From Yellowstone National Park, where the clouds
have been dramatic, and the badgers have been
running around the prairies, and those two things
probably aren't related, this is that Scott guy
you know and love with a brand new episode of
This Week in Yellowstone. What's up everybody
this week in Yellowstone National Park from June
25th to July 1st, 2026. I'll encourage you to
catch sunrises and sunsets, tell you about bison
funeral processions, and give some tips on dealing
with warm weather at elevation. I'll also give
you the complete weather forecast, a cool trail
to hike, the wildlife report, and everything
else you need to have an incredible time this
week in Yellowstone. Standard disclaimer, I'm
gonna miss a few details here and there, so if
you are curious about something, reach out to
me. Also, if you're unfamiliar with a place that
I'm talking about, please know that I mention
park locations very casually. So if you need
anything, reach out to me. You can send me an
email, or you can just shoot me a text at 406
-589 -1873. Also, please know that this podcast
is a passion project of mine. I am not paid,
I am not sponsored, so if you enjoy it, I'd love
a review or a quick email to let me know that
you like what you hear. If you want to support
my work more, you can check out my hiking and
wildlife watching guidebooks, or join me for
a guided hiking tour in Yellowstone's backcountry.
For more information on all of that, shoot me
a text, or visit outdoor -society .com. This
week's Yellowstone news. so honestly it's been
a really slow news week there hasn't been much
going on the thermal area at biscuit basin erupted
again but that's not really news at this point
it's been doing that quite a bit the thing that
i do want to talk about with that is there are
some i was going to say news agencies not really
any news agencies just some youtubers people
on social media really freaking out about this
Perfectly normal there is no elevated eruption
cycle. There's no imminent danger There's nothing
like that if there was you'd hear about it from
from more reputable sources again, this is perfectly
normal and I have to say that every so often
because People love anytime something happens
in Yellowstone with the thermal areas to jump
to the you know logical conclusion that Well,
not logical, but they think it is that the whole
thing is going to erupt like it may someday but
not anytime soon so don't worry about it it's
perfectly fine and I know like that would be
what someone from the inside would say don't
worry about it but really like it's fine other
than that no real news to speak of um I've been
doing a lot of tours the last week so I'm pretty
exhausted and tired so I'm just gonna jump right
into this I wrote this a little while ago so
then I could just sit and record it after I get
back from a tour and it is currently, you know,
I think this is going to be dropping in less
than 12 hours. So here we go. My experience of
the week. Sunrises and sunsets. Now some of you
may be thinking, you've talked about this before,
but right now there is something special going
on with sunrises and sunsets. And that is because
we just had the summer solstice. Summer is officially
here and our days are very long. Sunrises are
very early, sunsets are very late. So I'm going
to talk about that a little bit. One of the most
overlooked parts of visiting Yellowstone National
Park is just how much daylight you have available
in late June and early July. Many visitors spend
months planning their trip, carefully mapping
out geysers, waterfalls, wildlife viewing areas,
and hiking trails. Then they arrive and unknowingly
miss some of the most beautiful hours of the
day because they're sleeping through sunrise
or heading back to their hotel before sunset.
The final week of June offers some of the longest
days of the entire year in Yellowstone. During
this period, sunrise occurs at approximately
5 .35 a .m. with sunset taking place around 9
.10 p .m. That obviously depends on your exact
location within the park, so times may vary here
and there, but generally that's about when it
is. And the days all change, but generally 5
.30 after 9. That's what you need to know. Now
those are the sunrise and sunsets. The actual
times when Yellowstone starts to brighten up
starts around 5 a .m. And retains usable light
long after 9 30 p .m. many visitors simply don't
take advantage of this incredible gift of long
days a Surprising number of people begin their
day when they're visiting the parks at 8 or 9
Which seems early and they finish sightseeing
around dinnertime But that means that you're
missing out on some of the best hours that the
park has to offer By the time many visitors are
pouring their first cup of coffee, the park has
already been awake for several hours. Those early
morning hours are special. The roads are quieter,
parking lots are emptier, and the entire park
feels calmer. Steam rises dramatically from the
geyser basins and the cool morning air, and that
helps to create this scene that looks completely
different from what most people see during the
middle of the day. The last few days I've had
early morning tours and I've been getting into
the park around 5 .30 and honestly that is the
best time. From 5 .30 to 6 .15 or so the light
is just perfect and it's absolutely gorgeous.
