what are your 00:23:27.839 --> 00:23:29.660 chances of actually seeing a bear in Yellowstone? 00:23:30.900 --> 00:23:33.539 They're good but not guaranteed. Bear sightings 00:23:33.539 --> 00:23:36.380 in Yellowstone depend on timing, location, and 00:23:36.380 --> 00:23:39.500 a bit of luck. Spring and early summer are the 00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:42.079 best times to see bears as they come out of their 00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:44.619 dens and spend more time feeding in visible areas. 00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:47.599 Early mornings and evenings are especially productive. 00:23:48.500 --> 00:23:50.859 If you're spending time in places like Lamar 00:23:50.859 --> 00:23:52.700 or Hayden during these hours, your odds go up 00:23:52.700 --> 00:23:54.559 quite a bit. You go to the Bermuda Triangle, 00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:56.720 which I talked about recently. It's going to 00:23:56.720 --> 00:23:59.420 go up even higher. It's not unusual, especially 00:23:59.420 --> 00:24:02.000 in May and June, to hear about daily sightings 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:06.660 all over the park. Sometimes I see Half dozen 00:24:06.660 --> 00:24:10.380 to a dozen bears. In late June last year, I saw 00:24:10.380 --> 00:24:14.400 12 different grizzly bears in a single day. Now, 00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:16.700 I say that, but there's still plenty of days 00:24:16.700 --> 00:24:18.720 when bears just don't show up where people are 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:21.240 looking. Yellowstone doesn't run on a schedule 00:24:21.240 --> 00:24:24.259 and neither do its animals. Another thing to 00:24:24.259 --> 00:24:26.380 keep in mind is how much ground bears cover. 00:24:27.099 --> 00:24:29.380 Grizzlies can have home ranges of hundreds of 00:24:29.380 --> 00:24:31.500 square miles, which means they're constantly 00:24:31.500 --> 00:24:33.950 moving. One day they're visible by the road, 00:24:34.190 --> 00:24:36.309 the next day they're miles away in terrain you're 00:24:36.309 --> 00:24:39.589 never going to see. All of that adds up to experience 00:24:39.589 --> 00:24:41.730 that's a little unpredictable, but that's part 00:24:41.730 --> 00:24:44.450 of what makes it special. Seeing a bear in Yellowstone 00:24:44.450 --> 00:24:46.930 isn't just about checking a box. It's about being 00:24:46.930 --> 00:24:49.589 in the right place, paying attention, and sometimes 00:24:49.589 --> 00:24:52.769 just being patient enough to wait it out. Yellowstone 00:24:52.769 --> 00:24:55.130 holds only a portion of its bear population within 00:24:55.130 --> 00:24:57.430 the park boundaries, as I said, but it remains 00:24:57.430 --> 00:24:59.789 one of the best places in Lower 48 to see both 00:24:59.789 --> 00:25:02.920 species in the wild. Grizzlies get most of the 00:25:02.920 --> 00:25:05.220 spotlight and for good reason, but black bears 00:25:05.220 --> 00:25:07.859 are just as much a part of the landscape and 00:25:07.859 --> 00:25:11.180 really cool to see. When you do see a bear, whether 00:25:11.180 --> 00:25:13.019 it's a grizzly in the distance moving through 00:25:13.019 --> 00:25:15.779 the valley or a quick glimpse of a black bear 00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:17.960 slipping into the trees, it tends to be one of 00:25:17.960 --> 00:25:19.819 those moments that sticks with you long after 00:25:19.819 --> 00:25:22.779 the trip is over. So good luck out there and 00:25:22.779 --> 00:25:26.329 again stay within 100 