WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.740 From Yellowstone National Park, where heavy rains 00:00:02.740 --> 00:00:05.040 last week are giving the landscape more green 00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:08.060 and wildflowers, this is that Scott guy you know 00:00:08.060 --> 00:00:11.060 and love with a brand new episode of This Week 00:00:11.060 --> 00:00:23.399 in Yellowstone. What's up everybody, This Week 00:00:23.399 --> 00:00:25.859 in Yellowstone National Park from June 4th to 00:00:25.859 --> 00:00:29.469 June 10th, 2026. I tell you to go to the water 00:00:29.469 --> 00:00:31.829 features of the park, talk about bear bells, 00:00:32.030 --> 00:00:34.450 bear spray, and bear horns, and quickly share 00:00:34.450 --> 00:00:36.530 what you need to know if you're visiting Yellowstone 00:00:36.530 --> 00:00:38.789 with your pet. I'll also give you the complete 00:00:38.789 --> 00:00:41.530 weather forecast, a cool trail to hike, the snowpack 00:00:41.530 --> 00:00:44.070 update, the wildlife report, and everything else 00:00:44.070 --> 00:00:46.789 you need to have an incredible time this week 00:00:46.789 --> 00:00:49.619 in Yellowstone. Standard podcast disclaimer here. 00:00:49.659 --> 00:00:52.700 I may miss a few details I'm doing my best if 00:00:52.700 --> 00:00:55.100 you need more information about anything I talk 00:00:55.100 --> 00:00:57.460 about just reach out to me happy to help you 00:00:57.460 --> 00:00:59.880 I also mentioned park locations very casually 00:00:59.880 --> 00:01:02.899 So if someplace you hear just doesn't ring a 00:01:02.899 --> 00:01:05.879 bell quick search online can help or again Just 00:01:05.879 --> 00:01:08.180 reach out to me. You can text me directly at 00:01:08.180 --> 00:01:11.500 four zero six five eight nine eighteen seventy 00:01:11.500 --> 00:01:14.239 three or just shoot me an email Also, please 00:01:14.239 --> 00:01:16.260 know that this podcast is the passion project 00:01:16.260 --> 00:01:19.079 of mine if you enjoy it I'd love a review or 00:01:19.079 --> 00:01:21.280 a quick email if you want to support my work 00:01:21.280 --> 00:01:23.200 more You can check out my hiking and wildlife 00:01:23.200 --> 00:01:25.879 watching guidebooks or join me for a guided hiking 00:01:25.879 --> 00:01:28.760 tour in Yellowstone's backcountry I am pretty 00:01:28.760 --> 00:01:33.140 full now in August is basically packed up now. 00:01:33.140 --> 00:01:36.209 So July, I probably have one more opening and 00:01:36.209 --> 00:01:38.510 maybe one in late June if you're coming to the 00:01:38.510 --> 00:01:40.890 park. Other than that, September is wide open. 00:01:41.510 --> 00:01:43.109 So sorry if you're coming and you want to book 00:01:43.109 --> 00:01:45.650 with me. I am currently busy, which is a good 00:01:45.650 --> 00:01:48.069 thing because it's summer and I get to be outside. 00:01:48.609 --> 00:01:51.469 Also, if you do love what you hear and you really 00:01:51.469 --> 00:01:54.069 want to help me out, go on any of your social 00:01:54.069 --> 00:01:58.519 media. sites, whatever, apps, and recommend this 00:01:58.519 --> 00:02:00.920 podcast. That's all I ask. If you had a good 00:02:00.920 --> 00:02:03.180 time because of this, go on any of those groups 00:02:03.180 --> 00:02:05.159 you're a part of and say, hey, I had a great 00:02:05.159 --> 00:02:07.780 time because of this podcast. Very, very finally, 00:02:08.300 --> 00:02:10.759 if you do want any information on my hiking tours 00:02:10.759 --> 00:02:14.099 or guidebooks, go to outdoor -society .com or 00:02:14.099 --> 00:02:16.439 contact me directly. All right, let's talk about 00:02:16.439 --> 00:02:19.439 the news. The main news in the park right now 00:02:19.439 --> 00:02:21.979 is pretty simple. I talked about it last week. 00:02:22.219 --> 00:02:25.039 Elk are calving. they're giving birth all over 00:02:25.039 --> 00:02:28.580 the place and the female elk are very aggressive 00:02:28.580 --> 00:02:31.319 if you get near their young and they give birth 00:02:31.319 --> 00:02:35.259 typically near like the lodges and stuff so You 00:02:35.259 --> 00:02:38.080 know if you see any baby animals do not approach 00:02:38.080 --> 00:02:41.180 them their moms are going to be very very protective 00:02:41.180 --> 00:02:43.840 So give everything room. Also. The other news 00:02:43.840 --> 00:02:46.900 is exactly that give animals room There's been 00:02:46.900 --> 00:02:49.500 not an increase but a continuation of summer 00:02:49.500 --> 00:02:52.599 Visitation late spring visitation of people getting 00:02:52.599 --> 00:02:54.780 too close to wildlife. This happens every year 00:02:54.780 --> 00:02:57.240 It's happened every year since the dawn of the 00:02:57.240 --> 00:02:59.800 park, right? This is not a new thing because 00:02:59.800 --> 00:03:02.120 of social media people have always gotten too 00:03:02.120 --> 00:03:04.509 close to wildlife the only reason it seems like 00:03:04.509 --> 00:03:06.689 it's happening more is one more people are visiting 00:03:06.689 --> 00:03:08.569 the park because there's more people on the planet 00:03:08.569 --> 00:03:12.270 and in America also there's more people documenting 00:03:12.270 --> 00:03:15.229 these behaviors the one thing I do want to mention 00:03:15.229 --> 00:03:19.530 with wildlife watching boundaries and rules is 00:03:19.530 --> 00:03:23.310 25 yards from bison elk all of that that's 25 00:03:23.310 --> 00:03:28.169 yards not 25 feet 25 yards is 75 feet a hundred 00:03:28.169 --> 00:03:31.629 yards from wolves and bears at all times a hundred 00:03:31.629 --> 00:03:34.900 yards is an entire football field So keep those 00:03:34.900 --> 00:03:37.740 distances in mind. Also, if you see somebody 00:03:37.740 --> 00:03:39.860 breaking the rules, there are some very simple 00:03:39.860 --> 00:03:43.300 things to do. Take their picture. Take a picture 00:03:43.300 --> 00:03:47.180 of their car. Go tell a ranger. Also, One thing 00:03:47.180 --> 00:03:49.400 I've been noticing is that a lot of people are 00:03:49.400 --> 00:03:51.460 documenting people breaking rules and they sit 00:03:51.460 --> 00:03:54.000 there quietly filming it, hoping that they get 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:57.060 injured by an animal. That is callous. That is 00:03:57.060 --> 00:03:59.500 so awful. If you see somebody breaking a rule, 00:03:59.659 --> 00:04:02.060 say something, let them know. Don't yell at them. 00:04:02.080 --> 00:04:04.080 Just be like, Hey, just so you know, that's a 00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:06.599 little close. If they don't listen to you, great. 00:04:07.240 --> 00:04:09.240 Not your problem, but at least you're trying. 00:04:09.439 --> 00:04:11.620 Don't just try and document somebody getting 00:04:11.620 --> 00:04:13.639 seriously injured. I've been seeing that a lot 00:04:13.639 --> 00:04:17.029 from guides, from photographers, from Regular 00:04:17.029 --> 00:04:19.610 guests everybody's just sitting and documenting 00:04:19.610 --> 00:04:22.370 people breaking rules Documenting people breaking 00:04:22.370 --> 00:04:24.689 rules is ineffective in stopping people from 00:04:24.689 --> 00:04:27.069 breaking rules The more we can have a conversation 00:04:27.069 --> 00:04:28.850 about how to properly behave in the park the 00:04:28.850 --> 00:04:30.889 better It's going to be that's all I'm really 00:04:30.889 --> 00:04:32.470 gonna say about that because like I'm trying 00:04:32.470 --> 00:04:34.509 not to be a bummer But you see somebody breaking 00:04:34.509 --> 00:04:36.930 the rules document it report it and also try 00:04:36.930 --> 00:04:38.850 and have them stop You know, that's all you can 00:04:38.850 --> 00:04:41.269 do other than that move about your day and enjoy 00:04:41.269 --> 00:04:44.290 the park It's a beautiful time to be here because 00:04:44.290 --> 00:04:46.500 it's a beautiful time to be here Let's talk about 00:04:46.500 --> 00:04:50.660 my experience of the week. Do go chasing waterfalls. 