WEBVTT 00:00:00.040 --> 00:00:02.960 From Yellowstone National Park where last week 00:00:02.960 --> 00:00:07.160 I saw 26 bears in 72 hours This is that Scott 00:00:07.160 --> 00:00:09.380 guy you know in love with a brand new episode 00:00:09.380 --> 00:00:22.620 of this week in Yellowstone What's up everybody 00:00:22.620 --> 00:00:25.039 this week in Yellowstone National Park from May 00:00:25.039 --> 00:00:29.649 14th to May 20th 2026 I'll talk about seeing 00:00:29.649 --> 00:00:32.509 bears and how you can do it, discuss what to 00:00:32.509 --> 00:00:35.390 expect from gateway towns this week, and give 00:00:35.390 --> 00:00:38.450 a history of Tower Fall. I'll also give you the 00:00:38.450 --> 00:00:41.109 complete weather forecast, a cool trail to hike, 00:00:41.490 --> 00:00:44.710 the snowpack update, the wildlife report, and 00:00:44.710 --> 00:00:46.630 everything else you need to have an incredible 00:00:46.630 --> 00:00:50.810 time this week in Yellowstone. My standard disclaimer, 00:00:51.329 --> 00:00:53.369 I'm gonna miss a few details here and there, 00:00:54.170 --> 00:00:56.469 so if you need more answers or anything like 00:00:56.469 --> 00:00:59.229 that, reach out to me, I'll happily answer whatever 00:00:59.229 --> 00:01:02.189 questions you may have. I also mention park locations 00:01:02.189 --> 00:01:04.870 very casually, so if you're unfamiliar with a 00:01:04.870 --> 00:01:07.230 place I'm talking about, a quick search online 00:01:07.230 --> 00:01:10.629 can help, or again, just reach out to me. Also, 00:01:10.890 --> 00:01:13.569 Please know that this podcast is a passion project 00:01:13.569 --> 00:01:16.189 of mine. I'm not paid. I'm not sponsored. This 00:01:16.189 --> 00:01:19.269 is just a labor of love. So I'd love a review 00:01:19.269 --> 00:01:21.329 or a quick email if you enjoy what you hear. 00:01:21.689 --> 00:01:24.189 If you want to support my work and chip in, you 00:01:24.189 --> 00:01:26.170 can check out my hiking and wildlife watching 00:01:26.170 --> 00:01:28.409 guidebooks or join me for a guided hiking tour 00:01:28.409 --> 00:01:31.170 in Yellowstone's backcountry. For more information, 00:01:31.290 --> 00:01:34.689 visit outdoor -society .com or contact me directly 00:01:34.689 --> 00:01:41.930 via text at 406 -589 -1873. you are coming to 00:01:41.930 --> 00:01:43.829 the park seriously book a trail tour with me 00:01:43.829 --> 00:01:46.450 you will love it if you're a hiker if you're 00:01:46.450 --> 00:01:48.109 not a hiker you probably won't like a hiking 00:01:48.109 --> 00:01:50.790 tour but that's an irrelevant aside that I just 00:01:50.790 --> 00:01:54.900 gave you all also Slightly irrelevant aside for 00:01:54.900 --> 00:01:57.140 most of you, but for a few of you some of you 00:01:57.140 --> 00:01:59.680 reached out sent me great emails sent me texts 00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:02.420 I apologize for not responding to those recently. 00:02:02.599 --> 00:02:05.640 There was some family health issues and I lost 00:02:05.640 --> 00:02:08.400 a loved one So it was a little overwhelming the 00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:10.620 past couple of weeks I will try and respond to 00:02:10.620 --> 00:02:12.860 those but if I don't know that they are truly 00:02:12.860 --> 00:02:16.680 appreciated and Yeah, your support throughout 00:02:16.680 --> 00:02:18.919 all of this means the world to me and I love 00:02:18.919 --> 00:02:20.580 that you listen to it and you love the park So, 00:02:20.580 --> 00:02:24.280 thank you So this week's Yellowstone news if 00:02:24.280 --> 00:02:28.460 you love Pebble Creek in the northeast corner 00:02:28.460 --> 00:02:31.340 of the park You are not gonna like this news 00:02:31.340 --> 00:02:33.580 But Pebble Creek is basically going to be closed 00:02:33.580 --> 00:02:35.900 throughout the summer the campground is already 00:02:35.900 --> 00:02:38.400 closed So that's not really a big thing, but 00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:40.800 you know it's a nice picnic spot It's a good 00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:43.020 restroom out there, but all of that's going to 00:02:43.020 --> 00:02:47.139 be closed this summer off and on The hours and 00:02:47.139 --> 00:02:50.620 days are not listed right now, so I can't give 00:02:50.620 --> 00:02:52.979 you more information. Once I do hear that, I 00:02:52.979 --> 00:02:55.439 will let you know. But just know that don't rely 00:02:55.439 --> 00:02:57.599 on Pebble Creek for being open as a bathroom 00:02:57.599 --> 00:03:00.000 or a picnic area this summer. If it is open when 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:02.960 you go by, it's a pleasant surprise. Also in 00:03:02.960 --> 00:03:06.400 this week's Yellowstone News, the Tom Miner Association 00:03:06.400 --> 00:03:10.000 is asking people not to go to Tom Miner right 00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:13.060 now. There are too many people going up there. 00:03:13.319 --> 00:03:15.919 I only mentioned that. I was asked not to mention 00:03:15.919 --> 00:03:18.280 it too much, but if you're thinking about, ooh, 00:03:18.319 --> 00:03:20.259 I want to go up to Tom Miner for what people 00:03:20.259 --> 00:03:22.810 go up to Tom Miner for. Don't do it, please. 00:03:23.289 --> 00:03:25.750 It is being inundated with a lot of people right 00:03:25.750 --> 00:03:29.169 now. And it's not good for the wildlife. If you 00:03:29.169 --> 00:03:30.729 don't know what I'm talking about, great. Don't 00:03:30.729 --> 00:03:33.490 go. Don't search for it. Otherwise, yeah, that's 00:03:33.490 --> 00:03:36.650 basically the news. It's not that busy of a time, 00:03:36.650 --> 00:03:38.590 but we're just going to keep opening and there's 00:03:38.590 --> 00:03:40.090 going to be more and more news stories coming 00:03:40.090 --> 00:03:42.550 across. But this week, pretty slow. So let's 00:03:42.550 --> 00:03:45.370 be thankful about that. My experience of the 00:03:45.370 --> 00:03:49.490 week. Bears, bears, bears. Many people don't 00:03:49.490 --> 00:03:51.870 often repeat the same word three times. When 00:03:51.870 --> 00:03:54.770 one does, it's usually referring to the band 00:03:54.770 --> 00:03:57.490 Tony Tony Tony or singing along to the Motley 00:03:57.490 --> 00:04:01.009 Crue song Girls Girls Girls. One word is usually 00:04:01.009 --> 00:04:04.009 enough though. However, this week I'm doing what 00:04:04.009 --> 00:04:06.129 you shouldn't do with the word Beetlejuice and 00:04:06.129 --> 00:04:09.409 I'm repeating myself thrice. This time of the 00:04:09.409 --> 00:04:12.069 year in Yellowstone is the best time of the year 00:04:12.069 --> 00:04:15.430 to see bears and I will challenge anyone on this. 00:04:15.949 --> 00:04:18.089 My dad visited the park with me this last week 00:04:18.089 --> 00:04:20.449 for a total of about three days of park time 00:04:20.449 --> 00:04:25.420 total. In that visit, we saw 26 bears, 21 of 00:04:25.420 --> 00:04:28.120 them were unique bear sightings, and 6 of them 00:04:28.120 --> 00:04:31.220 were grizzlies. Now this is obviously a lot, 00:04:31.459 --> 00:04:33.079 and I don't expect anyone to think that this 00:04:33.079 --> 00:04:36.579 is the norm. That being said, I had a friend 00:04:36.579 --> 00:04:38.819 drive into the park on Saturday for a hike not 00:04:38.819 --> 00:04:41.399 looking for bears, and they saw 6 bears that 00:04:41.399 --> 00:04:43.439 day while driving to and from the trailhead. 00:04:44.980 --> 00:04:48.139 Similarly, my dad and I also weren't focused 00:04:48.139 --> 00:04:50.980 on trying to see bears. Most of the sightings 00:04:50.980 --> 00:04:54.300 just sort of happened. So how did we get so lucky? 