yards. of bears at all 00:25:26.329 --> 00:25:28.589 times if there's one by the side of the road 00:25:28.589 --> 00:25:31.269 do not get out of your car you will see other 00:25:31.269 --> 00:25:33.430 people hundred percent guarantee you're gonna 00:25:33.430 --> 00:25:35.630 see people way too close to bears this coming 00:25:35.630 --> 00:25:39.309 week and every week for the next bit be better 00:25:39.309 --> 00:25:41.630 than that follow the rules and regulations keep 00:25:41.630 --> 00:25:44.789 safe use a zoom give them room that's what the 00:25:44.789 --> 00:25:47.509 park likes to say the weather for the coming 00:25:47.509 --> 00:25:50.690 week so as always this the best forecast for 00:25:50.690 --> 00:25:52.950 the week at the time of recording This forecast 00:25:52.950 --> 00:25:55.589 can change numerous times in a week, but this 00:25:55.589 --> 00:25:57.309 should be within the ballpark of what you'll 00:25:57.309 --> 00:26:00.170 experience when visiting the park. This weekend's 00:26:00.170 --> 00:26:02.049 forecast is going to be way more accurate than 00:26:02.049 --> 00:26:04.490 like Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesdays. With that, 00:26:04.529 --> 00:26:06.670 let's dive into the forecast for Lamar Valley. 00:26:07.230 --> 00:26:11.990 On Thursday, high of 56, low of 31, 23 % chance 00:26:11.990 --> 00:26:16.210 of rain. On Friday, high of 60, low of 36, 6 00:26:16.210 --> 00:26:21.539 % chance. On Saturday, 56 and 30. 8 % chance 00:26:21.539 --> 00:26:27.980 Sunday 65 and 36 3 % chance Monday 67 and 34 00:26:27.980 --> 00:26:33.900 8 % chance Tuesday 65 and 34 8 % chance and Wednesday 00:26:33.900 --> 00:26:38.880 66 and 34 4 % chance the weather for Gardiner 00:26:38.880 --> 00:26:44.700 Montana Thursday highest 61 low of 35 24 % chance 00:26:44.700 --> 00:26:48.549 of rain mostly in the morning Friday 66 and 39 00:26:48.549 --> 00:26:52.869 with a 5 % chance Saturday 62 and 35 with a 10 00:26:52.869 --> 00:26:59.509 % chance Sunday 71 and 41 2 % chance Monday 72 00:26:59.509 --> 00:27:04.329 and 38 with a 6 % chance Tuesday 70 and 39 with 00:27:04.329 --> 00:27:09.049 a 3 % chance of rain Wednesday 71 and 38 with 00:27:09.049 --> 00:27:13.049 a 3 % chance of rain the weather for West Yellowstone 00:27:13.369 --> 00:27:17.769 On Thursday, high of 59, low of 29, 23 % chance 00:27:17.769 --> 00:27:21.380 of rain, mostly in the morning. Friday... 62 00:27:21.380 --> 00:27:26.240 and 32 with a 6 % chance Saturday 60 and 29 with 00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:31.400 a 3 % chance Sunday 66 and 35 with a 2 % chance 00:27:31.400 --> 00:27:36.000 Monday 68 and 32 with a 4 % chance Tuesday 67 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:40.400 and 33 with a 6 % chance and Wednesday 68 and 00:27:40.400 --> 00:27:44.859 32 with a 1 % chance of precipitation and next 00:27:44.859 --> 00:27:50.220 up Cody Wyoming in Cody on Thursday chance of 00:27:50.220 --> 00:27:55.039 thunderstorms highest 63 low of 42 on friday 00:27:55.039 --> 00:27:57.980 highest 70 low 48 looks to be good six percent 00:27:57.980 --> 00:28:01.769 chance of precipitation on saturday Highest 63, 00:28:01.890 --> 00:28:04.670 low of 30, 40 % chance of some rain mostly in 00:28:04.670 --> 00:28:08.289 the morning. On Sunday, highest 75, low of 49, 00:28:08.470 --> 00:28:12.569 2 % chance of rain. Monday, 78 and 46 with a 00:28:12.569 --> 00:28:17.390 2 % chance. Tuesday, 73 and 47 with a 9 % chance. 