00:04:51.740 --> 00:04:53.959 While many visitors come for the geysers, bison 00:04:53.959 --> 00:04:57.139 and bears, wolves, and all of the things that 00:04:57.139 --> 00:04:59.899 Yellowstone is most popular for, waterfall lovers 00:04:59.899 --> 00:05:03.279 know that right now is when the parks, rivers, 00:05:03.420 --> 00:05:06.339 and creeks are their most spectacular. Snow melt 00:05:06.339 --> 00:05:08.939 from the high country is pouring into every drainage 00:05:08.939 --> 00:05:12.060 Spring runoff is approaching its peak and afternoon 00:05:12.060 --> 00:05:14.779 rainstorms often add an extra surge of water 00:05:14.779 --> 00:05:17.779 rushing through everything The result is a landscape 00:05:17.779 --> 00:05:21.579 filled with roaring waterfalls these great rushing 00:05:21.579 --> 00:05:24.740 canyons roaring rivers I said roaring twice, 00:05:24.740 --> 00:05:28.240 but you know you get the point and This is when 00:05:28.240 --> 00:05:31.279 everything seems so powerful along the waterways 00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:34.579 of the park. So while I could just like Talk 00:05:34.579 --> 00:05:36.060 about every waterfall in the park. I'm gonna 00:05:36.060 --> 00:05:38.819 talk about some of my favorites and Then if you 00:05:38.819 --> 00:05:40.579 want more information on any of these just reach 00:05:40.579 --> 00:05:43.139 out to me There are so many waterfalls in the 00:05:43.139 --> 00:05:45.399 park and I'm gonna skip probably your favorite 00:05:45.399 --> 00:05:48.620 one, too But these are kind of like the can't 00:05:48.620 --> 00:05:51.500 miss or they're like Let's make sure that we 00:05:51.500 --> 00:05:53.740 have a very good experience and see these obviously 00:05:53.740 --> 00:05:55.819 when we start We're gonna talk about the most 00:05:55.819 --> 00:05:57.980 famous waterfall in the park and that is the 00:05:57.980 --> 00:06:00.339 lower falls of the Yellowstone River in the canyon 00:06:00.339 --> 00:06:05.329 area of the park this is a awesome place to go 00:06:05.329 --> 00:06:08.910 right now. The Upper Falls is really good too. 00:06:08.949 --> 00:06:11.230 Don't skip the Upper Falls. Make sure you do 00:06:11.230 --> 00:06:13.589 both of the Upper and Lower Falls, but if you're 00:06:13.589 --> 00:06:16.149 looking for like the most dramatic one that everybody 00:06:16.149 --> 00:06:19.329 loves the most, that is the Lower Falls. That 00:06:19.329 --> 00:06:23.350 is 300 feet pouring down into the Grand Canyon 00:06:23.350 --> 00:06:26.029 of the Yellowstone. The sound echoes from canyon 00:06:26.029 --> 00:06:29.350 wall to canyon wall, and if you stand at the 00:06:29.350 --> 00:06:31.730 brink of the lower falls, there's a rainbow above 00:06:31.730 --> 00:06:34.170 the river that happens in the afternoon every 00:06:34.170 --> 00:06:36.629 single time it's sunny. And after a rainstorm, 00:06:36.870 --> 00:06:38.529 the scene becomes even more dramatic because 00:06:38.529 --> 00:06:40.790 you have these clouds shifting by, the light 00:06:40.790 --> 00:06:43.790 on the canyon is different, and the river just 00:06:43.790 --> 00:06:47.069 raises even an inch more, but that inch is even 00:06:47.069 --> 00:06:50.829 more spectacular. A short drive north from there 00:06:50.829 --> 00:06:54.529 is another classic, and that's Tower Fall. Now 00:06:54.529 --> 00:06:56.689 tower falls, I've talked about this before, tower 00:06:56.689 --> 00:06:59.529 fall, again this makes me, it pains me to say 00:06:59.529 --> 00:07:02.029 tower fall instead of tower falls, but tower 00:07:02.029 --> 00:07:06.050 fall crashes 132 feet besides the towering volcanic 00:07:06.050 --> 00:07:08.490 spires that have become one of the park's iconic 00:07:08.490 --> 00:07:11.129 landscapes. The waterfall is impressive any time 00:07:11.129 --> 00:07:13.889 of the year, but spring runoff really transforms 00:07:13.889 --> 00:07:16.709 it into a powerful cascade framed by like fresh 00:07:16.709 --> 00:07:19.230 green hillsides and maybe even lingering snow 00:07:19.230 --> 00:07:22.009 in the distance. West of there as you head toward 00:07:22.009 --> 00:07:25.490 Mammoth you're gonna come into Undine Falls And 00:07:25.490 --> 00:07:28.889 that's that's a waterfall that like not a lot 00:07:28.889 --> 00:07:32.250 of people actually enjoy I don't know why I knew 00:07:32.250 --> 00:07:34.550 of a guidebook author that omitted it from their 00:07:34.550 --> 00:07:36.029 book because they said that there are better 00:07:36.029 --> 00:07:38.850 things to do and That may be true, but it's a 00:07:38.850 --> 00:07:41.029 gorgeous waterfall definitely worth the stop 00:07:41.029 --> 00:07:44.110 Undine Falls It's like as you climb from Mammoth 00:07:44.110 --> 00:07:46.509 and you're headed toward tower you climb up the 00:07:46.509 --> 00:07:48.170 road, and then it's there. There's a big pull 00:07:48.170 --> 00:07:51.160 -off however the best way to see it is to go 00:07:51.160 --> 00:07:54.259 to lava creek and then walk the lava creek trail 00:07:54.259 --> 00:07:57.399 from the picnic area across the plateau to the 00:07:57.399 --> 00:07:59.759 top of undine falls you're going to be passing 00:07:59.759 --> 00:08:02.259 right now some wildflowers all sorts of great 00:08:02.259 --> 00:08:06.240 views this is a classic beautiful place. It's 00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:09.699 in every guidebook, it's on maps, but most people 00:08:09.699 --> 00:08:12.000 just don't go there. There is another waterfall 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:13.779 in the area. I'm not mentioning it because it's 00:08:13.779 --> 00:08:15.579 not worth going to, and I know that I always 00:08:15.579 --> 00:08:18.300 say everything's worth going to. It's not. Go 00:08:18.300 --> 00:08:21.160 to Undine Falls when near the Mammoth area. South 00:08:21.160 --> 00:08:24.620 of Mammoth, there is a Another water feature 00:08:24.620 --> 00:08:26.519 that's not quite a waterfall but it's someplace 00:08:26.519 --> 00:08:28.740 that I love going and that's the Sheep Eater 00:08:28.740 --> 00:08:31.079 Canyon area. And it's really one of the park's 00:08:31.079 --> 00:08:33.779 most underrated scenic stops. There's Sheep Eater 00:08:33.779 --> 00:08:36.100 Picnic area and everybody goes there. But if 00:08:36.100 --> 00:08:39.720 you walk from the picnic area downstream a half 00:08:39.720 --> 00:08:43.100 a mile you get to this box canyon that is just 00:08:43.100 --> 00:08:45.940 stunning and the river roars right through there 00:08:45.940 --> 00:08:49.129 and it is So good. It surges between these dark 00:08:49.129 --> 00:08:52.029 basalt walls, and it creates rapid standing waves 00:08:52.029 --> 00:08:54.049 and smaller waterfalls throughout the canyon. 00:08:54.529 --> 00:08:57.789 It's a short little thing, but it's a mile round 00:08:57.789 --> 00:08:59.830 trip of a hike. There's also some marmots out 00:08:59.830 --> 00:09:02.230 there. But know that this is a very heavy bear 00:09:02.230 --> 00:09:04.330 area, like everywhere in the park, so always 00:09:04.330 --> 00:09:07.750 have bear spray. Between Norris and Canyon, there's 00:09:07.750 --> 00:09:09.929 Virginia Cascades, and that's a really pretty 00:09:09.929 --> 00:09:13.149 area to drive down. The Cascades kind of are 00:09:13.149 --> 00:09:15.909 short lived, but you know you can park at one 00:09:15.909 --> 00:09:17.690 of the pullouts and walk along and look at them 00:09:17.690 --> 00:09:19.490 and I honestly think it's a great little area 00:09:19.490 --> 00:09:22.490 that is really underrated there's also some really 00:09:22.490 --> 00:09:25.210 good picnic areas down there so check that out 00:09:25.210 --> 00:09:27.649 another area to drive for some really cool water 00:09:27.649 --> 00:09:30.750 features is the firehole canyon drive it's a 00:09:30.750 --> 00:09:34.649 scenic two -mile one -way road that it has really 00:09:34.649 --> 00:09:37.190 cool cliffs you have your 40 -foot firehole falls 00:09:37.190 --> 00:09:40.690 view and it's a really nice area also right at 00:09:40.690 --> 00:09:43.269 the end of that there's a little box canyon if 00:09:43.269 --> 00:09:46.309 you leave the Firehole Canyon Drive and pull 00:09:46.309 --> 00:09:48.509 out at the pullout right next to it Like you 00:09:48.509 --> 00:09:50.070 pull out back on the main road and then just 00:09:50.070 --> 00:09:52.649 pull it right away park there and then walk to 00:09:52.649 --> 00:09:55.169 the river There's a box canyon. That is one of 00:09:55.169 --> 00:09:57.309 my favorite water features It's not like a waterfall, 00:09:57.669 --> 00:09:59.929 but it is a narrow box canyon the river just 00:09:59.929 --> 00:10:02.029 absolutely roars through there So definitely 00:10:02.029 --> 00:10:04.360 check that out So one of the bigger mistakes 00:10:04.360 --> 00:10:07.080 people make when visiting the park is thinking 00:10:07.080 --> 00:10:10.440 that the park and features are only found within 00:10:10.440 --> 00:10:13.539 the boundary of Yellowstone National Park. There's 00:10:13.539 --> 00:10:16.759 a lot just outside of the park that everyone 00:10:16.759 --> 00:10:19.320 should see and I'm going to talk about a couple 00:10:19.320 --> 00:10:22.440 of those places. The first one is located just 00:10:22.440 --> 00:10:24.720 outside of Cook City out that northeast entrance. 