Today on Wednesday the 24th there were some thunderstorms
with the bubbly clouds, the mammatus clouds right
over Electric Peak that you could see from the
Arch in Gardener and that was amazing. That is
actually the cover image of this week's episode,
if I remember to do that. And it was really cool.
The day before, Sunrise was also absolutely gorgeous.
Just the light was hitting electric peaks so
it was kind of pinkish and everything else was
dark and there was fog all around. It was fantastic.
And Sunrises do that, which is why waking up
for these is so important. I know you're on vacation,
but catching a sunrise in the park is something
you really should do at least once. Whether it's
just from Gardiner and you're by the arch, or
you drive to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
and catch it there, go to Lamar or Hayden, or
anywhere really. It doesn't matter. Anywhere
is pretty, especially if it's really open. Swan
Lake flat south of Mammoth, underrated area for
sunrises. Highly recommend it. It's also a great
area for sunsets, but we'll talk about that in
a little bit. But if you are in the park right
now, sunrises are very early, but please try
and make this something that you do once. If
you don't like it, fine. But you have to try
because you don't know what you're going to enjoy
until you try it. That's kind of why I'm against
the like, I'm going to make a list of everything
I need to experience in the park, and that's
all I'm going to do. Branch out from that. Maybe
you add sunrise and sunsets on your list. That's
great. But Make sure that you kind of just allow
the days to happen and go with the flow. Yellowstone
has some secrets and some magic to it that when
you're too rigid and too stuck to structure you
may miss out on something truly great. Now the
mornings are wonderful in the park. The wildlife
agrees with this early morning schedule. Most
of the animals are active during the cool parts
of the day and that includes early morning. Every
day I've driven in the park in the last week
I've seen at least three bears. I see the bison
starting to wake up and roam around, heard wolves
howl, I see coyotes out in the distance, the
badgers are running around as I mentioned off
the top of this episode. It is a wonderful time,
early morning hours, really the best, especially
because the cold temperatures are only in the
40s right now. And you may come from someplace
really warm and 40s are cold, but 40s here, absolutely
perfect, great way to start the day. Your hands
may be a little chilly, but you're gonna get
very warm by the end of the day. So sunrise also
comes with a few other major benefits. There's
fewer crowds. It's not gonna be empty We are
in peak tourist season Every place is going to
be crowded. I had a line of eight cars ahead
of me in Gardiner this morning at 545 so Expect
that but that was eight cars right and then we
got in Lamar Valley That area Little America
was absolutely packed this morning by 6 45 7
o 'clock and that's going to happen because that's
the best time for wildlife So know that but also
know that when you go to popular spots this early
in the morning It's not going to be too crowded
boardwalks and traffic and all of that really
starts getting More crowded more busy around
8 9 o 'clock. So the earlier you're there the
better it's going to be and the quieter it's
going to be especially if you decide to go on
a hike once there's full light and you're able
to see things go hiking it's a great time in
the morning it's funny to talk about sunrises
because sunrises are hard not everybody's a morning
person and especially when it's light at 530
that's hard to do but sunsets are also overlooked
to the park it blows me away how many people
exit the park way before sunset it's a little
harder yeah it's gonna be 9 15 when it's sunset
right but stay in the park for sunset at least
once one of my favorite very easy things to do
hang out around old faithful around sunset every
so often it will time so old faithful will erupt
right at sunset and it's not crowded it's pretty
empty and it's wonderful and then you have like
brilliant colors off the clouds it is so great
Sunset here is beautiful. Swan Lake Flats that
I mentioned earlier, absolutely gorgeous for
sunset. Mammoth, the terraces at sunset, truly
spectacular. Hayden, Lamar, Little America, Round
Prairie, even up in the Beartooth area at sunset,
really cool. So, don't sleep on sunsets, haha.