00:28:17.569 --> 00:28:22.349 And Wednesday, 76 and 48 with a 1 % chance. Finally 00:28:22.349 --> 00:28:26.220 for the weather, Cook City, Montana. On Thursday, 00:28:26.599 --> 00:28:28.819 there may be some early snow showers to start 00:28:28.819 --> 00:28:30.940 the morning. There's going to be a high of 50, 00:28:31.160 --> 00:28:34.160 a low of 31 with about a 50 % chance of a little 00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:37.750 bit of rain or snow. On Friday, high of 55, low 00:28:37.750 --> 00:28:41.609 of 34, 7 % chance of rain. On Saturday, high 00:28:41.609 --> 00:28:46.309 of 51, low of 38 % chance. Sunday, 59 and 37, 00:28:46.470 --> 00:28:51.549 3 % chance. Monday, 60 and 33, 7 % chance. Tuesday, 00:28:51.769 --> 00:28:55.609 60 and 35, 11 % chance. And Wednesday, high of 00:28:55.609 --> 00:29:01.210 61, low of 35, 3 % chance of precipitation. The 00:29:01.210 --> 00:29:04.599 Snowpack update! As of May 6th, the snowpack 00:29:04.599 --> 00:29:07.339 is around 78 % of normal for this time of year. 00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:09.539 The eastern and northern ranges of the park are 00:29:09.539 --> 00:29:12.480 89 % of normal and looking really good, while 00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:14.940 the western and southern sides of the park are 00:29:14.940 --> 00:29:18.579 66 % of normal and not great. Last year on this 00:29:18.579 --> 00:29:21.319 date, park -wise, we are averaging around 88 00:29:21.319 --> 00:29:26.359 % of our normal levels. Road conditions. As of 00:29:26.359 --> 00:29:29.289 Friday, The only road that will be closed in 00:29:29.289 --> 00:29:31.269 the park, the only main paved road that will 00:29:31.269 --> 00:29:34.309 be closed in the park, is going to be Dunraven 00:29:34.309 --> 00:29:38.250 Pass from Canyon to Tower Falls. Every other 00:29:38.250 --> 00:29:41.630 road should be open on Friday. But you will not 00:29:41.630 --> 00:29:43.650 be able to drive over the pass to connect Hayden 00:29:43.650 --> 00:29:46.210 Valley quickly with Lamar. You'll have to drive 00:29:46.210 --> 00:29:49.730 all the way around. Please be aware that, as 00:29:49.730 --> 00:29:52.410 always, if the weather shifts, roads can close 00:29:52.410 --> 00:29:54.470 at any time due to inclement weather. It doesn't 00:29:54.470 --> 00:29:56.069 look like there's any of that in the forecast, 00:29:56.089 --> 00:29:58.509 so I wouldn't worry too much about it, but just 00:29:58.509 --> 00:30:01.369 know it could happen if something changes. Now 00:30:01.369 --> 00:30:03.390 for up -to -date road information, you can call 00:30:03.390 --> 00:30:08.230 307 -344 -2117 for recorded information, or you 00:30:08.230 --> 00:30:10.569 can do what most of us do and sign up to receive 00:30:10.569 --> 00:30:12.809 Yellowstone road alerts on your cell phone by 00:30:12.809 --> 00:30:17.549 texting the number 82190 to the number 888... 00:30:18.880 --> 00:30:22.200 777 Camping information so I misspoke last week. 00:30:22.200 --> 00:30:25.000 That's my fault There are currently a couple 00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:27.839 campgrounds open Obviously mammoth campground 00:30:27.839 --> 00:30:31.140 which is open year -round is open Madison campground 00:30:31.140 --> 00:30:34.759 opened on May 1st And so I forgot to mention 00:30:34.759 --> 00:30:37.660 that last week. So apologies there also open 00:30:37.660 --> 00:30:40.619 right now is the fishing bridge RV park that 00:30:40.619 --> 00:30:46.180 opens May 8th then a lot of stuff opens May 15th 00:30:46.180 --> 00:30:49.339 so until then we're just gonna leave it at that 00:30:49.339 --> 00:30:51.700 but yeah there's three places to camp in the 00:30:51.700 --> 00:30:54.640 park two of which you can camp with a tent one 00:30:54.640 --> 00:30:58.000 of which is an RV place so enjoy that information 00:30:58.000 --> 00:31:00.099 and hopefully you get to camp in the park it's 00:31:00.099 --> 00:31:03.960 a great time The Wildlife Watching Update. So 00:31:03.960 --> 00:31:06.460 right now, this is the best time to see animals. 