00:10:25.080 --> 00:10:27.379 There's a waterfall before you get to like the 00:10:27.379 --> 00:10:30.019 main drive for the Beartooth Highway called Crazy 00:10:30.019 --> 00:10:33.620 Creek Falls. It is an overlooked place that, 00:10:33.639 --> 00:10:36.240 you know, everybody's driving to Beartooth Highway 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:38.600 and no one goes to Crazy Creek Falls. During 00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:41.240 runoff season, which is right now, the waterfall 00:10:41.240 --> 00:10:44.080 becomes like this huge cascade that just tumbles 00:10:44.080 --> 00:10:46.840 down. It's not super steep. It just pours down. 00:10:47.019 --> 00:10:49.799 It's so scenic. It's so awesome. And this is 00:10:49.799 --> 00:10:51.679 the time where it has some of the best energy. 00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:54.220 It's good to stop year round, but right now, 00:10:54.620 --> 00:10:58.960 truly the best. If you are in the Idaho area 00:10:58.960 --> 00:11:03.460 of the park, so like Island Park, all of that, 00:11:03.740 --> 00:11:07.139 go to Mesa Falls on Idaho's Henry's Fork, and 00:11:07.139 --> 00:11:09.299 that is a roaring curtain of water during spring 00:11:09.299 --> 00:11:11.539 runoff. The sound can be heard long before the 00:11:11.539 --> 00:11:13.980 falls come into view, and the sheer volume of 00:11:13.980 --> 00:11:16.759 water rivals most of the region's more famous 00:11:16.759 --> 00:11:20.080 waterfalls. To the south of Mesa Falls, there's 00:11:20.080 --> 00:11:23.850 a hidden area of Yellowstone National Park It's 00:11:23.850 --> 00:11:26.750 called the Beckler region. The easiest waterfall 00:11:26.750 --> 00:11:30.610 to get to is Cave Falls. It's right next to the 00:11:30.610 --> 00:11:32.450 entrance station out there that isn't manned. 00:11:32.549 --> 00:11:34.889 You just drive there. It's great. It is a long 00:11:34.889 --> 00:11:37.889 drive from anywhere else in the park, but the 00:11:37.889 --> 00:11:42.370 Beckler region, Cave Falls, is this perfect hidden 00:11:42.370 --> 00:11:45.350 gem. Unlike the taller plunges found elsewhere 00:11:45.350 --> 00:11:49.549 in the region, Cave Falls spreads 250 feet across 00:11:49.549 --> 00:11:55.500 and then falls 25 30 feet it is Amazing. It's 00:11:55.500 --> 00:11:57.519 a great area and the further you hike out there 00:11:57.519 --> 00:12:00.240 the more waterfalls there are This is a region 00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:02.960 that I will talk about later in the year that 00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:06.139 For those looking to expand their Yellowstone 00:12:06.139 --> 00:12:09.440 knowledge. This is where you go And again, these 00:12:09.440 --> 00:12:12.500 are the easier to get to waterfalls. These are 00:12:12.500 --> 00:12:15.659 mainly front -country waterfalls some takes more 00:12:15.659 --> 00:12:18.700 driving than others, but If you went and saw 00:12:18.700 --> 00:12:20.399 all of these you would have an appreciation for 00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:22.480 the waterfalls of the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. 00:12:22.840 --> 00:12:25.559 If you want more waterfalls though, trust me 00:12:25.559 --> 00:12:27.940 I can help you. There's a lot in my guidebook, 00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:30.960 my hiking guidebook that I tell everybody to 00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:33.980 go to, or you can just reach out to me and I'll 00:12:33.980 --> 00:12:37.139 happily share what I can. So good luck with those 00:12:37.139 --> 00:12:40.320 and let's get to the tip of the week. Bear bells, 00:12:40.519 --> 00:12:43.120 bear spray, or bear horns, what really works 00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:45.580 in Yellowstone? If you're planning a trip to 00:12:45.580 --> 00:12:47.960 Yellowstone, you've almost certainly come across 00:12:47.960 --> 00:12:51.000 advice about bear safety. Since Yellowstone is 00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:53.360 home to both grizzly bears and black bears it's 00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:55.059 smart to think about how you'll handle a bear 00:12:55.059 --> 00:12:57.899 encounter before you ever step on a trail. By 00:12:57.899 --> 00:13:00.720 the way by trail I mean every trail. Bears are 00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:02.659 on boardwalks, they're on paved paths, they're 00:13:02.659 --> 00:13:05.159 on backcountry trails. Expect a bear everywhere 00:13:05.159 --> 00:13:08.320 and be prepared. The question many visitors ask 00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:10.659 is whether they should carry bear bells, bear 00:13:10.659 --> 00:13:14.120 spray, or even a bear horn. While all three are 00:13:14.120 --> 00:13:16.899 commonly discussed the evidence strongly points 00:13:16.899 --> 00:13:20.639 to one clear winner, and that's bear spray. Bear 00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:23.460 horns can have a limited role in certain situations, 00:13:24.620 --> 00:13:27.279 and bear bells simply do not deserve the reputation 00:13:27.279 --> 00:13:28.600 they've gained over the years, and I'm going 00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:31.399 to talk about that a little bit. Bear bells have 00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:34.679 been sold to hikers for decades, often with a, 00:13:34.679 --> 00:13:39.080 not a promise, but a strong suggestion that the 00:13:39.080 --> 00:13:41.360 constant jingling is going to alert bears to 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:43.600 your presence and prevent surprise encounters. 00:13:44.029 --> 00:13:47.029 The problem is that there is very little evidence 00:13:47.029 --> 00:13:49.210 showing that they work well in the real world. 00:13:49.629 --> 00:13:52.769 In fact, most evidence points to them not working 00:13:52.769 --> 00:13:56.049 at all. The sound produced by most bear bells 00:13:56.049 --> 00:13:58.889 is surprisingly weak and can easily be drowned 00:13:58.889 --> 00:14:01.570 out by wind, rushing water, thick vegetation, 00:14:01.769 --> 00:14:04.830 or just the normal sounds of the forest. By the 00:14:04.830 --> 00:14:08.649 time a bear actually hears the bell, you may 00:14:08.649 --> 00:14:11.980 already be closer than you'd like. Wildlife experts 00:14:11.980 --> 00:14:14.240 have also pointed out that bears do not naturally 00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:17.440 associate the sound of a bell with people. Human 00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:19.799 voices are far more recognizable and effective. 00:14:20.419 --> 00:14:23.360 A group of hikers talking, laughing, or occasionally 00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:26.200 calling out is much easier for a bear to identify 00:14:26.200 --> 00:14:29.259 than the faint repetitive jingle of a bell. Some 00:14:29.259 --> 00:14:31.620 researchers even say that bear bells are more 00:14:31.620 --> 00:14:34.500 like bird sounds than anything else, and bears 00:14:34.500 --> 00:14:38.769 are not afraid of birds in the least. Many experienced 00:14:38.769 --> 00:14:40.490 Yellowstone hikers and backcountry travelers 00:14:40.490 --> 00:14:42.970 consider bear bells little more than a false 00:14:42.970 --> 00:14:45.490 sense of security. Instead of helping people 00:14:45.490 --> 00:14:48.110 stay alert and proactive, the bells actually 00:14:48.110 --> 00:14:50.409 make hikers feel protected when they're really 00:14:50.409 --> 00:14:53.090 not. You're creating this false sense of safety 00:14:53.090 --> 00:14:54.950 with a bear bell. The best thing you can do? 00:14:55.309 --> 00:14:57.490 Human voices. If I hike solo in the park, which 00:14:57.490 --> 00:15:01.389 I do often, I talk to myself. Loudly. All the 00:15:01.389 --> 00:15:04.750 time. It annoys me. But guess what? Haven't been 00:15:04.750 --> 00:15:07.980 attacked by a bear. Now bear spray is a completely 00:15:07.980 --> 00:15:10.179 different story than bear bells. The National 00:15:10.179 --> 00:15:12.320 Park Service consistently recommends bear spray 00:15:12.320 --> 00:15:14.840 as the most effective tool available for defending 00:15:14.840 --> 00:15:17.440 yourself during an aggressive bear encounter. 