00:04:55.240 --> 00:04:57.680 We woke up around 6, and we drove into the park 00:04:57.680 --> 00:05:01.579 by 6 .30 or 7 every day. We saw grizzlies between 00:05:01.579 --> 00:05:04.459 Mammoth and Norris, Norris and Canyon, and between 00:05:04.459 --> 00:05:07.420 Canyon and Lake. We saw grizzlies and black bears 00:05:07.420 --> 00:05:09.720 between Mammoth and Roosevelt, including the 00:05:09.720 --> 00:05:12.360 road to the Petrified Tree, and also Roosevelt 00:05:12.360 --> 00:05:15.819 Tower, and Roosevelt and Soda Butte. Some were 00:05:15.819 --> 00:05:19.670 near the road, some were far away. On the 4th, 00:05:19.990 --> 00:05:23.290 30th, so April 30th to 5th, 6th, May 6th episode 00:05:23.290 --> 00:05:26.870 of the podcast, I talked about the Bermuda Triangle, 00:05:27.050 --> 00:05:29.649 which was insanely good for bear sightings this 00:05:29.649 --> 00:05:32.009 last trip. Do yourself a favor and give that 00:05:32.009 --> 00:05:35.050 a listen if you haven't. Again, I must stress 00:05:35.050 --> 00:05:37.370 that my experience isn't necessarily the norm. 00:05:37.930 --> 00:05:40.550 I chatted with some park staff who are working 00:05:40.550 --> 00:05:44.350 at the gift shops and things like that, who are 00:05:44.350 --> 00:05:46.069 driving around the park before and after work 00:05:46.069 --> 00:05:49.029 and have yet to see a bear. Sometimes the lucky 00:05:49.029 --> 00:05:51.990 Yellowstone is in your favor. Sometimes it isn't. 00:05:52.189 --> 00:05:54.709 The best thing you can do is try and try often. 00:05:55.269 --> 00:05:58.790 Eventually your luck should turn. Quick time 00:05:58.790 --> 00:06:00.649 to mention that this episode of the podcast is 00:06:00.649 --> 00:06:03.350 sponsored by Legalize Gambling. You have to win 00:06:03.350 --> 00:06:05.449 eventually, right? So give us your money now. 00:06:06.050 --> 00:06:07.970 I mean, obviously I'm joking with that sponsorship. 00:06:08.050 --> 00:06:10.170 I'm not sponsored. I have no sponsors. And if 00:06:10.170 --> 00:06:13.930 I did, I probably wouldn't let any Legalize Gambling 00:06:13.930 --> 00:06:16.819 sponsor me. But the part before that I said about 00:06:16.819 --> 00:06:20.439 trying and trying again is true, especially before 00:06:20.439 --> 00:06:24.079 10am and after 5pm. Those tend to be the best 00:06:24.079 --> 00:06:26.959 times as of late, but it isn't a steadfast rule. 00:06:27.800 --> 00:06:31.839 Go when you can and you might see a bear. So 00:06:31.839 --> 00:06:33.879 why are bears so prevalent this time of year? 00:06:34.579 --> 00:06:37.350 The answer is simple. Bears are especially easy 00:06:37.350 --> 00:06:39.889 to see in Yellowstone during May because they 00:06:39.889 --> 00:06:41.949 have recently emerged from their dens and are 00:06:41.949 --> 00:06:44.829 actively searching for food in those lower elevation 00:06:44.829 --> 00:06:47.949 areas. Early spring conditions typically keep 00:06:47.949 --> 00:06:49.829 much of the high country covered in snow, not 00:06:49.829 --> 00:06:54.689 so much this year, but even so, animals are kind 00:06:54.689 --> 00:06:56.709 of in that routine and they know where those 00:06:56.709 --> 00:06:59.230 food sources are low, so they're going low right 00:06:59.230 --> 00:07:01.970 now. You might see both grizzly and black bears 00:07:01.970 --> 00:07:04.389 spending more time in open valleys, meadows, 00:07:04.589 --> 00:07:07.089 and roadside areas where new grasses, roots, 00:07:07.290 --> 00:07:09.550 and winter -killed animals, and elk and bison 00:07:09.550 --> 00:07:12.829 calves are available. These same lower elevations 00:07:12.829 --> 00:07:15.149 are also where most of the park roads run, which 00:07:15.149 --> 00:07:17.470 increases the chances of visitors spotting bears. 00:07:18.870 --> 00:07:20.629 May is also the beginning of calving season, 00:07:20.850 --> 00:07:23.129 and bears are often drawn to areas where newborn 00:07:23.129 --> 00:07:25.230 calves are present, especially grizzly bears. 00:07:25.870 --> 00:07:27.779 According to the National Park Service, Bear 00:07:27.779 --> 00:07:30.040 activity increases significantly in the spring 00:07:30.040 --> 00:07:33.100 as they work to regain weight loss during torpor. 00:07:41.600 --> 00:07:44.160 Yellowstone Forever says that wildlife biologists 00:07:44.160 --> 00:07:46.980 within Yellowstone National Park know that spring 00:07:46.980 --> 00:07:49.259 provides some of the best bear viewing opportunities 00:07:49.259 --> 00:07:51.879 of the year because the vegetation is still relatively 00:07:51.879 --> 00:07:54.540 short and it makes the bears easier to spot across 00:07:54.540 --> 00:07:57.730 open landscapes. Combined with cooler temperatures 00:07:57.730 --> 00:08:00.689 that encourage daytime activity, unlike in the 00:08:00.689 --> 00:08:03.509 midsummer when bears are active during the early 00:08:03.509 --> 00:08:05.829 morning or evening hours, really just helps. 00:08:06.689 --> 00:08:09.509 Honestly, right now is the best time. This coming 00:08:09.509 --> 00:08:12.029 week will be amazing for bears. All the way through 00:08:12.029 --> 00:08:14.610 really the first week of June is a good time 00:08:14.610 --> 00:08:18.269 to see bears. I couldn't tell you where they 00:08:18.269 --> 00:08:21.970 are specifically, but you will have good luck 00:08:21.970 --> 00:08:25.089 if you drive the Northern Range, especially from 00:08:25.089 --> 00:08:29.089 like the Blacktail Plateau Road, that first entryway, 00:08:29.089 --> 00:08:32.070 it's not open yet, but from there all the way 00:08:32.070 --> 00:08:36.529 to Tower and then back to Soda Butte through 00:08:36.529 --> 00:08:39.929 Lamar Valley. You do that down to Slough Creek, 00:08:40.470 --> 00:08:45.100 then later if you go down from Mammoth and by 00:08:45.100 --> 00:08:47.659 later. I mean whenever you want if you go for 00:08:47.659 --> 00:08:50.759 mammoth down to Norris That's gonna be really 00:08:50.759 --> 00:08:53.159 good And then even Hayden Valley and out the 00:08:53.159 --> 00:08:55.960 east entrance if you drive all of that a couple 00:08:55.960 --> 00:08:58.379 of times When you're visiting especially in the 00:08:58.379 --> 00:09:01.179 early morning late evening hours you will more 00:09:01.179 --> 00:09:04.259 than likely see a bear So good luck out there 00:09:04.259 --> 00:09:06.480 if you need more tips reach out to me happy to 00:09:06.480 --> 00:09:10.960 help my tip of the week What to expect in Gateway 00:09:10.960 --> 00:09:13.549 towns this week? So if you're staying in the 00:09:13.549 --> 00:09:15.470 park, and you're not actually staying in the 00:09:15.470 --> 00:09:18.029 park But you're staying just outside in West 00:09:18.029 --> 00:09:20.470 Yellowstone or Gardner or Silvergate and Cook 00:09:20.470 --> 00:09:23.590 City or even out to Cody You're gonna notice 00:09:23.590 --> 00:09:26.490 that we are not quite in full tourist season 00:09:26.490 --> 00:09:29.429 those towns are not fully staffed up Nothing's 00:09:29.429 --> 00:09:32.309 really open that as much right now hours are 00:09:32.309 --> 00:09:34.070 restricted all of that and so I'm just gonna 00:09:34.070 --> 00:09:36.590 briefly talk about that as my tip because When 00:09:36.590 --> 00:09:38.389 I was in the park recently a lot of people were 00:09:38.389 --> 00:09:42.480 very frustrated that not much was open In fact, 00:09:42.600 --> 00:09:46.259 when I was in Cook City on a Friday night, there 00:09:46.259 --> 00:09:49.559 was one restaurant open for the whole city for 00:09:49.559 --> 00:09:53.559 everyone visiting. So that is pretty normal, 00:09:53.559 --> 00:09:56.480 honestly, for this time of year. This is kind 00:09:56.480 --> 00:09:59.480 of that last gasp before true tourist season 00:09:59.480 --> 00:10:02.080 starts. So not everything's gonna be open and 00:10:02.080 --> 00:10:04.539 hours are gonna be reduced. Even in Gardiner, 00:10:04.840 --> 00:10:07.340 even in West Yellowstone, even out in Cody, not 00:10:07.340 --> 00:10:10.320 everything is gonna be open or be... run in the 00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:12.639 hours that it will be in the middle of the summer. 