00:31:06.880 --> 00:31:10.059 Northern Range, absolutely popping off. It's 00:31:10.059 --> 00:31:13.859 wolves and bears and baby bison. There's been 00:31:13.859 --> 00:31:16.039 bighorn sheep. There's been pretty much everything 00:31:16.039 --> 00:31:18.200 you'd want to see. There's been moose sightings 00:31:18.200 --> 00:31:20.660 out as you go towards the northeast entrance. 00:31:21.440 --> 00:31:25.160 A lot of grizzlies out between Little America 00:31:25.160 --> 00:31:28.920 and Pebble Creek. Especially off in the distance 00:31:28.920 --> 00:31:31.519 some of them are getting close to the road wolves 00:31:31.519 --> 00:31:35.359 are going to be out typically Right now at the 00:31:35.359 --> 00:31:38.819 slough creek area. There is a den there and there's 00:31:38.819 --> 00:31:40.920 been a den there for years This isn't a secret. 00:31:41.299 --> 00:31:43.160 So they're back in the same den. They've been 00:31:43.160 --> 00:31:46.640 using forever now at this point and Yeah, it's 00:31:46.640 --> 00:31:48.660 a good place to see them, especially very early 00:31:48.660 --> 00:31:51.019 in the morning once you get to later in the day 00:31:51.019 --> 00:31:54.319 It's a little less luck in the interior people 00:31:54.319 --> 00:31:57.579 have been seeing more grizzly bears down as You 00:31:57.579 --> 00:32:01.119 reach barrel springs and I've heard of some decent 00:32:01.119 --> 00:32:03.279 sightings near Hayden and out the east entrance 00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:06.319 So that's where I'd be going right now for more 00:32:06.319 --> 00:32:08.880 bears is just drive down to Norris swing over 00:32:08.880 --> 00:32:12.140 or even drop down toward the geyser basins Now 00:32:12.140 --> 00:32:14.240 obviously there was the bear attack down in the 00:32:14.240 --> 00:32:18.119 geyser basin So there's bears down there. I did 00:32:18.119 --> 00:32:20.480 hear of a bear on the grand prismatic boardwalk 00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:23.759 recently super early in the morning So bears 00:32:23.759 --> 00:32:26.680 are going to be everywhere especially right now 00:32:27.049 --> 00:32:29.450 Even if you're on an easy boardwalk trail, you 00:32:29.450 --> 00:32:31.990 need to be bear aware. You need to be alert You 00:32:31.990 --> 00:32:34.089 need to have bear spray and you need to keep 00:32:34.089 --> 00:32:36.269 your distance This is not the time to mess around 00:32:36.269 --> 00:32:38.329 as we're seeing not saying that the people who 00:32:38.329 --> 00:32:40.009 were attacked were messing around in the least 00:32:40.009 --> 00:32:43.410 but everybody needs to do a very good job right 00:32:43.410 --> 00:32:46.170 now because It's the wrong time of the year to 00:32:46.170 --> 00:32:49.170 make any mistakes or just to surprise a bear 00:32:49.170 --> 00:32:54.029 So always be loud always be safe. Do your best 00:32:54.359 --> 00:32:57.940 Alright, otherwise while I'm watching elk bison 00:32:57.940 --> 00:33:00.819 pronghorn a lot of those are out in Lamar and 00:33:00.819 --> 00:33:03.460 out the north entrance It's just a really good 00:33:03.460 --> 00:33:05.859 time the bear Muta triangle as I talked about 00:33:05.859 --> 00:33:08.539 recently that's going to be popping off especially 00:33:08.539 --> 00:33:12.740 with that road