00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:21.220 Unlike ordinary pepper spray designed for personal 00:15:21.220 --> 00:15:24.259 use against people, bear spray is specifically 00:15:24.259 --> 00:15:26.960 formulated to create a large cloud that can stop 00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:29.820 or redirect a charging bear. It's much stronger 00:15:29.820 --> 00:15:33.120 than pepper spray. Trust me, if you've ever been 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:36.600 around this, it is very bad. Bear spray is designed 00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:39.100 to affect the animal's eyes, nose, and respiratory 00:15:39.100 --> 00:15:41.379 system, giving you a chance to escape a dangerous 00:15:41.379 --> 00:15:44.379 situation without causing permanent harm to the 00:15:44.379 --> 00:15:47.100 bear. The effectiveness of bear spray is one 00:15:47.100 --> 00:15:49.139 reason Yellowstone strongly encourages visitors 00:15:49.139 --> 00:15:51.340 to carry it whenever they venture into bear country. 00:15:52.039 --> 00:15:54.000 Park officials also stress that carrying it is 00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:57.039 not enough. It needs to be immediately accessible, 00:15:57.460 --> 00:15:59.600 and hikers should know how to use it before an 00:15:59.600 --> 00:16:02.639 emergency occurs. A canister buried at the bottom 00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:05.360 of a backpack is not going to do you any good 00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:07.899 if a bear approaches at a close range. Also, 00:16:08.159 --> 00:16:10.379 not knowing how to use it is not a good thing. 00:16:10.799 --> 00:16:13.139 So know how to use it, have it readily accessible, 00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:16.139 and know that if you surprise a bear, you might 00:16:16.139 --> 00:16:19.080 have less than five seconds to deploy it. That's 00:16:19.080 --> 00:16:21.879 terrifying, but that is a reality that if you 00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:24.399 are prepared for, you are going to be much safer. 00:16:25.179 --> 00:16:27.360 Now let's talk about bear horns and air horns. 00:16:28.500 --> 00:16:31.700 These can be useful as a noise -making device, 00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:34.019 particularly if there's a bear in the distance 00:16:34.019 --> 00:16:38.120 and you want its attention, but it's not really 00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:40.860 anything anyone in Yellowstone uses, and it's 00:16:40.860 --> 00:16:43.480 not even recommended by any bear expert I know 00:16:43.480 --> 00:16:46.500 out here. In certain situations, that loud blast 00:16:46.500 --> 00:16:48.259 from an air horn may encourage a bear to move 00:16:48.259 --> 00:16:50.679 away or avoid an area, but you know what else 00:16:50.679 --> 00:16:54.659 does that? Your voice yelling, clapping, everything. 00:16:55.870 --> 00:16:59.110 The usefulness of an air horn or a bear horn 00:16:59.110 --> 00:17:02.169 is much less certain once a bear is already approaching 00:17:02.169 --> 00:17:05.710 aggressively or charging. At that point, the 00:17:05.710 --> 00:17:08.769 noise is not going to do anything. Again, the 00:17:08.769 --> 00:17:10.970 park does not recommend these as noisemakers 00:17:10.970 --> 00:17:13.990 at all, so it's best just not even bother with 00:17:13.990 --> 00:17:16.200 it. Because of these limitations, bear horns 00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:18.640 should be viewed as a supplemental tool rather 00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:21.420 than a primary safety device. They can serve 00:17:21.420 --> 00:17:24.160 as a last -ditch noise maker, but they are not 00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:26.240 a substitute for bear spray and should never 00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:28.319 be relied upon as your main line of defense. 00:17:28.759 --> 00:17:31.519 The most effective bear safety strategy in Yellowstone 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:34.900 is surprisingly simple. Carry bear spray, keep 00:17:34.900 --> 00:17:37.480 it within easy reach, know how to use it, hike 00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:39.980 in groups whenever possible, and make regular 00:17:39.980 --> 00:17:42.019 human noise as you travel through the landscape. 00:17:42.430 --> 00:17:44.670 Talking with your hiking partners or occasionally 00:17:44.670 --> 00:17:47.130 calling out in areas with poor visibility does 00:17:47.130 --> 00:17:49.650 far more to prevent surprise encounters than 00:17:49.650 --> 00:17:53.049 any bell hanging from a backpack could ever do. 00:17:53.809 --> 00:17:56.349 Also, while we're on the subject of bells, playing 00:17:56.349 --> 00:18:00.190 music also not super effective because music 00:18:00.190 --> 00:18:03.049 is not something that bears associate with people, 00:18:03.410 --> 00:18:06.480 right? Human voices. If you're listening to a 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:08.539 podcast, we'll have that conversation. If you 00:18:08.539 --> 00:18:10.700 listen to my podcast and scare a bear away with 00:18:10.700 --> 00:18:13.440 it, by the way, let me know. But also, like, 00:18:13.980 --> 00:18:15.500 I don't know if I'll take that as a compliment 00:18:15.500 --> 00:18:18.579 or an insult from that bear. But don't rely on 00:18:18.579 --> 00:18:21.380 things like that. Have bear spray. Talk loudly. 00:18:21.859 --> 00:18:24.960 Be alert. That is how you stay safe in bear country. 00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:27.259 So if you're preparing for Yellowstone Adventure, 00:18:28.420 --> 00:18:30.440 don't bother with the bells. Don't bother with 00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:33.329 the air horn. get a good canister bear spray, 00:18:33.750 --> 00:18:36.549 know how to use it, have it ready to go, make 00:18:36.549 --> 00:18:38.569 lots of noise with your mouth, and you should 00:18:38.569 --> 00:18:41.069 be good to go. My random Yellowstone fact of 00:18:41.069 --> 00:18:43.150 the week. Visiting Yellowstone with your pet. 00:18:43.829 --> 00:18:45.849 So bringing a pet to Yellowstone is possible, 00:18:46.269 --> 00:18:48.349 but it requires careful planning and realistic 00:18:48.349 --> 00:18:51.289 expectations. Many first time visitors assume 00:18:51.289 --> 00:18:53.130 that they can enjoy Yellowstone with their dog, 00:18:53.450 --> 00:18:55.490 much like they would at a city park or local 00:18:55.490 --> 00:18:58.829 hiking area or national forest. Yellowstone's 00:18:58.829 --> 00:19:00.750 rules are different, largely because the park 00:19:00.750 --> 00:19:03.109 protects sensitive wildlife habit, dangerous 00:19:03.109 --> 00:19:05.470 geothermal features, and millions of visitors 00:19:05.470 --> 00:19:08.410 each year. The most important thing to understand 00:19:08.410 --> 00:19:11.450 before arriving is that pets are only allowed 00:19:11.450 --> 00:19:14.470 in developed areas in the park. According to 00:19:14.470 --> 00:19:16.769 the National Park Service, pets must remain within 00:19:16.769 --> 00:19:20.109 100 feet of roads, parking areas, and campgrounds. 