00:10:13.259 --> 00:10:15.039 But even in the middle of summer, the hours are 00:10:15.039 --> 00:10:18.080 not going to necessarily be what you expect if 00:10:18.080 --> 00:10:20.940 you're coming from a big city to Yellowstone. 00:10:21.879 --> 00:10:24.440 In a bigger city, you can get food much later 00:10:24.440 --> 00:10:27.080 at night. In the middle of the summer, the Gateway 00:10:27.080 --> 00:10:30.139 towns are going to be closing their restaurants 00:10:30.139 --> 00:10:32.000 maybe at nine. Maybe they're going to stop seating 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:35.210 at eight or eight thirty. That also applies to 00:10:35.210 --> 00:10:37.230 right now if you're visiting the park. Do not 00:10:37.230 --> 00:10:41.990 expect things to be open late or even um I guess 00:10:41.990 --> 00:10:44.610 late works but like there is this expectation 00:10:44.610 --> 00:10:46.389 that things should be open to at least nine or 00:10:46.389 --> 00:10:48.970 ten and that's just not how life is out here. 00:10:49.169 --> 00:10:51.370 If you're expecting that out here you will be 00:10:51.370 --> 00:10:54.169 disappointed and frustrated. And again when I 00:10:54.169 --> 00:10:56.129 was in the park this week I heard a lot of people 00:10:56.129 --> 00:10:58.529 talking about how they expected more to be open. 00:10:58.759 --> 00:11:01.980 It's not going to be this coming week either 00:11:01.980 --> 00:11:04.580 there will be things open more things are opening 00:11:04.580 --> 00:11:08.149 every week, but it's not going to be as open 00:11:08.149 --> 00:11:11.710 as you think. The gateway towns are not as staffed 00:11:11.710 --> 00:11:14.509 as one may want, and there's also not as many 00:11:14.509 --> 00:11:16.990 amenities as a lot of people think. If you're 00:11:16.990 --> 00:11:19.629 staying out in West right now, you may want to 00:11:19.629 --> 00:11:21.750 see if the restaurant you want to go to accepts 00:11:21.750 --> 00:11:24.830 reservations and plan a day ahead, because you 00:11:24.830 --> 00:11:27.769 may roll up to a place and it has an hour or 00:11:27.769 --> 00:11:30.590 two wait. That's not uncommon in the middle of 00:11:30.590 --> 00:11:33.509 summer, so you should just plan on that. Maybe 00:11:33.509 --> 00:11:35.169 you're not gonna run into this problem at all 00:11:35.169 --> 00:11:37.690 and that's great but I want to save some of you 00:11:37.690 --> 00:11:40.610 a lot of frustration into assuming that it's 00:11:40.610 --> 00:11:43.129 gonna be really easy to find a place to eat or 00:11:43.129 --> 00:11:45.049 grab a cup of coffee in the morning or something 00:11:45.049 --> 00:11:48.230 like that. It's kind of the middle of nowhere 00:11:48.230 --> 00:11:51.610 out here and you know, not everything's gonna 00:11:51.610 --> 00:11:54.429 be open. Obviously West and Cody are going to 00:11:54.429 --> 00:11:56.909 be easier to find things like that. There's plenty 00:11:56.909 --> 00:11:58.950 of coffee places in Gardner as well and there's 00:11:58.950 --> 00:12:03.000 Cook City Coffee out in Cook City, but Not everything 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:05.960 is open all the time things happen pipes burst 00:12:05.960 --> 00:12:09.940 staff gets sick So always have a backup plan 00:12:09.940 --> 00:12:12.120 make sure you go to the grocery store and stock 00:12:12.120 --> 00:12:14.159 up on food and things like that just in case 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:18.480 that way if you get back late and There's nothing 00:12:18.480 --> 00:12:21.240 open for dinner. You're not going to go to bed 00:12:21.240 --> 00:12:23.259 without dinner You can have something there like 00:12:23.259 --> 00:12:27.320 grab sandwich stuff from the grocery stores other 00:12:27.320 --> 00:12:31.139 than that what to expect in Gateway towns is 00:12:31.240 --> 00:12:34.720 Could be staff being trained so they might not 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:37.179 know the new systems well enough So it might 00:12:37.179 --> 00:12:39.179 take longer to place an order or to have your 00:12:39.179 --> 00:12:41.460 food served this even goes for inside the park 00:12:41.460 --> 00:12:43.700 If you're eating inside the park right now a 00:12:43.700 --> 00:12:45.480 lot of staff is being trained some are learning 00:12:45.480 --> 00:12:48.919 new systems even at the front desks It's just 00:12:48.919 --> 00:12:51.700 going to be that way right now Pack patience 00:12:51.700 --> 00:12:53.639 and know that everyone is doing the best they 00:12:53.639 --> 00:12:56.460 can and if something happens where it is a delay 00:12:56.460 --> 00:13:00.669 for your time frame It's not personal Everyone 00:13:00.669 --> 00:13:03.610 again is doing the best they can I saw a lot 00:13:03.610 --> 00:13:05.570 of people get frustrated because check -in took 00:13:05.570 --> 00:13:08.049 longer at the mammoth Lodge over the weekend 00:13:08.049 --> 00:13:10.870 and There's no reason to get upset about that. 00:13:10.950 --> 00:13:13.009 That's gonna happen outside the park as well 00:13:13.009 --> 00:13:16.129 It just is what it is and at the end of the day 00:13:16.129 --> 00:13:18.889 you're visiting a beautiful place that all you 00:13:18.889 --> 00:13:20.889 have to do is step outside and breathe deep of 00:13:20.889 --> 00:13:23.450 fresh air look at mountains look at the rivers 00:13:23.450 --> 00:13:26.879 and realize that Your sense of time our sense 00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:29.120 of time where we're rushed and have things that 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:31.639 need to be done now and just get thrown out the 00:13:31.639 --> 00:13:35.000 window because Worst case is you have to sit 00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:39.220 outside and wait in a beautiful place by Yellowstone 00:13:39.220 --> 00:13:42.279 National Park So that's what to expect in the 00:13:42.279 --> 00:13:44.120 Gateway towns and around the Gateway towns right 00:13:44.120 --> 00:13:46.659 now again very brief But I just wanted to give 00:13:46.659 --> 00:13:48.820 a heads up and just just expect that it's nice 00:13:48.820 --> 00:13:51.799 to know coming in that not everything may be 00:13:51.799 --> 00:13:55.240 open when you're visiting also quick note here 00:13:55.240 --> 00:13:59.700 don't trust the websites or even like people's 00:13:59.700 --> 00:14:01.960 social media like instagram or google listings 00:14:01.960 --> 00:14:05.700 for the hours listed those are not updated by 00:14:05.700 --> 00:14:07.919 most businesses including my own i do a terrible 00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:11.600 job at it so the best way to do it go to the 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:15.039 business look at the hours posted or talk to 00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:18.230 you know your hotel front desk person, something 00:14:18.230 --> 00:14:20.629 like that, and they can give a lot of recommendations. 