And when I talk about sunsets, I don't just mean
like right at sunset watching the sun plunge.
Those final two hours before sunset are often
the most productive times for wildlife watching.
Hayden Valley, Lamar Valley, they come alive
again as temperatures cool. Bison are starting
to gather for the rut, which takes place July
and August. And that is something you should
go and see. And they're moving around the grasslands.
You're going to start seeing some elk. Predators
are preparing for the night of hunting. It is
just great. Once the sun sets, Wolves might howl,
coyotes are going to howl if you're in the valleys.
It's truly fantastic. Also, if you're a big fan
of photography, lighting in the morning and evenings,
amazing. This is when you really want to get
some good shots. Yeah, if you have wildlife in
the close by or in the distance, you're not going
to get the best pictures, but getting those landscape
pictures of Yellowstone's mountains, lakes, rivers,
thermal areas and those shades of gold and then
maybe oranges and pinks. That is, you know, chef's
kiss emoji is great. So check that out. Do sunrises
and sunsets because you never know. It's going
to be something that could make you a morning
person. I am not a morning person at all, but
I will be a morning person if it means that I
get to go into the park and have a sunrise in
the park and then see the animals moving around.
One quick thing, if you're getting into the park
before sunrise or leaving the park after sunset,
Driving at night requires extra caution. Wildlife
vehicle collisions are a significant issue both
inside and around outside the park. A long -term
study found that 939 large mammals were killed
by vehicles on Yellowstone roads between 1989
and 1996. That includes elk, deer, bison, moose,
bears, wolves, and other species. Researchers
concluded that vehicle speed was the primary
factor in these collisions. In 2022, the park
saw a total of 56 known vehicle collisions with
large mammals, which included 20 mule deer, 14
elk, 10 bison, and 6 black bears. Know that bison
in the park are really hard to see at night because
their dark coloration blends into the road. And
unlike deer and elk, bison lack a well -developed
reflective tissue in their eyes, and this causes
their dark eyes to absorb light rather than bounce
it back. So if you're driving and looking for
your light hitting eyeballs, you're not going
to see a bison. So if you drive at night, slow
down, be safe. Don't take any risks that are
unnecessary, but also don't let this stop you
from enjoying a sunrise or a sunset. You can
do it closer to where you're camping or staying,
but do it, please. I highly recommend it. This
is the time of the year to do it. Also, this
is kind of the thunderstorm time of the year,
so you might have a really good sunset and then
off in the distance there's going to be a thunderstorm
and you're going to watch the cloud illuminate
with lightning as you're out in the valleys.
It's awesome. Please do it. My tip of the week
managing heat and elevation Many first -time
visitors arrive in Yellowstone National Park
expecting cool mountain weather After all the
park sits at high elevation and snow can linger
well into summer and it can snow throughout the
summer too Photos if you see people around often
show them wearing jackets near geysers and waterfalls
Or you know, you may see them watching wolves
and they're bundled up That's morning something
happens later. By midday, visitors find themselves
searching for shade, drinking water as fast as
they can, and wondering why 70 degree weather
feels so much hotter than it does back home.
I've talked about this a lot, and there's a reason.
This is very important. I hear about it all the
time, and I want everybody to know. This will
be the last time I talk about it for the summer,
so if you're tired of this, no, this is the last
time I'm talking about it this year. But, I do
want to remind you that it will be warm and you
need to make sure that you are prepared for this.
The reason why it's warm, as you've heard me
say before, if this isn't your first episode,
Yellowstone's elevation. A lot of the park sits
between 7 ,000 and 8 ,000 feet above sea level,
and Yellowstone Lake, here's a fun fact, rests
at 7 ,733 feet above sea level. Many of the popular
viewpoints and trailheads are even higher. Even
Lamar Valley, which is over 6 ,000 feet, gets
very hot. That means that visitors are dealing
with thinner air, stronger sunlight, and a drier
climate than you're probably accustomed to. The
stronger sunlight often catches people off guard.