00:19:20.250 --> 00:19:22.470 They must be physically restrained at all times, 00:19:22.630 --> 00:19:25.470 either in a vehicle, crate, or on a leash no 00:19:25.470 --> 00:19:28.359 longer than six feet. Pets are not permitted 00:19:28.359 --> 00:19:30.720 on hiking trails boardwalks in thermal areas 00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:33.599 or in the backcountry even when carried in backpacks 00:19:33.599 --> 00:19:36.500 drillers or pet carriers Now I did mention a 00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:38.400 few things here, and I'm gonna backtrack a little 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:41.779 You can leave your car or you can leave your 00:19:41.779 --> 00:19:44.359 pet in a car. You cannot leave your pet in a 00:19:44.359 --> 00:19:49.180 car and Leave it like that is really not something 00:19:49.180 --> 00:19:53.119 you should be doing It is very hot Things happen 00:19:53.119 --> 00:19:56.789 to pets and cars don't do that also When I talk 00:19:56.789 --> 00:20:00.369 about pets not allowed on hiking trails and boardwalks, 00:20:00.410 --> 00:20:03.230 this is a steadfast rule. You will see people 00:20:03.230 --> 00:20:06.029 skirting this issue by buying fake service animal 00:20:06.029 --> 00:20:09.369 like things for their dogs to wear. This is cheating 00:20:09.369 --> 00:20:11.809 the system. This is insulting to people who actually 00:20:11.809 --> 00:20:15.089 have service animals. And it is something that 00:20:15.089 --> 00:20:19.230 people will say, my dog is fine. And nearly every 00:20:19.230 --> 00:20:21.589 year, there is something that happens where a 00:20:21.589 --> 00:20:24.509 dog gets out, jumps in a thermal pool or runs 00:20:24.509 --> 00:20:27.710 away and dies. This happens all the time. It's 00:20:27.710 --> 00:20:31.210 not good. Don't be that person. Now that's very 00:20:31.210 --> 00:20:33.910 mean. I know that it's hard. I have a dog. I 00:20:33.910 --> 00:20:35.630 take him into the park and I follow the rules. 00:20:35.829 --> 00:20:37.490 It's really easy to follow the rules and still 00:20:37.490 --> 00:20:41.049 have a good time. Now know that if you do have 00:20:41.049 --> 00:20:44.309 a dog with you, Yellowstone's most famous attractions 00:20:44.309 --> 00:20:47.049 are off limits. Visitors cannot bring dogs onto 00:20:47.049 --> 00:20:48.990 the boardwalks at Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic, 00:20:49.210 --> 00:20:51.630 North Hot Springs, Mammoth, or any of those other 00:20:51.630 --> 00:20:54.630 geothermal areas. Even like that Grand Prismatic 00:20:54.630 --> 00:20:57.680 Overlook. Pets are prohibited on the park's hiking 00:20:57.680 --> 00:21:00.099 trails again that includes every hiking trail 00:21:00.099 --> 00:21:03.259 now There are some paved areas around old faithful 00:21:03.259 --> 00:21:05.039 There are some paved areas where you have good 00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:07.779 views where you can have your dog The National 00:21:07.779 --> 00:21:09.920 Park Service visitor centers have a lot of those 00:21:09.920 --> 00:21:12.559 places listed the Rangers will happily help you 00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:15.359 out I have a great picture of my dog at old faithful 00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:18.160 with old faithful erupting. It was hot his tongues 00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:21.039 out He's happy geysers erupting in the background 00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:23.460 I'm very happy I have that picture because I 00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:26.119 got to spend time with him in a designated dog 00:21:26.119 --> 00:21:29.599 area in Yellowstone at Old Faithful and it's 00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:31.839 awesome. Now if you are traveling and you're 00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:33.339 already coming to the park and you have your 00:21:33.339 --> 00:21:36.420 dog, what can you do? Great question. One thing 00:21:36.420 --> 00:21:39.339 that I usually do if I'm traveling with somebody 00:21:39.339 --> 00:21:42.960 with a dog is we split up our time. One person 00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:44.759 gets to hike, the other person hangs out with 00:21:44.759 --> 00:21:48.339 the dog, then we switch. That's how I did things 00:21:48.339 --> 00:21:50.339 growing up when we brought dogs. That's how I've 00:21:50.339 --> 00:21:53.200 done things when I've had dogs else other times 00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:55.059 in the park. This is what you may have to do. 00:21:55.180 --> 00:21:57.759 Is it inconvenient? Yes, but you still get to 00:21:57.759 --> 00:21:59.420 experience the park and you get to keep your 00:21:59.420 --> 00:22:02.799 dog safe. All of these restrictions in the park 00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:05.660 regarding dogs and pets exist for good reason. 00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:08.700 Yellowstone is home to bears, wolves, coyotes, 00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:12.160 bison, elk and other wild animals. Pets can attract 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:15.079 unwanted attention from wildlife. They can transmit 00:22:15.079 --> 00:22:18.119 diseases or they can provoke defensive behavior 00:22:18.119 --> 00:22:21.359 from animals that perceive dogs as threats. The 00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:23.160 National Park Service also notes that thermal 00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:25.819 features pose a serious hazard. Hot springs, 00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:28.480 thermal runoffs, and thin geothermal crusts can 00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:31.700 cause severe or fatal burns to both people and 00:22:31.700 --> 00:22:34.000 pets. For this reason, animals are prohibited 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:36.779 from all thermal areas and boardwalks. Again, 00:22:37.210 --> 00:22:39.710 This happens all the time. If you want to hear 00:22:39.710 --> 00:22:41.789 about it, read the first chapter of the book, 00:22:42.109 --> 00:22:44.750 Death in Yellowstone. It is truly gruesome, and 00:22:44.750 --> 00:22:48.059 it's about a guy and a dog. If you do have your 00:22:48.059 --> 00:22:50.779 dog with you, visitors should also plan carefully 00:22:50.779 --> 00:22:53.339 for time spent away from their pets. Yellowstone 00:22:53.339 --> 00:22:55.319 regulations prohibit leaving pets unattended 00:22:55.319 --> 00:22:58.200 or tied to objects. Pets may remain in vehicles 00:22:58.200 --> 00:23:00.680 for short periods, but owners are responsible 00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:02.960 for ensuring adequate ventilation, shade, water, 00:23:03.059 --> 00:23:05.400 and overall safety. I have heard that the park 00:23:05.400 --> 00:23:08.180 does crack down on this quite a bit, so just 00:23:08.180 --> 00:23:10.440 know that. During summer, temperatures can rise 00:23:10.440 --> 00:23:15.599 significantly. Camping with a pet is allowed 00:23:15.599 --> 00:23:17.859 in developed campgrounds provided the park regulations 00:23:17.859 --> 00:23:20.619 are followed. Dogs just remain under control 00:23:20.619 --> 00:23:23.339 at all times and owners are required to clean 00:23:23.339 --> 00:23:26.700 up pet waste. Obviously, right? Good campground 00:23:26.700 --> 00:23:28.480 etiquette is especially important in Yellowstone 00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:30.380 because wildlife frequently moves through these 00:23:30.380 --> 00:23:33.220 areas. When I was younger, I camped in the park 00:23:33.220 --> 00:23:35.900 with my dog and we had a bear walking through 00:23:35.900 --> 00:23:37.700 and the bear like was stuck in the campground. 00:23:37.819 --> 00:23:40.119 It was like growling and making lots of noise 00:23:40.119 --> 00:23:43.740 and my dog normally like a barky dog at the time, 00:23:44.579 --> 00:23:49.200 like just got dead silent, slinked off the bed, 00:23:49.599 --> 00:23:52.880 down into the base of my sleeping bag, and cowered 00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:56.039 until the bear left. So you don't really want 00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:59.220 to encourage any sort of attack and have your 00:23:59.220 --> 00:24:02.279 dog not controlled. Again, I know it sounds like 00:24:02.279 --> 00:24:04.230 I'm just saying Don't have your dog. Don't have 00:24:04.230 --> 00:24:07.410 your dog. It's okay to have your dog But we have 00:24:07.410 --> 00:24:09.309 gotten to a point in park visitation where people 00:24:09.309 --> 00:24:11.190 are starting to really push these rules with 00:24:11.190 --> 00:24:13.750 their dogs I've seen more dogs way in the backcountry 00:24:13.750 --> 00:24:16.589 and people being like I didn't know I saw a guy 00:24:16.589 --> 00:24:19.049 way in the backcountry and his dog had a vest 00:24:19.049 --> 00:24:22.009 with spikes on it that said like Coyote vest 00:24:22.009 --> 00:24:24.289 or whatever. So if a coyote attacked his dog, 00:24:24.509 --> 00:24:27.890 it would get like they would bite barbs or something 00:24:28.299 --> 00:24:30.400 he was in the backcountry