00:14:20.769 --> 00:14:22.730 In Cook City, when only one restaurant was open, 00:14:23.169 --> 00:14:26.250 we checked in, and the guy was like, only one 00:14:26.250 --> 00:14:28.250 restaurant's open tonight, this is what it is, 00:14:28.470 --> 00:14:30.570 there it is, and pointed down the street at it, 00:14:30.750 --> 00:14:33.509 and we went and got food, and it was great. So, 00:14:33.509 --> 00:14:37.149 enjoy your time this week, and know that you're 00:14:37.149 --> 00:14:38.929 gonna be able to find enough, it just might not 00:14:38.929 --> 00:14:42.320 be everything. My random Yellowstone fact of 00:14:42.320 --> 00:14:45.240 the week the history of tower fall in Yellowstone 00:14:45.240 --> 00:14:49.059 National Park now if you notice I'm really Saying 00:14:49.059 --> 00:14:53.159 tower fall obvious because it's not tower falls 00:14:53.159 --> 00:14:55.879 this irritates me I feel it should be tower falls, 00:14:56.179 --> 00:15:00.000 but the proper name is tower fall If I refer 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:02.539 to it as tower fall or tower falls here, especially 00:15:02.539 --> 00:15:04.580 if I call it tower falls It's just because it 00:15:04.580 --> 00:15:08.080 sounds better right tower fall sounds like you're 00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:11.100 waiting for the s forever So I'm going to read 00:15:11.100 --> 00:15:13.200 what I wrote and just know that the proper name 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:15.740 is Tower Fall and it pains me to say as much 00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:19.259 as it may pain your ears to hear. If you've ever 00:15:19.259 --> 00:15:21.120 driven through the northeastern part of Yellowstone 00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:23.519 National Park, there's a good chance you stopped 00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:27.379 at Tower Fall. The waterfall drops 132 feet into 00:15:27.379 --> 00:15:29.820 a rugged canyon surrounded by sharp volcanic 00:15:29.820 --> 00:15:32.759 rock spires that look almost like castle towers. 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:35.679 It's one of the park's most recognizable sites. 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:38.320 Though what makes Tower Fall especially interesting 00:15:38.320 --> 00:15:41.840 is that its story goes far beyond scenery. The 00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:44.639 falls tell a story about volcanoes, glaciers, 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:48.940 native history, exploration, art, and even the 00:15:48.940 --> 00:15:51.220 creation of Yellowstone National Park itself. 00:15:52.279 --> 00:15:54.960 Like much of Yellowstone, Tower Fall exists because 00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:58.460 of volcanic activity. Yellowstone sits on top 00:15:58.460 --> 00:16:00.840 of one of the largest volcanic systems in the 00:16:00.840 --> 00:16:03.700 world called the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic 00:16:03.700 --> 00:16:06.860 Field. Over millions of years, huge eruptions, 00:16:07.139 --> 00:16:09.379 lava flows, earthquakes, glaciers, and erosion 00:16:09.379 --> 00:16:11.799 all helped shape the landscape visitors see today 00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:14.299 in this northern range. What's interesting about 00:16:14.299 --> 00:16:17.059 these volcanic eruptions in the northern range 00:16:17.059 --> 00:16:20.639 is that they are not related to the caldera eruptions. 00:16:20.740 --> 00:16:22.460 So when you think of Yellowstone Caldera, right, 00:16:22.539 --> 00:16:24.580 you think of that volcano. But the mountains, 00:16:24.740 --> 00:16:26.580 like the Beartooth Mountains and all of that, 00:16:27.100 --> 00:16:42.600 were volcanic at one time. The tall rock towers 00:16:42.600 --> 00:16:45.720 beside the waterfall are actually volcanic formations 00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:48.519 made mostly of hardened lava rock and volcanic 00:16:48.519 --> 00:16:51.840 breccia. Long ago, lava cooled into the thick 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:54.720 rock layers, and over time, water, freezing temperatures, 00:16:54.799 --> 00:16:57.700 and erosion slowly wore away the softer material 00:16:57.700 --> 00:17:00.789 around them. The harder rock stayed behind, creating 00:17:00.789 --> 00:17:03.149 the narrow stone pinnacles that give Tower Fall 00:17:03.149 --> 00:17:06.529 its name. You can also see evidence of ancient 00:17:06.529 --> 00:17:09.329 lava flows in the cliffs around the falls. Some 00:17:09.329 --> 00:17:12.150 areas contain columnar basalt which forms when 00:17:12.150 --> 00:17:14.470 lava cools and cracks into vertical columns. 00:17:15.289 --> 00:17:17.589 Later, glaciers move through the Yellowstone 00:17:17.589 --> 00:17:20.789 region during the ice ages, carving valleys and 00:17:20.789 --> 00:17:22.869 exposing even more volcanic rock underneath. 00:17:23.180 --> 00:17:25.539 Eventually Tower Creek cut its way through the 00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:27.900 landscape and created the dramatic waterfall 00:17:27.900 --> 00:17:31.279 we see today. Long before Yellowstone became 00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:34.299 a national park, indigenous populations traveled 00:17:34.299 --> 00:17:36.200 through and lived in the area for thousands of 00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:39.339 years. There is human evidence in Yellowstone 00:17:39.339 --> 00:17:42.980 dating back to more than 11 ,000 years old. The 00:17:42.980 --> 00:17:44.740 region around Tower Fall and the Yellowstone 00:17:44.740 --> 00:17:47.319 River was important to many indigenous groups 00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:50.519 including the Bannock, Crow, Shoshone, and Blackfeet. 00:17:50.759 --> 00:17:53.119 These communities used the area for hunting, 00:17:53.420 --> 00:17:57.059 travel, trade, and gathering resources. There's 00:17:57.059 --> 00:17:59.700 a place called the Bannock Ford along the Yellowstone 00:17:59.700 --> 00:18:03.140 River that if you do go to tower you can walk 00:18:03.140 --> 00:18:05.880 down to the Yellowstone River from there and 00:18:05.880 --> 00:18:08.539 get to the Bannock Ford and that was an important 00:18:08.539 --> 00:18:10.680 crossing point for travelers moving through the 00:18:10.680 --> 00:18:14.259 region. Yellowstone also contained valuable obsidian 00:18:14.259 --> 00:18:17.180 deposits and obsidian is volcanic glass that 00:18:17.180 --> 00:18:19.319 indigenous populations used to make sharp tools 00:18:19.319 --> 00:18:22.759 and weapons. In many ways, Tower Fall was part 00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:25.700 of a larger cultural landscape long before tourists 00:18:25.700 --> 00:18:29.819 ever arrived. Tower Fall entered written American 00:18:29.819 --> 00:18:31.640 history during the exploration of Yellowstone 00:18:31.640 --> 00:18:35.900 in the late 1800s. In 1869, members of the Cook 00:18:35.900 --> 00:18:38.619 -Fulston -Peterson expedition visited the area 00:18:38.619 --> 00:18:40.740 while exploring the Yellowstone River headwaters. 