At higher elevations there is less atmosphere
to filter the sun's radiation, and as a result
direct sunlight feels noticeably more intense
in the same temperature than when you're at sea
level. A sunny 70 degree afternoon in Yellowstone
can feel surprisingly warm, especially when you're
walking boardwalks, climbing trails, or spending
hours outside. Visitors from Texas Florida Louisiana
Georgia and southern states that really talk
to me a lot about being so used to the warm weather
are surprised at how hot it gets out here in
the summer. While they may be accustomed to hotter
temperatures they're not accustomed to experiencing
those temperatures at 8 ,000 feet with intense
mountain sunshine overhead. The dry air is another
layer that you need to pay attention to. In humid
climates your sweat tends to remain on your skin
making it obvious when your body is working to
cool itself. Yellowstone's mountain air is much
drier so sweat evaporates quickly which means
you may not realize how much water you're losing.
Many visitors become mildly dehydrated before
they even recognize that they're thirsty. This
is one reason that during my tours and even when
I am consulting people on their trips I consistently
encourage visitors to drink water throughout
the day, not just during hikes and periods of
physical activity. Elevation itself can also
affect how your body performs. Some visitors
experience symptoms with altitude like headaches,
dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, and
nausea. And even healthy, physically fit people
can feel these effects. I like to share this
story. In college, I ran track and cross country.
I was in great shape. I came out here. I went
running. And I thought I was going to die. It
was the start of summer. went for a run outside
at 7 ,000 feet and it was 65 degrees outside
and it was so hot I got done with my run and
I stopped and was talking to some people by where
I was staying and they asked me if I was okay
because I was beet red and looked like I was
close to death. I felt okay but then an hour
later I started getting headaches and then I
realized oh I haven't been drinking enough water
so even if you are in great health and you are
physically fit Drink a lot of water, take care
of yourself, and really pay attention to what's
going on. One of the things to really pay attention
to, I mentioned it earlier, is that a lot of
people only focus on the afternoon temperatures.
Yellowstone is famous for dramatic temperature
swings during the summer. Nighttime temperatures
can be in the 30s and then daytime temperatures
can get into 70s and 80s. That is a big temperature
change and you need to properly layer. It is
very important you can bring a change of clothes
and change into that But do not assume that what
you're wearing in the morning will be good to
wear in the afternoon By the afternoon you are
going to be way too hot in anything. You are
wearing in the morning We are approaching the
holiday weekend, and that's why I'm talking about
this now. Just know that hydration is super important
I've talked about a little bit, but stay hydrated
drink more water also one thing to do take breaks
during the day sit in the shade rest It's hard
to rest on vacation for a lot of us, but rest.
Also avoid over exertion during the first day
or two if you can. If you're here for a week,
don't do the hardest hike on day one. Get acclimatized
a bit, get used to how much water you need to
drink throughout the day to stay hydrated, and
then do that hard day. That's gonna make all
the difference in having a very enjoyable visit
versus one that's really not gonna be as fun.
One last thing, if you are going to drink alcohol
when you're out here, Know that it's going to
dehydrate you or hit you a little harder Also,
if you plan on doing something that is physically
active don't drink the night before you will
get more dehydrated Some tours I've had years
ago people decided they were going to drink and
then Yeah, that did not go well because we did
a very hard hike and they were drinking the night
before and they were very very dehydrated and
battling heat exhaustion the entire day So be
smart, take care of yourself, know that you're
at elevation and it's okay to be tired and take
breaks. That's probably the number one takeaway
from here is you're going to be fine. Just relax.