up to tower opening there It there's 00:33:12.740 --> 00:33:14.859 consistent black bear sightings up that road 00:33:14.859 --> 00:33:19.289 and even sometimes grizzlies I've heard of a 00:33:19.289 --> 00:33:22.089 couple lone wolves roaming around. I've heard 00:33:22.089 --> 00:33:25.069 of a lot of different things and it's a good 00:33:25.069 --> 00:33:27.730 time. I can't stress this enough. Go to the park 00:33:27.730 --> 00:33:29.569 if you can right now. And if you're in the park, 00:33:29.809 --> 00:33:31.490 put in some time, especially in the northern 00:33:31.490 --> 00:33:34.029 range. You can have good luck in the rest of 00:33:34.029 --> 00:33:38.450 the park, but it's less luck and more just timing 00:33:38.450 --> 00:33:41.690 in the northern range right now. So get there 00:33:41.690 --> 00:33:45.450 early, talk to people, the community. for wildlife 00:33:45.450 --> 00:33:47.750 watching is very good right now there's not a 00:33:47.750 --> 00:33:49.609 lot of gatekeeping there's not a lot of like 00:33:49.609 --> 00:33:52.369 protecting of things people want to share their 00:33:52.369 --> 00:33:54.809 experiences and I would highly go up to the northern 00:33:54.809 --> 00:33:57.630 range and then you can drop down from there. 00:33:57.950 --> 00:33:59.970 Apologies for the wildlife report being a little 00:33:59.970 --> 00:34:03.529 short but I talked about other things a little 00:34:03.529 --> 00:34:05.170 too long and I want to make sure that we stay 00:34:05.170 --> 00:34:07.930 in our allotted time here so if you need to know 00:34:07.930 --> 00:34:09.670 more about where to go right now for wildlife 00:34:09.670 --> 00:34:15.179 do not hesitate to reach out to me 406. 589 1873 00:34:15.179 --> 00:34:18.320 I'm gonna be in the park a lot this week so I 00:34:18.320 --> 00:34:21.239 will do my best to get to you when I can Shoot 00:34:21.239 --> 00:34:23.760 me an email if you need to the outdoor society 00:34:23.760 --> 00:34:27.400 at gmail .com Or leave a comment wherever you 00:34:27.400 --> 00:34:30.340 can also if you see me driving around say hi 00:34:30.340 --> 00:34:34.280 Trail alerts and updates there are a lot of trail 00:34:34.280 --> 00:34:38.739 closures in the bear attack area Go to the backcountry 00:34:38.739 --> 00:34:41.949 conditions page link is in the show notes so 00:34:41.949 --> 00:34:44.369 just click on that from the show notes and you 00:34:44.369 --> 00:34:47.309 can go directly to see what the real time if 00:34:47.309 --> 00:34:50.230 updated status of all the trails are in the park 00:34:50.230 --> 00:34:54.329 the longer we get into spring and summer the 00:34:54.329 --> 00:34:56.170 more updated this is going to be it's pretty 00:34:56.170 --> 00:34:59.150 updated right now but just make sure that you 00:34:59.150 --> 00:35:01.690 know where you're going before and if it's not 00:35:01.690 --> 00:35:04.750 updated anytime recently go to visitor center 00:35:04.750 --> 00:35:06.650 before you head out and just double check they 00:35:06.650 --> 00:35:09.469 may not know you might be the one providing information 00:35:09.469 --> 00:35:11.909 but if they do have a report they will let you 00:35:11.909 --> 00:35:14.309 know just make sure you go to a ranger station 00:35:14.309 --> 00:35:17.269 near where you're hiking like if you're hiking 00:35:17.269 --> 00:35:20.489 in the geyser basin and you ask at mammoth they 00:35:20.489 --> 00:35:22.630 may not know but if you're hiking around mammoth 00:35:22.630 --> 00:35:25.150 and ask around mammoth they can tell you much 00:35:25.150 --> 00:35:27.230 easier they don't have all that information linked 