00:18:41.299 --> 00:18:44.240 A year later, the better -known Washburn, Langford, 00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:47.180 and Doane expedition camped nearby and described 00:18:47.180 --> 00:18:50.150 the falls in detail. The waterfall got its name 00:18:50.150 --> 00:18:52.890 from Samuel Hauser, one of the expedition members, 00:18:53.390 --> 00:18:55.390 who thought the rock pinnacles beside the falls 00:18:55.390 --> 00:18:58.150 looked like towers. Originally the site was called 00:18:58.150 --> 00:19:02.470 Tower Falls, but in 1928 the USGS officially 00:19:02.470 --> 00:19:04.710 changed the name to the singular Tower Fall. 00:19:05.329 --> 00:19:08.930 Why? I didn't look that up. Early explorers were 00:19:08.930 --> 00:19:11.170 amazed by the place. At the time, few Americans 00:19:11.170 --> 00:19:13.589 had ever seen landscapes like Yellowstone's volcanic 00:19:13.589 --> 00:19:16.750 canyons and waterfalls. Tower Fall quickly became 00:19:16.750 --> 00:19:19.849 one of the region's most memorable natural landmarks. 00:19:20.069 --> 00:19:21.869 Tower Fall actually played an important role 00:19:21.869 --> 00:19:23.869 in the creation of Yellowstone National Park. 00:19:24.450 --> 00:19:28.569 In 1871, artist Thomas Moran and photographer 00:19:28.569 --> 00:19:31.430 William Henry Jackson visited Yellowstone with 00:19:31.430 --> 00:19:34.910 a Hayden Geological Survey. Their job was to 00:19:34.910 --> 00:19:38.289 document the region's landscapes. Moran created 00:19:38.289 --> 00:19:40.910 a famous painting of Tower Fall while Jackson 00:19:40.910 --> 00:19:44.250 photographed the area. Back east, Many people 00:19:44.250 --> 00:19:46.549 doubted the stories about Yellowstone's geysers, 00:19:46.809 --> 00:19:50.049 waterfalls, and dramatic scenery. Moran's paintings 00:19:50.049 --> 00:19:53.309 and Jackson's photographs gave Congress and the 00:19:53.309 --> 00:19:55.369 American people some of the first convincing 00:19:55.369 --> 00:19:57.730 visual evidence of how extraordinary the region 00:19:57.730 --> 00:20:00.950 really was. These images helped build support 00:20:00.950 --> 00:20:04.269 for protecting Yellowstone, and in 1872, Congress 00:20:04.269 --> 00:20:06.049 established Yellowstone as the world's first 00:20:06.049 --> 00:20:09.369 national park. Because of that, Tower Falls connected 00:20:09.369 --> 00:20:11.250 directly to the beginning of the national park 00:20:11.250 --> 00:20:14.430 movement in the United States. As Yellowstone 00:20:14.430 --> 00:20:17.210 became more popular in the late 19th century 00:20:17.210 --> 00:20:20.089 and early 20th century, Tower Fall turned into 00:20:20.089 --> 00:20:22.950 one of the park's major tourist stops. Roads, 00:20:23.029 --> 00:20:25.750 overlooks, trails, and the nearby Tower Fall 00:20:25.750 --> 00:20:28.710 General Store made the waterfall easy for visitors 00:20:28.710 --> 00:20:32.490 to access. For many years, one of the most famous 00:20:32.490 --> 00:20:36.329 features near the falls was a giant boulder balanced 00:20:36.329 --> 00:20:38.829 close to the edge of the cliff. It looked as 00:20:38.829 --> 00:20:43.049 though it might fall at any moment. June actually 00:20:43.049 --> 00:20:44.890 what sex I'm gonna backtrack because I forgot 00:20:44.890 --> 00:20:48.930 to write this but um Way back in like the 1910s 00:20:48.930 --> 00:20:52.470 and all of that you could put a bet on when the 00:20:52.470 --> 00:20:55.450 rock would fall So all of these people said the 00:20:55.450 --> 00:20:57.130 rocks gonna fall and it was anywhere from minutes 00:20:57.130 --> 00:21:02.269 to years in June of 1986 the rock finally did 00:21:02.269 --> 00:21:05.029 fall Crashing into the canyon below and permanently 00:21:05.029 --> 00:21:08.150 changing the appearance of the waterfall There 00:21:08.150 --> 00:21:10.450 is also experienced erosion and landslides over 00:21:10.450 --> 00:21:13.599 time A steep trail once allowed visitors to hike 00:21:13.599 --> 00:21:15.880 to the bottom of the falls, though the trail 00:21:15.880 --> 00:21:18.680 became increasingly unstable. Because of safety 00:21:18.680 --> 00:21:21.359 concerns, Yellowstone permanently closed access 00:21:21.359 --> 00:21:25.500 to the base of Tower Fall in 2004. Today, visitors 00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:27.599 mainly view the waterfall from overlooks near 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:31.220 the parking area or hike down to the river but 00:21:31.220 --> 00:21:33.720 never seeing the falls from that way. The only 00:21:33.720 --> 00:21:37.480 way to see the waterfall is from that overlook. 00:21:37.700 --> 00:21:40.480 If you hike, to the base of the falls you're 00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:43.819 trespassing and it's illegal. Last year there 00:21:43.819 --> 00:21:46.279 was some park staff some seasonal employees that 00:21:46.279 --> 00:21:47.839 worked a tower that were like oh yeah you can 00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:49.539 just hike up there you can hike up through the 00:21:49.539 --> 00:21:52.359 creek don't do that don't go there at all it's 00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:54.859 closed off. If you need a waterfall to go to 00:21:54.859 --> 00:21:57.480 reach out to me I can tell you some great backcountry 00:21:57.480 --> 00:21:59.660 waterfalls that people don't really go to or 00:21:59.660 --> 00:22:03.369 know about. Today Tower Fall remains one of Yellowstone's 00:22:03.369 --> 00:22:05.869 most photographed waterfalls. You can snowshoe 00:22:05.869 --> 00:22:07.730 up there in the winter, and it's gorgeous and 00:22:07.730 --> 00:22:10.809 frozen. It's awesome. What makes it special is 00:22:10.809 --> 00:22:13.069 how many different stories come together in one 00:22:13.069 --> 00:22:16.170 place. The waterfall reveals Yellowstone's volcanic 00:22:16.170 --> 00:22:19.210 past, its glacial history, and the power of erosion. 00:22:19.789 --> 00:22:22.390 It also reflects thousands of years of human 00:22:22.390 --> 00:22:25.549 history, an important chapter in conservation. 00:22:26.230 --> 00:22:28.569 The landscape around Tower is always changing 00:22:28.569 --> 00:22:31.509 and... You never know what's going to happen. 00:22:31.569 --> 00:22:33.450 Rocks might fall, there might be a change, and 00:22:33.450 --> 00:22:36.670 then change how the waterfall is viewed. In that 00:22:36.670 --> 00:22:38.890 sense, the waterfall is not just a historical 00:22:38.890 --> 00:22:41.369 landmark. It's part of a living landscape that 00:22:41.369 --> 00:22:44.210 continues to evolve just as it has for millions 00:22:44.210 --> 00:22:48.440 of years. The weather for the coming week. As 00:22:48.440 --> 00:22:50.539 always, this is the best forecast for the week 00:22:50.539 --> 00:22:52.359 at the time of the recording. I record these 00:22:52.359 --> 00:22:54.859 Wednesday afternoon and they drop on Thursday 00:22:54.859 --> 00:22:57.940 morning. So this is the best I can do. The forecast 00:22:57.940 --> 00:23:00.279 can change numerous times in a week, but this 00:23:00.279 --> 00:23:02.140 should be within the ballpark of what you'll 00:23:02.140 --> 00:23:04.599 experience when visiting the park. And just so 00:23:04.599 --> 00:23:07.380 you know, this week is exactly why when people 00:23:07.380 --> 00:23:09.480 are like, I'm visiting in May, what should I 00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:14.170 pack? It's gonna be, it's fun. So right now as 00:23:14.170 --> 00:23:16.650 I'm recording this up in Livingston, it's 87 00:23:16.650 --> 00:23:18.890 degrees. Just keep that in mind when I talk about 00:23:18.890 --> 00:23:21.750 Sunday's forecast. In Lamar Valley right now 00:23:21.750 --> 00:23:26.190 when I'm recording, it's 80 degrees. So okay, 00:23:26.309 --> 00:23:29.269 let's start with Lamar Valley then. On Thursday 00:23:29.269 --> 00:23:33.269 the 14th, the high is 59, the low is 33, 1 % 00:23:33.269 --> 00:23:37.589 chance of rain. Friday, 58 and 30, 1 % chance 00:23:37.589 --> 00:23:43.109 of rain. Saturday 55 and 29, 44 % chance about 00:23:43.109 --> 00:23:47.069 a quarter inch of