It's Yellowstone. It's going to be here. And
when you feel good, you're going to enjoy the
park more. My random Yellowstone fact of the
week, bison funerals. If you spend enough time
watching bison in Yellowstone National Park,
you begin to notice that there's far more happening
within a herd than most people realize. People
often stop to admire the massive animals grazing
in a meadow, crossing the road, or resting near
a thermal area and then they just kind of move
on. What many never witnessed is a behavior that
has fascinated wildlife watchers for years. The
tendency of bison to remain with and pay close
attention to deceased members of their herd.
Some observers have even referred to these gatherings
as bison funerals. The phrase is not a scientific
term at all, please don't think it is, and researchers
are careful about assigning human emotions or
motivations to animals. Still, numerous observations
from Yellowstone suggest that bison often react
in unusual ways when a member of the herd dies.
These behaviors have been documented by park
visitors, wildlife photographers, guides, and
researchers alike. While scientists debate what
these actions may mean, there's little question
that the animals show a remarkable interest in
their dead. Part of the reason this behavior
stands out is that bison are highly social animals.
Yellowstone's bison live in herds that are often
led by experienced females. During parts of the
year these groups can number in the hundreds.
Herd members can spend much of their lives together,
traveling, feeding, and raising calves across
the vast landscapes of Yellowstone. The social
structure of a herd is far more complex than
many realize. When a bison dies, herd members
sometimes gather around the carcass and remain
there for extended periods. Rather than immediately
moving away, they repeatedly approach the body,
sniff it, nudge it with their noses, or simply
stand nearby. Wildlife observers have reported
seeing groups of bison linger around a deceased
herd member long after there are any obvious
reasons to stay. In some cases, the animals have
even appeared to position themselves between
the carcass and potential scavengers. Now one
time, I love just starting stories with one time,
but one time I was in the park, I was hanging
out in Lamar Valley, and there was a bison carcass
that I knew about and I wanted to go see if anything
would feed on it. So I sat there with you know
70 of my closest strangers and we were all waiting
and the bison were hanging out around there and
there's a dead bison laying in the middle of
the prairie right it's perfectly normal that
happens but what i didn't expect to see was a
bison funeral procession after sitting there
for about five to ten minutes the bison nearby
started to congregate a bit and then they circled
the bison and walked away Not one, not two, but
50 to 70 bison circled the dead bison and walked
away. A little bit later, a lone wolf came and
decided that it was going to try and get a free
meal. Hey, there's a dead bison there. That's
easy food. I don't have to exert much energy.
Great. Bison didn't take too kindly to that and
decided to chase that lone wolf away. all the
way through the prairie and made sure that it
was not going to get a free meal later i guess
after i left grizzly bear came in and was eating
the bison carcass but they protected their dead
and they had a little circle around it and then
they left this is one of those things that i
didn't believe until i saw it in person One of
the most commonly observed examples of this involves
mothers and calves, so each spring Yellowstone's
famous reddish -orange calves, called red dogs,
are born throughout the park. Not every calf
survives, and due to predators, harsh weather,
accidents, and illness, and when a calf dies,
mothers have been sometimes observed remaining
nearby for hours or days. They may continue nudging
their calf, standing guard, or attempting to
encourage it to rise. Similar behaviors have
been documented in other highly social animals,
including elephants, whales, and certain primates.
Again, scientists remain cautious when interpreting
these observations. It's impossible to know exactly
what the animal understands about death, and
researchers generally focus on observable behavior
rather than assumptions about emotions. However,
for the rest of us it's really easy to watch
something and come up with our own story. What
can be said about all of this is certainty is
that Yellowstone's bison often behave differently
around a dead herd member than they do during
normal activities. Whether that behavior reflects
grief, confusion, curiosity, social attachment,
or some combination that remains an open question.
Coming to Yellowstone provides a unique opportunity
to witness these moments because death remains
a natural and visible part of the ecosystem.
Wolves and grizzly bears prey on bison and elk.