00:35:27.230 --> 00:35:32.099 together all right the trail of the week Lost 00:35:32.099 --> 00:35:35.639 Lake and Lost Creek Falls. I had other hikes 00:35:35.639 --> 00:35:39.159 I wanted to recommend this week, but some of 00:35:39.159 --> 00:35:42.380 snow on them, some were closed, so they're going 00:35:42.380 --> 00:35:44.639 to be highlighted later. Instead, I'm going to 00:35:44.639 --> 00:35:46.599 recommend a classic trek in the Northern Range, 00:35:47.119 --> 00:35:49.119 one that will have you wandering along a lake, 00:35:49.599 --> 00:35:51.960 taking in a hidden waterfall view, and maybe 00:35:51.960 --> 00:35:55.119 even encountering wildlife. The trail of Lost 00:35:55.119 --> 00:35:57.260 Lake and the upper viewpoint of Lost Creek Falls 00:35:57.260 --> 00:36:00.380 are often overlooked. much like many of the trails 00:36:00.380 --> 00:36:03.440 that I feature in my guidebook. While the Petrified 00:36:03.440 --> 00:36:05.820 Tree area remains a popular destination, especially 00:36:05.820 --> 00:36:08.719 now that you can drive there, and Lost Lake is 00:36:08.719 --> 00:36:12.159 getting a little more popular, few venture beyond 00:36:12.159 --> 00:36:14.340 the well -trodden paved paths and skip trails 00:36:14.340 --> 00:36:17.269 like this. Those who do make their way beyond 00:36:17.269 --> 00:36:19.769 the caged petrified tree have an opportunity 00:36:19.769 --> 00:36:22.329 to expand their adventure and step off the beaten 00:36:22.329 --> 00:36:25.690 path to experience the tranquility of Lost Lake 00:36:25.690 --> 00:36:28.210 along with a breathtaking view of the fast -flowing 00:36:28.210 --> 00:36:31.789 Lost Creek Falls. Again, many will walk from 00:36:31.789 --> 00:36:34.309 the petrified tree to the lake, but few know 00:36:34.309 --> 00:36:36.789 that a cool view is found a little bit further 00:36:36.789 --> 00:36:40.869 away. The trail of the lake, very easy to follow. 00:36:41.780 --> 00:36:44.159 Passes through a narrow gap between hills and 00:36:44.159 --> 00:36:47.039 then turns a corner and arrives in an open area 00:36:47.039 --> 00:36:50.699 that houses the lake. The lake isn't deep or 00:36:50.699 --> 00:36:52.780 like the most stunning lake you're ever gonna 00:36:52.780 --> 00:36:55.920 see, but it is quite scenic and it is one of 00:36:55.920 --> 00:36:59.059 those places that I love to go to in the backcountry. 00:36:59.659 --> 00:37:03.460 It's also a place where you may see birds, bison, 00:37:03.699 --> 00:37:06.960 elk, coyotes, foxes, or even bears here. So stay 00:37:06.960 --> 00:37:11.019 alert and make sure that you're being safe. Beyond 00:37:11.019 --> 00:37:13.760 the lake the trail crosses a quaint little bridge 00:37:13.760 --> 00:37:16.440 over the creek and enters a forest and darts 00:37:16.440 --> 00:37:19.800 towards the top of a canyon. Keep your expectations 00:37:19.800 --> 00:37:22.260 about walking on the top of a canyon low right 00:37:22.260 --> 00:37:25.159 here as the forest keeps it mostly hidden as 00:37:25.159 --> 00:37:28.500 you traverse around the canyon rim. You're soon 00:37:28.500 --> 00:37:30.500 going to cross another small bridge over the 00:37:30.500 --> 00:37:32.659 creek and then get to the other side of the canyon. 