snow. Sunday high of 40, low 00:23:47.069 --> 00:23:51.210 of 26, 56 % chance of a half inch of snow. On 00:23:51.210 --> 00:23:55.789 Monday high of 42, low of 22, with a 24 % chance 00:23:55.789 --> 00:23:58.890 of rain or snow. On Tuesday high of 50, low of 00:23:58.890 --> 00:24:02.470 27, 20 % chance of rain. On Wednesday high of 00:24:02.470 --> 00:24:07.369 57, low of 29, with a 20 % chance of rain. And 00:24:07.369 --> 00:24:09.569 that brings us to Gardner, Montana, which is 00:24:09.569 --> 00:24:13.470 going to be very similar. In Gardner, Thursday 00:24:13.470 --> 00:24:16.329 is going to have a high of 65, a low of 37, 1 00:24:16.329 --> 00:24:20.210 % chance of rain. Friday, 63 and 34, 3 % chance 00:24:20.210 --> 00:24:24.789 of rain. Saturday, 59 and 31, with a 50 % chance 00:24:24.789 --> 00:24:27.849 of snow in the evening, about a third of an inch. 00:24:28.130 --> 00:24:32.650 On Sunday, 43 and 28, with a 44 % chance of three 00:24:32.650 --> 00:24:35.740 quarters of an inch of snow. On Monday, Snow 00:24:35.740 --> 00:24:39.359 showers, high of 46, low of 25, with about a 00:24:39.359 --> 00:24:41.720 tenth of an inch of snow. On Tuesday, high of 00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:45.420 55, low of 30, 17 % chance of rain. On Wednesday, 00:24:45.859 --> 00:24:50.859 high of 61, low of 33, 20 % chance of rain. In 00:24:50.859 --> 00:24:53.619 West Yellowstone, on Thursday, a high of 61, 00:24:53.779 --> 00:24:57.430 low of 30. No real chance of rain. Friday 61 00:24:57.430 --> 00:25:01.089 and 28. No real chance of rain. Saturday 55 and 00:25:01.089 --> 00:25:04.470 25 with 36 % chance of about a quarter inch of 00:25:04.470 --> 00:25:09.089 snow. Sunday 42 and 23 with a 36 % chance of 00:25:09.089 --> 00:25:13.069 a quarter inch of snow. Monday 44 and 19. 24 00:25:13.069 --> 00:25:16.849 % chance of some precipitation. Tuesday 52 and 00:25:16.849 --> 00:25:21.569 24. 14 % chance. And Wednesday 57 and 27 with 00:25:21.569 --> 00:25:26.569 an 18 % chance. Cody Wyoming on Thursday windy 00:25:26.569 --> 00:25:32.269 highest 71 low of 43 on Friday 71 and 40 Saturday 00:25:32.269 --> 00:25:38.569 69 and 38 on Sunday 45 and 33 56 % chance of 00:25:38.569 --> 00:25:43.220 a quarter inch of snow Monday 43 and 31 51 percent 00:25:43.220 --> 00:25:45.779 chance about a tenth of an inch of snow Tuesday 00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:49.599 57 and 37 17 percent chance of rain Wednesday 00:25:49.599 --> 00:25:54.200 63 and 42 with a 17 percent chance of rain and 00:25:54.200 --> 00:25:56.640 finally out the northeast entrance in Cook City 00:25:56.640 --> 00:26:00.839 on Thursday high of 52 low of 32 Friday high 00:26:00.839 --> 00:26:04.819 of 52 low of 30 Saturday, high of 50, low of 00:26:04.819 --> 00:26:07.940 28, with a 48 % chance about a half inch of snow 00:26:07.940 --> 00:26:10.180 developing in the late afternoon or early evening. 00:26:10.660 --> 00:26:14.500 Sunday, high of 36, low of 24, expect about two 00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:18.299 inches of snow. Monday, high of 37, low of 18, 00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:21.779 with a 25 % chance of snow. Tuesday, high of 00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:26.500 46, low of 26, 24 % chance of rain or snow. And 00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:30.240 Wednesday, high of 51, low of 28, 30 % chance 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:32.519 of some rain. So if you're headed into the park, 00:26:33.619 --> 00:26:35.859 it's gonna be warm -ish and cold. I know some 00:26:35.859 --> 00:26:38.279 of you are like, 50 doesn't sound warm. 50 in 00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:42.140 the park when it's sunny will feel like 70. I 00:26:42.140 --> 00:26:44.380 say this all the time, I'm gonna repeat it. People 00:26:44.380 --> 00:26:47.500 underestimate what heat feels like at elevation, 00:26:47.779 --> 00:26:50.619 and 50 -something degrees in the sun is hot in 00:26:50.619 --> 00:26:52.920 the park. So if you're coming to the park this 00:26:52.920 --> 00:26:56.480 week, bring layers, be ready for rain, sun, snow, 00:26:56.759 --> 00:26:59.930 wind. Speaking of snow, the snowpack update. 00:27:00.430 --> 00:27:03.809 As of May 13th, the snowpack is around 65 % of 00:27:03.809 --> 00:27:06.630 normal for this time of year. It's going to be 00:27:06.630 --> 00:27:08.890 lower when they update it after today's snow, 00:27:09.029 --> 00:27:11.509 or after today's sun. Like I said, it's super 00:27:11.509 --> 00:27:14.109 hot today. The eastern and northern ranges of 00:27:14.109 --> 00:27:17.069 the park are 73 % of normal, while the western 00:27:17.069 --> 00:27:20.089 and southern sides are 50 % of normal snowpack. 00:27:20.470 --> 00:27:23.230 Last year on this date, we were around 73 % of 00:27:23.230 --> 00:27:27.019 our normal level for the whole park. You know, 00:27:27.160 --> 00:27:30.059 we're we're doing okay, but it could be better 00:27:30.059 --> 00:27:34.099 but could be worse. So who knows? road conditions 00:27:34.099 --> 00:27:38.119 The only road closed in the park right now is 00:27:38.119 --> 00:27:40.599 the road over Dunraven Pass connecting Canyon 00:27:40.599 --> 00:27:44.059 to Tower All other park roads all other main 00:27:44.059 --> 00:27:49.650 park roads are open be aware that any road can 00:27:49.650 --> 00:27:52.529 close at any time due to inclement weather. If 00:27:52.529 --> 00:27:54.970 they are wrong on the forecast and it snows more, 00:27:55.349 --> 00:27:58.210 the east entrance will probably close and Craig 00:27:58.210 --> 00:28:00.450 Pass connecting the south entrance west thumb 00:28:00.450 --> 00:28:04.029 area to Old Faithful could close as well. It 00:28:04.029 --> 00:28:07.130 might not close, but just know that those areas 00:28:07.130 --> 00:28:10.400 have a possibility for closure. For up -to -date 00:28:10.400 --> 00:28:14.500 information on roads, you can call 307 -344 -2117 00:28:14.500 --> 00:28:17.140 for recorded information, or you can do what 00:28:17.140 --> 00:28:19.420 all of us that live here do and sign up to receive 00:28:19.420 --> 00:28:21.579 Yellowstone Road Alerts on your mobile phone 00:28:21.579 --> 00:28:29.200 by texting 82190 to the number 888 -777. Camping 00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:32.720 information. Mammoth is open, Madison is open, 00:28:33.099 --> 00:28:35.359 Fishing Bridge is open, Bridge Bay opens on the 00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:39.710 15th of May. The Wildlife Watching Update. So, 00:28:39.829 --> 00:28:41.789 wildlife watching, as I said in the bear section, 00:28:42.069 --> 00:28:44.509 very good right now. If you're headed to the 00:28:44.509 --> 00:28:46.849 park this week, even with the weather being the 00:28:46.849 --> 00:28:49.509 way it is, it's going to be awesome. Baby bison 00:28:49.509 --> 00:28:52.309 popping up all over. Saw some swimming across 00:28:52.309 --> 00:28:55.170 the Madison River. Out in Lamar, there's tons. 00:28:55.549 --> 00:28:57.309 Hayden doesn't have a lot of bison right now, 00:28:57.329 --> 00:29:00.130 maybe that's going to change, but... Hayden was 00:29:00.130 --> 00:29:02.990 actually pretty slow wildlife wise. Everything 00:29:02.990 --> 00:29:06.029 I saw, the bears that I saw, were closer on the 00:29:06.029 --> 00:29:09.509 canyon side than actually in Hayden proper. Harlequin 00:29:09.509 --> 00:29:11.890 ducks are down at Le Hardy Rapids. That's pretty 00:29:11.890 --> 00:29:15.130 cool. Bears are pretty... Active out the east 00:29:15.130 --> 00:29:19.269 entrance as well along the lake Connecting like 00:29:19.269 --> 00:29:22.089 Lake Hotel area to West Thumb not a lot of wildlife. 