Severe winters claim lives. Accidents occasionally
occur. Bison carcasses are an important food
source for wolves, bears, coyotes, ravens, eagles,
and countless other small scavengers. In many
ways, the death of this one animal helps sustain
dozens of others. But before the scavengers arrive,
there is this period that's sometimes a reflective
moment by the bison. You're not supposed to humanize
animals, but when you see a mother that remains
beside her calf long after it's died, when you
see a herd that delays its movement across the
landscape because they're not entirely understanding
why one of their friends has died, this is something
that we watch and we can relate to. Whether we
choose to call these gatherings funerals, vigils,
or simply social behavior, they remind us that
bison are more complex than many people assume.
Yellowstone's largest land mammal is not merely
a symbol of the American West. It's a social
species with relationships and behaviors that
scientists continue to study. The next time you
encounter a bison herd in Yellowstone, it may
be worth spending a little extra time watching.
You might witness a side of these remarkable
animals that few people ever see. The weather
for the coming week. On Thursday in Lamar Valley,
the high will be 64, the low will be 46 there's
a 65 percent chance of thunderstorms and rain
with about a quarter inch of rain expected on
Friday 68 and 44 42 percent chance about a point
one four inches of rain Saturday 56 and 38 71
percent chance of three tenths of an inch of
rain Sunday 55 and 36 43 percent chance of a
tenth of an inch of rain Monday 49 and 36 chance
of snow late at night early in the morning 54
percent chance of a tenth of an inch of rain
Tuesday 61 and 37 rain should be diminishing
throughout the day and then Wednesday 68 and
38 9 percent chance of precipitation Gardner,
Montana Thursday Highest 68 Low of 50 68 percent
chance of a quarter inch rain Friday 73 and 48
some rain showers likely in the late morning
early afternoon 25 % chance of those Saturday
thunderstorms high of 59 low of 41 65 % chance
of a third of an inch of rain Sunday 58 and 39
50 % chance of a quarter inch of rain Monday
52 and 40 with a 56 % chance about a tenth of
an inch of rain Tuesday 64 and 40 maybe some
light showers only a 14 % chance and Wednesday
72 and 42 10 % chance. West Yellowstone. Thursday,
high as 66, low of 45, 57 % chance of some rain,
maybe about a tenth of an inch. Friday, 69 and
42, 64 % chance about a tenth of an inch of rain.
Saturday, 53 and 35, 81 % chance about a half
inch of rain. Sunday, 52 and 34, 50 % chance
of a quarter inch of rain. Monday, 48 and 34,
54 % chance of a tenth of an inch of rain. Tuesday
60 and 35 with a 15 % chance of some rain Wednesday
68 and 37 9 % chance of rain Cody Wyoming Thursday
73 and 54 33 % chance of some thunderstorms Friday
79 and 55 42 % chance of some rain in the afternoon
with some thunderstorms Maybe about a tenth of
an inch of rain Saturday 70 and 49 34 % chance
of about three tenths or three hundredths of
an inch of rain sorry misread that so not a ton
of rain probably Saturday Sunday 68 and 47 24
percent chance of precipitation Monday 65 and
48 22 percent chance precipitation Tuesday 74
and 50 5 percent chance of rain and Finally for
the weather Cook City, Montana Thursday high
of 59 low of 46 63 percent chance of a quarter
inch of rain Friday 64 and 43 40 percent chance
of two tenths of an inch of rain Saturday 52
and 36 78 percent chance of three quarters of
or one third of an inch of rain Sunday 52 and
34 with a 50 percent chance of about a tenth
of an inch of rain we'll say then Sunday night
into Monday chance of rain or snow and Monday
46 and 36 61 percent chance about a quarter inch
of rain Tuesday 57 and 38 16 % chance of rain
Wednesday 64 and 40 9 % chance as always these
are the best forecasts I can do they're better
the closer days and as we get in through the
weekend and in the next week They could be slightly
wrong, but you know I do my best and so do The
sites that I use to check the weather Road conditions.
No main park roads are closed right now, and
while unlikely, be aware that roads can close
at any time due to inclement weather. Again,
not expecting it, but if the temperature gets
a little colder and snow falls, then they might
close some roads or the rain may cause some rocks
to fall and might have temporary road closures.