00:37:33.119 --> 00:37:34.820 That's when you're going to start to get more 00:37:34.820 --> 00:37:38.440 glimpses of the canyon and when you get to kind 00:37:38.440 --> 00:37:41.960 of the end before the trail darts to the right 00:37:41.960 --> 00:37:44.920 look for some boot paths and you'll find yourself 00:37:44.920 --> 00:37:48.579 on the canyon rim taking a look up the canyon 00:37:48.579 --> 00:37:52.019 toward lost creek falls obviously be cautious 00:37:52.019 --> 00:37:54.780 of loose rocks on the canyon rim as the drop 00:37:54.780 --> 00:37:58.219 will kill you and i say this in all seriousness 00:37:58.219 --> 00:38:01.739 so stay away from this it's it's perfectly safe 00:38:01.739 --> 00:38:05.719 but you know some people will take risks they 00:38:05.719 --> 00:38:08.909 don't need to the waterfall It's just a nice 00:38:08.909 --> 00:38:11.550 hidden waterfall that few will ever see. I sometimes 00:38:11.550 --> 00:38:13.929 post pictures of it online and everybody guesses 00:38:13.929 --> 00:38:17.110 which falls it is. Very few people know it. It's 00:38:17.110 --> 00:38:19.429 a cool place to go and that's why I'm recommending 00:38:19.429 --> 00:38:22.650 that. Since it's going to be sunny and pretty 00:38:22.650 --> 00:38:24.690 warm this week, this is a nice place to kind 00:38:24.690 --> 00:38:28.369 of cool down and be by yourself. This trek from 00:38:28.369 --> 00:38:30.590 the petrified tree to the waterfall viewpoint 00:38:30.590 --> 00:38:33.250 and back to the car is only about four miles 00:38:33.250 --> 00:38:35.690 round trip with roughly 400 feet of elevation 00:38:35.690 --> 00:38:38.530 gain. It's really easy. It's not going to be 00:38:38.530 --> 00:38:40.090 the hardest hike you're going to do, but it's 00:38:40.090 --> 00:38:43.289 really cool. There are some options to make this 00:38:43.289 --> 00:38:45.969 a super rad loop. So if you're interested in 00:38:45.969 --> 00:38:48.150 that, reach out to me directly or consider picking 00:38:48.150 --> 00:38:50.809 up a copy of my hiking book, which is going to 00:38:50.809 --> 00:38:52.889 take you all around the surrounding areas of 00:38:52.889 --> 00:38:56.250 the park. My hiking guidebook, Beyond the Boardwalks, 00:38:56.289 --> 00:38:58.349 helps you find a perfect hike in the region. 00:38:58.349 --> 00:39:01.909 And I've written it as a kind of labor of love, 00:39:01.909 --> 00:39:05.070 like everything I do. Not everybody knows about 00:39:05.070 --> 00:39:07.150 it. Not everybody will know about it, but... 00:39:07.150 --> 00:39:09.889 It is over 50 of my favorite hikes in the Greater 00:39:09.889 --> 00:39:12.929 Yellowstone Ecosystem, not even down to the Tetons 00:39:12.929 --> 00:39:15.909 yet. This is just the northern side, the western 00:39:15.909 --> 00:39:19.530 side, the eastern side, and the park. So if you 00:39:19.530 --> 00:39:23.489 want to hike, pick up this book. Alright, that 00:39:23.489 --> 00:39:26.170 does it for me in this week's episode. Next week, 00:39:26.250 --> 00:39:27.570 I'm going to return with all the information 00:39:27.570 --> 00:39:29.929 you need to have a good week in the park, including 00:39:29.929 --> 00:39:33.250 wildlife, weather, and trail updates. Until then... 00:39:33.260 --> 00:39:36.400 Stay safe, carry bear spray, know how to use 00:39:36.400 --> 00:39:38.920 it, don't approach wildlife, and if you're coming 00:39:38.920 --> 00:39:41.219 to the park, book a tour with me or pick up a 00:39:41.219 --> 00:39:54.860 guidebook of mine. Happy trails! Abrupt ending! 00:39:55.289 --> 00:39:57.250 This week in Yellowstone is brought to you by 00:39:57.250 --> 00:39:59.849 the Outdoor Society. That's my company. It's 00:39:59.849 --> 00:40:02.329 just me. I do this. It's a labor of love. If 00:40:02.329 --> 00:40:04.469 you like it, tell your friends, rate and review 00:40:04.469 --> 00:40:07.809 it. Shoot me a message. Otherwise, keep listening, 00:40:07.829 --> 00:40:10.610 and I hope to see you in Yellowstone. Copyright 00:40:10.610 --> 00:40:12.170 2026, baby.