and he pretended that 00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:32.880 he didn't know that dogs couldn't be in the backcountry 00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:35.460 and I pointed at the sign he was like oh my trailhead 00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:37.900 didn't have a sign every trailhead has a no dog 00:24:37.900 --> 00:24:41.759 sign so I know it's tough but if you do have 00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:44.299 a dog great you're able to travel with it the 00:24:44.299 --> 00:24:47.160 best approach for this is just treat Yellowstone 00:24:47.160 --> 00:24:49.440 as a scenic driving destination and if you have 00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:51.720 somebody else with you rotate times where one 00:24:51.720 --> 00:24:53.319 of you can hike and one of you is with the dog 00:24:53.769 --> 00:24:55.910 Does that change how you experience the park? 00:24:56.410 --> 00:24:58.309 Absolutely. Does that take away from the beauty 00:24:58.309 --> 00:25:00.809 of the park or the time with your dog? Absolutely 00:25:00.809 --> 00:25:03.769 not. I grew up taking dogs here. I still take 00:25:03.769 --> 00:25:06.210 my dog to the park all the time. We just follow 00:25:06.210 --> 00:25:08.789 the rules. We do what we're allowed to do. And 00:25:08.789 --> 00:25:11.710 we all have a great time. So do that. Bring your 00:25:11.710 --> 00:25:15.769 dog. Bring your pet. It is a great place to enjoy 00:25:15.769 --> 00:25:18.559 time with some with something that you love so 00:25:18.559 --> 00:25:20.940 do that but just know the rules and regulations 00:25:20.940 --> 00:25:23.599 exist for a reason and by all of us following 00:25:23.599 --> 00:25:25.279 all these rules and regulations we can ensure 00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:28.299 that we can continue to take our pets in because 00:25:28.299 --> 00:25:30.180 otherwise if too many people break it then no 00:25:30.180 --> 00:25:32.019 one's going to be allowed right and that would 00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:34.240 really not be fun because i enjoy taking my dog 00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:36.480 and i'm sure you do too so if you're bringing 00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:38.799 your four -leg companion three -leg companion 00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:42.180 maybe you know follow the rules enjoy yourself 00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:45.819 Do everything you want to do that is within the 00:25:45.819 --> 00:25:48.400 bylaws of Yellowstone National Park and make 00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:50.619 sure you bring your dog lots of treats and get 00:25:50.619 --> 00:25:54.059 it like Some ice or something on hot days The 00:25:54.059 --> 00:25:56.400 weather for the coming week as always this the 00:25:56.400 --> 00:25:58.359 best forecast for the week at the time of recording 00:25:58.359 --> 00:26:01.579 It can't change but this is kind of like a blueprint 00:26:01.579 --> 00:26:03.880 of what you can expect. So let's start with Lamar 00:26:03.880 --> 00:26:06.559 Valley On Thursday, Lamar Valley is gonna have 00:26:06.559 --> 00:26:10.299 a high of 68, low of 37, 24 % chance of rain. 00:26:10.700 --> 00:26:15.559 Friday, 73 and 42, 1 % chance. Saturday, 74 and 00:26:15.559 --> 00:26:21.039 43, 16 % chance. Sunday, 63 and 33, 24 % chance. 00:26:21.440 --> 00:26:26.579 Monday, 67 and 41, 15 % chance. Tuesday, 62 and 00:26:26.579 --> 00:26:29.680 39 with a 50 % chance of rain starting late morning, 00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:31.839 probably about a quarter of an inch. And Wednesday, 00:26:32.359 --> 00:26:35.539 54 and 35, 50 % chance of a quarter inch of rain. 00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:39.000 Gardner, Montana. On Thursday, high at 73, low 00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:45.039 of 40. Friday, 78 and 46. Saturday, 78 and 46 00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:48.880 with a 21 % chance of rain. Sunday, 67 and 37, 00:26:49.200 --> 00:26:53.930 24 % chance of rain. Monday, 72 and 45, 9 % chance 00:26:53.930 --> 00:26:58.410 of rain. Tuesday, 67 and 42, 56 % chance about 00:26:58.410 --> 00:27:01.089 two tenths of an inch of rain. Wednesday, 60 00:27:01.089 --> 00:27:04.589 and 38, 41 % chance about a quarter inch of rain. 00:27:05.450 --> 00:27:08.150 West Yellowstone, Montana. Thursday, high at 00:27:08.150 --> 00:27:13.410 69, low at 34. Friday, 73 and 40. Saturday, 73 00:27:13.410 --> 00:27:15.650 and 39, with a chance of some rain in the morning. 00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:18.799 Sunday 64 and 31 with a chance of rain in the 00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:22.779 morning Monday 68 and 38 rain potentially developing 00:27:22.779 --> 00:27:26.759 in the afternoon evening Tuesday 61 and 35 63 00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:29.400 percent chance of a quarter inch of rain Wednesday 00:27:29.400 --> 00:27:32.819 55 and 32 40 percent chance of a quarter inch 00:27:32.819 --> 00:27:38.220 of rain Cody, Wyoming Thursday 75 and 49 Friday 00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:43.319 86 and 56 Saturday 86 and 54 with a chance of 00:27:43.319 --> 00:27:46.779 thunderstorms in the early afternoon Sunday 72 00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:50.140 and 44 24 % chance of rain during the day Monday 00:27:50.140 --> 00:27:54.920 76 and 53 Tuesday 76 and 50 with an 18 % chance 00:27:54.920 --> 00:27:59.740 of rain and then Wednesday 70 and 45 with a 24 00:27:59.740 --> 00:28:01.900 % chance of rain and finally for the weather 00:28:01.900 --> 00:28:06.000 Cook City, Montana Thursday highest 63 love 38 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:08.619 chance of rain in the afternoon evening Friday 00:28:08.619 --> 00:28:13.480 69 and 45 Saturday 70 and 42 with a 17 % chance 00:28:13.480 --> 00:28:17.000 of rain during the day Sunday 59 and 34 with 00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:22.460 a 36 % chance of rain Monday 63 and 42 19 % chance 00:28:22.460 --> 00:28:27.099 of rain Tuesday 59 38 50 % chance of rain probably 00:28:27.099 --> 00:28:31.660 about 0 .15 inches and then Wednesday 52 and 00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:34.220 34 with a 50 % chance about a quarter inch of 00:28:34.220 --> 00:28:37.000 rain. All right, the snowpack update is officially 00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:41.099 over The snowpack is melting quickly. It's not 00:28:41.099 --> 00:28:43.319 worth talking about there is some snow in the 00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:45.500 higher elevations But generally if you're visiting 00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:47.579 the park, it's gonna be a non -issue unless you 00:28:47.579 --> 00:28:50.140 climb like the highest of mountains So snowpack 00:28:50.140 --> 00:28:52.579 is now retired or the snowpack update is now 00:28:52.579 --> 00:28:56.319 retired until the fall. So goodbye snowpack update. 00:28:56.339 --> 00:29:00.900 We will miss you road conditions No main park 00:29:00.900 --> 00:29:03.400 roads are closed right now, and while unlikely, 00:29:03.579 --> 00:29:05.579 be aware that roads can close at any time due 00:29:05.579 --> 00:29:07.599 to inclement weather. Looks like that rain in 00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:09.700 the afternoon evening could close things up, 00:29:09.700 --> 00:29:12.819 but if that last storm didn't, this one may not. 00:29:13.079 --> 00:29:14.900 So for up -to -date information, you can call 00:29:14.900 --> 00:29:19.519 307 -344 -2117 for recorded road conditions, 00:29:19.900 --> 00:29:22.079 or you can just sign up to receive Yellowstone 00:29:22.079 --> 00:29:24.900 Road Alerts on your mobile phone by texting the 00:29:24.900 --> 00:29:31.180 number 82190 to the number 888... 