00:29:22.309 --> 00:29:24.609 There's occasional wildlife out there, but it's 00:29:24.609 --> 00:29:27.950 not a consistent place So, you know keep your 00:29:27.950 --> 00:29:30.150 eyes peeled out there. I'll talk about what you 00:29:30.150 --> 00:29:33.769 can see out there a little later in the summer 00:29:33.769 --> 00:29:37.230 But right now that's just a slow wildlife watching 00:29:37.230 --> 00:29:40.069 spot same with the section from West Thumb over 00:29:40.069 --> 00:29:43.490 Craig Pass down to Old Faithful It's just not 00:29:43.490 --> 00:29:47.369 a heavy viewing wildlife area. There's animals 00:29:47.369 --> 00:29:49.069 out there, and you might get lucky, but you're 00:29:49.069 --> 00:29:53.170 not gonna see a ton. Now, around the geyser basins, 00:29:53.750 --> 00:29:55.589 you might see some bears, you might see some 00:29:55.589 --> 00:29:58.049 bison, there might be some pronghorn out there. 00:29:58.490 --> 00:30:02.059 You know, it's great, it's good times. but always 00:30:02.059 --> 00:30:04.660 keep your distance. I'm gonna talk about an event 00:30:04.660 --> 00:30:07.819 in Hayden real quick before I forget. So at the 00:30:07.819 --> 00:30:10.859 south end of Hayden Valley, right north of Lee 00:30:10.859 --> 00:30:14.759 Hardy Rapids, there was a bear, or there's a 00:30:14.759 --> 00:30:16.880 carcass that a bear was eating on and wolves 00:30:16.880 --> 00:30:20.990 were eating on. This alone is not uncommon Bison 00:30:20.990 --> 00:30:23.329 will be drowning as they try and cross the river 00:30:23.329 --> 00:30:25.430 and just don't have the strength to do it Or 00:30:25.430 --> 00:30:28.690 if runoff is high they might get swept away So 00:30:28.690 --> 00:30:30.750 they will wash up on shore somewhere and the 00:30:30.750 --> 00:30:33.509 things that eat meat will eat them What happened 00:30:33.509 --> 00:30:37.130 last week was kind of what you'd expect from 00:30:37.130 --> 00:30:41.049 a good viewing area that a lot of people know 00:30:41.049 --> 00:30:44.470 about The park had volunteer staff there kind 00:30:44.470 --> 00:30:46.680 of regulating the scene making sure everybody 00:30:46.680 --> 00:30:50.319 kept their distance and eventually people were 00:30:50.319 --> 00:30:53.279 trying to like sneak around and not be seen and 00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:56.480 come down and by people I'm not necessarily talking 00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:58.640 about just the average tourist I'm talking about 00:30:58.640 --> 00:31:01.039 some professional photographers that were there 00:31:01.039 --> 00:31:03.759 and they actually got yelled at by the volunteers 00:31:03.759 --> 00:31:08.240 the photographers yelled back and then the volunteer 00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:10.619 called the Rangers and the Rangers shut the entire 00:31:10.619 --> 00:31:13.799 area down and made sure no one would go there. 00:31:13.869 --> 00:31:17.369 So this is not uncommon behavior. This happens 00:31:17.369 --> 00:31:19.829 all the time. There's a sense of ownership of 00:31:19.829 --> 00:31:22.789 these wildlife viewing that visitors to the park 00:31:22.789 --> 00:31:26.009 have. Even when I was in the park, I saw a guy 00:31:26.009 --> 00:31:27.710 approaching a grizzly and I was just like, Hey, 00:31:27.750 --> 00:31:29.869 you're too close. And he tried to convince me 00:31:29.869 --> 00:31:34.450 that he was 150 yards away from a grizzly bear. 00:31:34.490 --> 00:31:39.160 And I have a picture where He is almost the same 00:31:39.160 --> 00:31:41.000 size as the bear in the picture. He was maybe 00:31:41.000 --> 00:31:44.180 70 yards. 100 yards from all bears and wolves, 00:31:44.940 --> 00:31:48.779 25 from bison, things like that. Again, always 00:31:48.779 --> 00:31:51.700 happens. It's not new. It always will happen, 00:31:52.059 --> 00:31:53.920 and it has nothing to do with the rise of social 00:31:53.920 --> 00:31:57.119 media, but people get too close to bison. It's 00:31:57.119 --> 00:31:59.400 going to continue to happen. Just remember, stay 00:31:59.400 --> 00:32:01.640 25 yards from them. If they walk towards you, 00:32:01.880 --> 00:32:05.009 walk away from them and keep that distance. Sorry 00:32:05.009 --> 00:32:07.690 for that. Now, if you head up to the Northern 00:32:07.690 --> 00:32:09.910 Range, bears are gonna be basically from Floating 00:32:09.910 --> 00:32:14.029 Island Lake all the way out to Pebble Creek. 00:32:14.710 --> 00:32:17.529 Like I said earlier, I saw a ton of bears, 26 00:32:17.529 --> 00:32:21.970 bears in 72 hours is a lot. It's ridiculous, 00:32:21.970 --> 00:32:24.990 to be honest. But you can do that too. Just put 00:32:24.990 --> 00:32:28.789 in the miles, drive around. The section between 00:32:28.789 --> 00:32:31.450 Roosevelt Junction and up to Tower, There's some 00:32:31.450 --> 00:32:33.170 black bears up there. They are pretty close to 00:32:33.170 --> 00:32:36.130 the road, so stay in your vehicle and give them 00:32:36.130 --> 00:32:39.190 plenty of space. Finally, the wolves out at Slough 00:32:39.190 --> 00:32:41.769 Creek. The wolves are going to be visible. They're 00:32:41.769 --> 00:32:43.750 going to be pretty far away for the most part, 00:32:44.150 --> 00:32:46.430 so don't expect to see them without binoculars 00:32:46.430 --> 00:32:49.269 or a spotting scope. They are going to the den 00:32:49.269 --> 00:32:52.950 out there. If anybody thinks I'm giving a secret 00:32:52.950 --> 00:32:55.529 location here, they've been using the same den 00:32:55.529 --> 00:32:59.450 area for at least the last six years, and everyone 00:32:59.450 --> 00:33:01.650 in the park knows about it. It's written about 00:33:01.650 --> 00:33:04.150 constantly. It's not a secret. So if you want 00:33:04.150 --> 00:33:07.049 to see wolves go there However, know that there 00:33:07.049 --> 00:33:09.150 are people that will sit out there all day They'll 00:33:09.150 --> 00:33:11.569 get there before sunrise and leave after sunset 00:33:11.569 --> 00:33:13.809 and by people I don't mean a handful. I mean 00:33:13.809 --> 00:33:17.609 maybe like 50 cars Once the wolves are out that 00:33:17.609 --> 00:33:21.210 area is gonna swell With vehicles and traffic 00:33:21.210 --> 00:33:23.789 and it's going to be a bit of a madhouse. It's 00:33:23.789 --> 00:33:26.500 not the most calming place to see wolves, but 00:33:26.500 --> 00:33:29.119 you can see wolves. Otherwise, it's kind of a 00:33:29.119 --> 00:33:32.539 matter of luck to see wolves, so that's where 00:33:32.539 --> 00:33:35.319 you go if you really want to have the best odds. 00:33:36.119 --> 00:33:38.519 So good luck navigating that. This isn't me being 00:33:38.519 --> 00:33:40.400 negative about any of it. I just want you to 00:33:40.400 --> 00:33:43.099 know what to expect. Other than that, if you 00:33:43.099 --> 00:33:45.480 have any wildlife watching questions, reach out 00:33:45.480 --> 00:33:47.440 to me or pick up my Wildlife Watching Guidebook 00:33:47.440 --> 00:33:50.079 available through my website, Outdoor -Society 00:33:50.079 --> 00:33:53.779 .com. And yeah, good luck, and I hope you see 00:33:53.779 --> 00:33:57.950 lots of bears. Trail alerts and updates so the 00:33:57.950 --> 00:34:00.549 backcountry conditions page is updated again 00:34:00.549 --> 00:34:02.970 I'll have a link in the show notes as I will 00:34:02.970 --> 00:34:05.779 from here on out throughout the summer. That 00:34:05.779 --> 00:34:08.019 site is the easiest way to check the status of 00:34:08.019 --> 00:34:10.539 the trail you want to hike and it's way easier 00:34:10.539 --> 00:34:12.739 for me to refer you there than to try and read 00:34:12.739 --> 00:34:14.780 what all the closures are since it fluctuates. 