777 camping 00:29:31.180 --> 00:29:33.900 information mammoth is open Madison is open fishing 00:29:33.900 --> 00:29:36.900 bridge is open bridge Bay is open tower is open 00:29:36.900 --> 00:29:40.500 Canyon is open the wildlife watching update so 00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:43.759 as I've been saying the last few weeks the good 00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:46.259 times continue for wildlife watching bears are 00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:50.019 literally everywhere I saw the other day in a 00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:53.119 two -mile section six different bears all black 00:29:53.119 --> 00:29:55.279 bears but still six different bears and two miles 00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:58.990 is ridiculous if you want the best bear watching 00:29:58.990 --> 00:30:02.250 experience probably the bear muted triangle so 00:30:02.250 --> 00:30:04.650 from floating island lake and hell roaring area 00:30:04.650 --> 00:30:08.269 out to slew creek and then up to tower fall and 00:30:08.269 --> 00:30:10.670 that is going to be kind of that general triangle 00:30:10.670 --> 00:30:12.970 where you should see some good bear activity 00:30:12.970 --> 00:30:17.390 also grizzlies are out east entrance area they're 00:30:17.390 --> 00:30:20.470 also out around the norris area they're out around 00:30:20.470 --> 00:30:23.329 canyon it's just a good time to see bears right 00:30:23.329 --> 00:30:26.250 now lamar and hayden are really good so enjoy 00:30:26.250 --> 00:30:29.859 that Wolf sightings have been hit and miss Slew 00:30:29.859 --> 00:30:32.339 Creek, Lamar Valley, typically your best area 00:30:32.339 --> 00:30:35.319 right now. That's where I would go. Moose, if 00:30:35.319 --> 00:30:37.599 you do want to see a moose, probably out toward 00:30:37.599 --> 00:30:40.119 Cook City, and even then you're going to be lucky. 00:30:40.440 --> 00:30:43.099 There's also supposedly some foxes hanging out 00:30:43.099 --> 00:30:46.299 along the northeastern Tinch Road, and that is 00:30:46.299 --> 00:30:48.359 less than ideal because they are begging for 00:30:48.359 --> 00:30:50.519 food at cars. If you see an animal that approaches 00:30:50.519 --> 00:30:53.299 your car, do not give it food. That includes 00:30:53.299 --> 00:30:55.619 ravens and other birds too. Don't feed anything 00:30:55.619 --> 00:30:59.420 in the park. Big horn sheep. I saw lots of baby 00:30:59.420 --> 00:31:02.039 big horn sheep from calcite Springs looking across 00:31:02.039 --> 00:31:04.339 the Yellowstone River Canyon There's also some 00:31:04.339 --> 00:31:07.460 big horn sheep up out the east entrance by Sylvan 00:31:07.460 --> 00:31:11.140 Pass. So go check those guys out Mountain goats 00:31:11.140 --> 00:31:13.839 are way off in the distance on baronet and from 00:31:13.839 --> 00:31:15.579 round prairie. I've heard some people seeing 00:31:15.579 --> 00:31:18.640 them Coyotes are out hunting. They're gonna be 00:31:18.640 --> 00:31:21.200 having their babies soon. Same with the wolves 00:31:21.200 --> 00:31:24.579 It's this a good time put in the work go to the 00:31:24.579 --> 00:31:28.029 main sites, you know You're in the northern range 00:31:28.029 --> 00:31:32.890 if you drive between Mammoth and Cook City in 00:31:32.890 --> 00:31:35.670 the morning and then in the evening and Then 00:31:35.670 --> 00:31:37.789 you also go up to tower at that point and back 00:31:37.789 --> 00:31:39.769 and you don't see anything. I'll be shocked There's 00:31:39.769 --> 00:31:42.130 baby bison everywhere. There's baby pronghorn 00:31:42.130 --> 00:31:45.069 being born. There's baby elk. It is a great time 00:31:45.069 --> 00:31:47.769 There's some newborn Eagles that are starting 00:31:47.769 --> 00:31:51.750 to learn to fly right now. It is so cool So I 00:31:51.750 --> 00:31:53.650 could literally talk about where to see wildlife 00:31:53.650 --> 00:31:56.779 right now for the entire podcast because that's 00:31:56.779 --> 00:32:00.500 how active the park is. Go anywhere and everywhere 00:32:00.500 --> 00:32:03.819 that calls to you especially in the morning or 00:32:03.819 --> 00:32:05.940 the cooler days everything's more active on the 00:32:05.940 --> 00:32:08.000 cooler days so if it's super hot you're not going 00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:11.059 to see as much. Wait until it cools down or start 00:32:11.059 --> 00:32:13.640 very very very early in the morning and you're 00:32:13.640 --> 00:32:15.920 going to have a great time especially in those 00:32:15.920 --> 00:32:19.529 good wildlife corridors. The trail alerts and 00:32:19.529 --> 00:32:22.250 updates section is just now me referring to the 00:32:22.250 --> 00:32:24.650 backcountry conditions page. I link to that in 00:32:24.650 --> 00:32:26.910 the show notes. You can also search Yellowstone 00:32:26.910 --> 00:32:29.549 backcountry conditions and there's a website 00:32:29.549 --> 00:32:32.150 updated by the park pretty much daily that tells 00:32:32.150 --> 00:32:34.690 you what's open, what's closed, everything you 00:32:34.690 --> 00:32:37.250 need to know of where to hike. If you need some 00:32:37.250 --> 00:32:39.230 interpretation of what you're reading on there, 00:32:39.410 --> 00:32:42.170 reach out to me. Happy to help. That brings me 00:32:42.170 --> 00:32:45.049 to the Trek of the Week. This week I'm recommending 00:32:45.049 --> 00:32:48.349 the Garnet Hill Loop from Hell Roaring. The Garnet 00:32:48.349 --> 00:32:50.289 Hill Loop is one of Yellowstone's lesser known 00:32:50.289 --> 00:32:53.609 hikes, offering a mix of sagebrushed grasslands, 00:32:53.930 --> 00:32:57.109 creek bottom forests, the Yellowstone River overlooks, 00:32:57.190 --> 00:32:59.950 and abundant wildlife habitat. While the classic 00:32:59.950 --> 00:33:02.049 start to this is near Roosevelt, the current 00:33:02.049 --> 00:33:03.950 construction of the area makes starting and ending 00:33:03.950 --> 00:33:07.109 here really not fun, so this week I'm suggesting 00:33:07.109 --> 00:33:09.069 that you start at the Hell Roaring trailhead. 00:33:09.549 --> 00:33:12.269 After all, you'd take the detour to the suspension 00:33:12.269 --> 00:33:14.690 bridge at Hell Roaring anyways, so starting there 00:33:14.690 --> 00:33:17.440 just makes more sense. From the hell -roaring 00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:19.720 trailhead, the trail works its way down the switchbacks 00:33:19.720 --> 00:33:21.599 that eventually lead to the suspension bridge. 00:33:22.539 --> 00:33:24.759 I suggest taking the time to hit the bridge first, 00:33:25.059 --> 00:33:26.940 as you'll have to walk up the switchbacks to 00:33:26.940 --> 00:33:29.420 end your day, and generally, one is tired by 00:33:29.420 --> 00:33:31.920 that time, and then you will be like, I don't 00:33:31.920 --> 00:33:34.000 want to see the bridge, see it first, get it 00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:35.740 out of the way, it's beautiful, it's awesome. 00:33:36.259 --> 00:33:38.819 To reach the bridge, pass the junction to the 00:33:38.819 --> 00:33:41.480 Garnet Hill Cut -Off and keep hiking. From the 00:33:41.480 --> 00:33:44.079 trailhead, the bridge is about a mile away, so 00:33:44.079 --> 00:33:47.289 you walk one mile, You get to see this beautiful 00:33:47.289 --> 00:33:49.549 bridge that spans a powerful section of the river 00:33:49.549 --> 00:33:52.470 and provides excellent views of rapids and the 00:33:52.470 --> 00:33:55.369 surrounding canyon. Adding the spur increases 00:33:55.369 --> 00:33:57.670 the overall distance slightly, but it's often 00:33:57.670 --> 00:33:59.230 considered one of the highlights of the area. 00:33:59.589 --> 00:34:02.569 So again, go and do that. Once you've enjoyed 00:34:02.569 --> 00:34:04.329 the bridge, turn around and head back to the 00:34:04.329 --> 00:34:06.750 junction. And then once you hit the main trail, 00:34:07.009 --> 00:34:08.690 you have a choice. Like you take the junction 00:34:08.690 --> 00:34:12.329 down. You cross a little creek and then you climb 00:34:12.329 --> 00:34:14.369 up and then you have a choice. You can either 00:34:14.369 --> 00:34:17.469 turn right or left. I suggest going to the right 00:34:17.469 --> 00:34:19.590 as it makes the elevation gain more manageable 00:34:19.590 --> 00:34:22.170 and it's generally the more dynamic way to take 00:34:22.170 --> 00:34:24.650 the loop. The Garnet Hill loop in this section 00:34:24.650 --> 00:34:27.349 follows Elk Creek through dense forests, which 00:34:27.349 --> 00:34:30.070 are generally known for numerous bears that reside 00:34:30.070 --> 00:34:33.409 in the region. Be very loud here and extremely 00:34:33.409 --> 00:34:35.969 bear aware. I pretty much always see a bear in 00:34:35.969 --> 00:34:39.710 this section. I am not joking be very bear aware 00:34:39.710 --> 00:34:42.610 and be very loud