00:34:15.360 --> 00:34:17.559 Please note the area around Fairy Falls, Imperial 00:34:17.559 --> 00:34:20.619 Geyser, Queens Laundry and all of that is closed 00:34:20.619 --> 00:34:22.719 until further notice. That's where the bear attack 00:34:22.719 --> 00:34:25.099 happened. They're still keeping it closed out 00:34:25.099 --> 00:34:27.860 of safety and that's a good thing. carry bear 00:34:27.860 --> 00:34:31.019 spray everywhere you go, even the boardwalks, 00:34:31.059 --> 00:34:33.219 have it readily accessible and not in a backpack, 00:34:33.739 --> 00:34:38.880 and know how to use it. My Trek of the Week Lone 00:34:38.880 --> 00:34:42.099 Star The Lone Star Geyser Trail in Yellowstone 00:34:42.099 --> 00:34:44.760 National Park is a relaxing and scenic hike that 00:34:44.760 --> 00:34:46.719 leads to one of the park's more off the beaten 00:34:46.719 --> 00:34:49.940 path geysers. Tucked away just south of the often 00:34:49.940 --> 00:34:53.099 busy Old Faithful area, the trail starts at Kepler 00:34:53.099 --> 00:34:55.360 Cascades parking area on the Grand Loop Road 00:34:55.820 --> 00:34:58.900 It's a 4 .8 mile round -trip hike on a wide gentle 00:34:58.900 --> 00:35:01.400 rolling path that follows an old service road 00:35:01.400 --> 00:35:04.420 through quiet lodgepole pine forests alongside 00:35:04.420 --> 00:35:07.780 the Firehole River. It is gorgeous. The route 00:35:07.780 --> 00:35:11.000 is pretty easy. Some places listed it moderate, 00:35:11.079 --> 00:35:13.920 but if this is a moderate trail then everything 00:35:13.920 --> 00:35:18.019 else is hard. So it's great for most hikers including 00:35:18.019 --> 00:35:21.380 families because it's mostly flat. It's also 00:35:21.380 --> 00:35:25.300 open to bicycles up into the geyser, and the 00:35:25.300 --> 00:35:28.199 even surface makes it doable for sturdy strollers 00:35:28.199 --> 00:35:31.039 too. It's kind of an all access point, so if 00:35:31.039 --> 00:35:33.019 you want to go out there, it's a good walk that 00:35:33.019 --> 00:35:35.940 is flat. As you walk this trail, you'll hear 00:35:35.940 --> 00:35:38.119 the steady flow of the river, and you might see 00:35:38.119 --> 00:35:41.159 some wildlife like elk, bison, deer, and a variety 00:35:41.159 --> 00:35:44.500 of birds along the way. In summer, like later 00:35:44.500 --> 00:35:46.519 in summer, wildflowers often brighten the trail 00:35:46.519 --> 00:35:48.320 with pops of colors. There's a few out right 00:35:48.320 --> 00:35:51.539 now, but not enough. and know that wild bear 00:35:51.539 --> 00:35:55.559 encounters are kind of rare here. They are possible, 00:35:55.679 --> 00:35:58.119 so carry bear spray and know how to use it. That's 00:35:58.119 --> 00:36:01.199 every trail. Along this hike, you're gonna pass 00:36:01.199 --> 00:36:04.320 a few small thermal features as you go, giving 00:36:04.320 --> 00:36:05.980 subtle hints of the guys that are waiting at 00:36:05.980 --> 00:36:10.179 the end. After about 2 .4 miles, The trail opens 00:36:10.179 --> 00:36:13.000 into a peaceful clearing where Lone Star Geyser 00:36:13.000 --> 00:36:16.539 sits, framed by forest and it bubbles quietly 00:36:16.539 --> 00:36:19.619 between eruptions. The geyser itself is striking, 00:36:19.900 --> 00:36:23.000 cream colored cone about 10 feet tall. It erupts 00:36:23.000 --> 00:36:25.619 roughly every three hours, shooting water and 00:36:25.619 --> 00:36:28.420 steam 30 to 50 feet into the air for about 30 00:36:28.420 --> 00:36:31.840 minutes. Because it's so much more remote than 00:36:31.840 --> 00:36:34.500 places like Old Faithful, there's not going to 00:36:34.500 --> 00:36:36.699 be a ton of people there. You might even find 00:36:36.699 --> 00:36:38.760 yourself sharing the moment with just a handful 00:36:38.760 --> 00:36:41.300 of other people or no one at all, especially 00:36:41.300 --> 00:36:44.500 if you go during the weekday at, you know, dawn 00:36:44.500 --> 00:36:46.559 or not, not dawn, don't go out there at dawn 00:36:46.559 --> 00:36:48.920 or dusk. Make sure you're there in daylight hours 00:36:48.920 --> 00:36:53.340 and away from active wildlife times. There's 00:36:53.340 --> 00:36:55.900 usually a logbook nearby where visitors note 00:36:55.900 --> 00:36:58.059 the last eruption time, and that can help you 00:36:58.059 --> 00:37:00.960 decide if it's worth hanging around. As always, 00:37:00.980 --> 00:37:04.010 if it's anywhere close, it is worth staying. 00:37:04.389 --> 00:37:06.829 You can also go to the visitor center at Old 00:37:06.829 --> 00:37:09.710 Faithful itself and get an approximation of when 00:37:09.710 --> 00:37:11.590 it's going to rub so you can time your walk from 00:37:11.590 --> 00:37:14.550 there. Please note there are no restrooms, water 00:37:14.550 --> 00:37:17.210 stations, or facilities on this trail, so be 00:37:17.210 --> 00:37:19.329 sure to pack everything you need, water, snacks, 00:37:19.610 --> 00:37:22.989 sunscreen, and the camera binoculars, and pack 00:37:22.989 --> 00:37:26.510 everything out that you bring in. Like all trails 00:37:26.510 --> 00:37:29.130 in the park, including boardwalks, dogs aren't 00:37:29.130 --> 00:37:33.989 allowed here. Back to this trail. If you do want 00:37:33.989 --> 00:37:37.590 to make this a longer day instead of 4 .8 miles, 00:37:37.670 --> 00:37:41.110 it's gonna be a little like 10 mile day, there 00:37:41.110 --> 00:37:43.449 is a connector path near the Old Faithful Lodge 00:37:43.449 --> 00:37:46.269 and Visitor Center that leads to the main Lone 00:37:46.269 --> 00:37:48.889 Star Geyser Trail. Yes, it adds a bit of a distance, 00:37:49.030 --> 00:37:51.269 but it gives you the option to walk right from 00:37:51.269 --> 00:37:53.269 the heart of Yellowstone's most iconic areas 00:37:53.269 --> 00:37:56.610 to a remote area that's really cool. It's a really 00:37:56.610 --> 00:37:58.710 fun way to escape the crowds and get into a quieter 00:37:58.710 --> 00:38:00.929 corner of the park without needing to hop in 00:38:00.929 --> 00:38:04.230 the car after Old Faithful. Whether you start 00:38:04.230 --> 00:38:06.489 at Kepler Cascades or connect from Old Faithful, 00:38:06.630 --> 00:38:09.570 Lone Star Geyser Trail offers a peaceful, rewarding 00:38:09.570 --> 00:38:12.309 escape into nature. It's the perfect mix of forest 00:38:12.309 --> 00:38:15.469 solitude, riverside beauty, and the rare chance 00:38:15.469 --> 00:38:18.329 to see a geyser erupt in a quiet, natural setting. 00:38:18.989 --> 00:38:21.050 If you're looking for a laid back hike with a 00:38:21.050 --> 00:38:26.760 big payoff, this one's a gem. In next week's 00:38:26.760 --> 00:38:28.619 episode, I'm going to return with all the information 00:38:28.619 --> 00:38:30.960 you need to have a good week in the park, including 00:38:30.960 --> 00:38:33.900 the wildlife update, the weather forecast, and 00:38:33.900 --> 00:38:36.820 what trail you should hike. Until then, book 00:38:36.820 --> 00:38:39.039 a tour with me, pick up a guidebook of mine, 00:38:39.659 --> 00:38:54.320 and happy trails. This week in Yellowstone is 00:38:54.320 --> 00:38:56.300 brought to you by the Outdoor Society. That's 00:38:56.300 --> 00:38:59.019 my company. It's just me. I do this. It's a labor 00:38:59.019 --> 00:39:01.699 of love. If you like it, tell your friends, rate 00:39:01.699 --> 00:39:04.659 and review it. Shoot me a message. Otherwise, 00:39:04.980 --> 00:39:07.159 keep listening and I hope to see you in Yellowstone. 00:39:07.820 --> 00:39:09.820 Copyright 2026, baby.