scare the bears away. It's narrow 00:34:42.610 --> 00:34:45.570 and You will run into them if you try and do 00:34:45.570 --> 00:34:48.389 this quiet and it's not going to be good So be 00:34:48.389 --> 00:34:50.989 loud. Let them know you're there Eventually, 00:34:50.989 --> 00:34:52.730 you're gonna hike all the way through that and 00:34:52.730 --> 00:34:55.210 the trees fade away and you enter an open meadow 00:34:55.440 --> 00:34:57.440 This next section of trail passes through the 00:34:57.440 --> 00:35:00.239 historic Yancey area, which was once the site 00:35:00.239 --> 00:35:02.900 of Yellowstone's earliest tourist accommodations, 00:35:03.500 --> 00:35:05.739 and now is home to the Roosevelt Old West Dining 00:35:05.739 --> 00:35:08.940 Cookout operation and horseback tours. Once you 00:35:08.940 --> 00:35:11.139 reach the seasonal buildings at Yancey's, the 00:35:11.139 --> 00:35:13.440 route follows portions of the Old Stagecoach 00:35:13.440 --> 00:35:16.840 Road back toward Roosevelt. At Roosevelt, which 00:35:16.840 --> 00:35:18.599 is not actually technically Roosevelt, because 00:35:18.599 --> 00:35:20.380 you're going to run into this, you may have to 00:35:20.380 --> 00:35:22.440 do a little route finding to avoid entering the 00:35:22.440 --> 00:35:25.099 construction zone. There should be a well -maintained 00:35:25.099 --> 00:35:27.739 and even signed trail darting left, but when 00:35:27.739 --> 00:35:30.159 in doubt, just head north. You'll eventually 00:35:30.159 --> 00:35:32.860 hit the trail, and then if you don't hit the 00:35:32.860 --> 00:35:34.480 trail, you're going to hit the river. Just follow 00:35:34.480 --> 00:35:38.119 the river downstream. Go with the pace of the 00:35:38.119 --> 00:35:40.519 river and you'll find the trail. You really can't 00:35:40.519 --> 00:35:44.480 get lost here. This section of trail cuts through 00:35:44.480 --> 00:35:46.300 this area called Pleasant Valley, which I think 00:35:46.300 --> 00:35:49.440 is aptly named. It's a big sagebrush basin where 00:35:49.440 --> 00:35:51.840 hikers frequently encounter bison, pronghorn 00:35:51.840 --> 00:35:53.860 and elk, and occasionally bears both grizzly 00:35:53.860 --> 00:35:56.940 and black. It also is where you're gonna meet 00:35:56.940 --> 00:35:59.639 up with that garnet hill loop trail. While hiking, 00:36:00.179 --> 00:36:02.460 enjoy like the sweeping views all around with 00:36:02.460 --> 00:36:04.980 the Absaroka Beartooth Mountains and numerous 00:36:04.980 --> 00:36:07.980 glacial erratics left behind by ancient ice sheets. 00:36:08.800 --> 00:36:10.920 Once you find the main trail again, the route 00:36:10.920 --> 00:36:13.019 begins to descend toward the Yellowstone River, 00:36:13.380 --> 00:36:15.960 which you hike next to for a few miles. This 00:36:15.960 --> 00:36:18.380 section is secluded and rarely visited and it's 00:36:18.380 --> 00:36:20.239 awesome and beautiful and wonderful and that's 00:36:20.239 --> 00:36:22.079 why I'm telling you to go there. Be prepared 00:36:22.079 --> 00:36:24.960 to see more wildlife than people here, but be 00:36:24.960 --> 00:36:27.219 aware that the trail around Garnet Hill is a 00:36:27.219 --> 00:36:30.619 wildlife corridor and animals use it often. I 00:36:30.619 --> 00:36:33.460 almost always run into a bison on this north 00:36:33.460 --> 00:36:35.900 section of the trail. Walking right down the 00:36:35.900 --> 00:36:38.739 trail, if you encounter a bison, Stay 25 yards, 00:36:38.800 --> 00:36:40.739 you may have to climb into the hills, but stay 00:36:40.739 --> 00:36:43.679 25 yards away. This section near the Yellowstone 00:36:43.679 --> 00:36:46.260 River is possibly the loop's most scenic section. 00:36:46.559 --> 00:36:48.500 Trail wraps around the north side of Garnet Hill, 00:36:48.980 --> 00:36:50.840 eventually providing elevated views of the River 00:36:50.840 --> 00:36:53.659 Canyon, Buffalo Plateau, and Hell Roaring Mountain. 00:36:54.139 --> 00:36:56.019 Several stretches follow high benches around 00:36:56.019 --> 00:36:58.380 the river, offering dramatic perspectives of 00:36:58.380 --> 00:37:00.940 the water winding through the canyon below. The 00:37:00.940 --> 00:37:03.059 varied terrain of cliffs, forests, grasslands, 00:37:03.139 --> 00:37:05.039 and river scenery makes this one of the most 00:37:05.039 --> 00:37:07.099 diverse moderate hikes in Yellowstone's northern 00:37:07.099 --> 00:37:10.059 range. The trail then starts to descend toward 00:37:10.059 --> 00:37:12.679 Elk Creek and back to the Spur Trail to reach 00:37:12.679 --> 00:37:15.400 the junction with Hell Roaring. Here, the character 00:37:15.400 --> 00:37:17.800 of the hike changes dramatically. The sagebrush 00:37:17.800 --> 00:37:20.380 gives way to groves of pine, rocky canyon walls, 00:37:20.800 --> 00:37:23.039 and creekside vegetation, and then you hit the 00:37:23.039 --> 00:37:26.059 Spur Trail. From there, hike up to Hell Roaring, 00:37:26.400 --> 00:37:28.380 enjoy the switchbacks to get back to your car, 00:37:28.739 --> 00:37:31.710 and basically you're done. Please know that wildlife 00:37:31.710 --> 00:37:35.710 is very active on this hike. There's a chance 00:37:35.710 --> 00:37:38.170 you will see everything that the park has along 00:37:38.170 --> 00:37:41.840 this hike. Be prepared. carry bear spray, hike 00:37:41.840 --> 00:37:44.380 in groups when possible, and remain alert especially 00:37:44.380 --> 00:37:47.119 in those forested sections along Elk Creek where 00:37:47.119 --> 00:37:49.760 visibility is limited. Also that sage section 00:37:49.760 --> 00:37:52.039 through Pleasant Valley, the sage is really tall 00:37:52.039 --> 00:37:54.340 and you would think you would easily see a grizzly 00:37:54.340 --> 00:37:56.260 bear walking through there, you wouldn't, the 00:37:56.260 --> 00:37:58.320 sage is almost as tall as a grizzly hump, so 00:37:58.320 --> 00:38:00.420 really pay attention and constantly make noise. 00:38:00.539 --> 00:38:02.579 I know I'm saying like wildlife is dangerous 00:38:02.579 --> 00:38:04.460 here, wildlife is dangerous all over the park, 00:38:04.659 --> 00:38:06.599 this is one of those trails where it just happens 00:38:06.599 --> 00:38:09.079 to seem like it's more active and this trail 00:38:09.079 --> 00:38:11.480 seems like it's It's just some place where things 00:38:11.480 --> 00:38:14.639 could go wrong quickly. So be smart, be safe, 00:38:14.940 --> 00:38:17.280 hike this by all means, but just know you are 00:38:17.280 --> 00:38:20.699 hiking in heavy wildlife terrain. And now to 00:38:20.699 --> 00:38:23.139 end on a high note. Overall, the Garnet Hill 00:38:23.139 --> 00:38:24.960 Loop is an excellent choice for hikers seeking 00:38:24.960 --> 00:38:27.639 a quieter Yellowstone experience. Rather than 00:38:27.639 --> 00:38:30.179 focusing on geothermal features or crowded overlooks, 00:38:30.380 --> 00:38:32.500 this trail showcases the park's northern range 00:38:32.500 --> 00:38:34.559 ecosystem through a combination of wildlife -rich 00:38:34.559 --> 00:38:37.460 meadows, river views, forested creek bottoms, 00:38:37.900 --> 00:38:40.539 and expansive mountain scenery. The total distance 00:38:40.539 --> 00:38:43.059 for this hike is around 9 miles with about 1 00:38:43.059 --> 00:38:46.059 ,500 feet of elevation gain. It's a serious hike. 00:38:46.219 --> 00:38:49.619 It's awesome. I love it. I may be doing this 00:38:49.619 --> 00:38:52.000 very soon too, so maybe I'll see you out there. 00:38:52.739 --> 00:38:54.840 Alright, that is it for this week. In next week's 00:38:54.840 --> 00:38:56.880 episode, I'll return with all the information 00:38:56.880 --> 00:38:59.000 you need to have a good week in the park, including 00:38:59.000 --> 00:39:01.920 wildlife, weather, and trail updates. Until then, 00:39:02.219 --> 00:39:04.480 book a tour with me, pick up a guidebook of mine, 00:39:04.840 --> 00:39:07.059 recommend this podcast to a friend, family member, 00:39:07.159 --> 00:39:20.679 or stranger, and happy trails. Abrupt ending! 00:39:21.260 --> 00:39:23.039 This week in Yellowstone is brought to you by 00:39:23.039 --> 00:39:25.599 The Outdoor Society. That's my company. It's 00:39:25.599 --> 00:39:28.099 just me, I do this, it's a labor of love. If 00:39:28.099 --> 00:39:30.280 you like it, tell your friends, rate and review 00:39:30.280 --> 00:39:33.579 it. Shoot me a message. Otherwise, keep listening 00:39:33.579 --> 00:39:36.420 and I hope to see you in Yellowstone. Copyright 00:39:36.420 --> 00:39:38.039 2026, baby!