Just know that things can happen. For up -to
-date information on the roads, you can call
307 -344 -2117 for recorded information, or you
can sign up to receive Yellowstone Road Alerts
on your cell phone by texting the number 82190
to the number 888777. Camping information. All
the campgrounds are open. Enjoy! I mean, it's
going to rain, so I don't know how much you're
going to enjoy it, but enjoy! The Wildlife Watching
Update. So wildlife watching right now still
remains great this week with the weather being
iffy people might think oh It's not gonna be
as good animals still move around Rain doesn't
really stop them snow doesn't really stop them
So wildlife watching could be really good because
it's going to be cooler Obviously you're gonna
have to drive around in worse weather and standing
outside and visibility may be impacted But that
doesn't mean that the animals aren't out there
and are moving around Right now Hayden Valley
has been pretty good. It really picked up the
last few days Wolves have been sighted wolf pups
have been sighted grizzly bears have been hanging
out near the wolves and getting chased away The
bison are starting to congregate up in Lamar
Valley for the rut I haven't heard much about
the bison in Hayden Valley yet. I just didn't
get a chance to go down there today I was a little
busy, but all the bison are gathering right now.
The rut is starting in Lamar Valley today There
were probably a thousand bison Yesterday was
kind of the same. It was kind of chaotic. It
was great It was wonderful lots of bison all
over the place the grunting is starting The males
are starting to like roll around and make dust
clouds. It's pretty cool. So check that out Alright
now I'm just gonna run through quickly where
you're probably gonna see some stuff I've heard
some good bear sightings between mammoth and
Norris and then between Norris and Madison There's
bears and bison and everything everywhere, so
you don't necessarily know where you're going
to see them. Blacktail Plateau is going to be
really good, but if it rains heavy they're going
to close that road. Just be aware of that. Probably
should have mentioned that in the road closures,
but you're listening so now you hear it. Also,
I've seen a lot of bears driving between Mammoth
and Lamar Valley. up to calcite springs and tower
fall there's been bears up there there's been
bears on washburn bighorn sheep are hanging out
a lot near the calcite spring area and then the
other side of the road a lot of black bears around
there too and like i said bison are just kind
of everywhere in those main valleys if you want
to see bison go there they are really congregating
a lot like i said lamar valley was really good
Also, one thing to mention is last week I talked
about Trout Lake and the spawning cutthroat trout.
It is popping off up there. It's wonderful. Go
up there even if it's raining. It's still fun
to watch. I haven't heard of any otters there.
Osprey have been fishing. But yeah, if it's raining,
don't stop because fish live underwater, so they
don't care about getting wet. Other than that,
There have been some moose spotted out by floating
island lake off and on and that's in the northern
section then out toward Cook City. I also saw
a couple coyotes today out in Lamar Valley. And
then the bears are still being spotted out that
East entrance road, especially between Fishing
Bridge and Sylvan Pass. So check that out. Wildlife
watching is very good. I imagine it will be pretty
good, especially in between rain storms this
coming week. So if you're in the park, don't
let this rain dampen your spirits. Again, no
pun intended. I am just that good with words
or I didn't mean upon. I don't know your call,
but don't. Let the rain stop you from going and
looking at wildlife. It will be very good. You
just might not be able to stand out there and
watch it as well, or visibility might not be
good all the time. While I could talk about wildlife
this entire time, I do want to let you know that
I wrote a guidebook specifically for wildlife
watching in Yellowstone based on my lifetime
of experience. It's available on my website,
outdoor -society .com. You can get a paperback
format, you can get an ebook format. If you want
the link, just message me as well. That's 406
-589 -1873 is my cell number. And shoot me a
text and say, hey, I want the link to your guidebooks.
I also have a hiking guidebook that I think if
you are into hiking, you will absolutely love.
Trail alerts and updates. So once again, I'm
just referring you to the Backcountry Conditions
page. They've been updating it really well. That
is in the show notes. Check that out. Before
you go hiking, go on the Backcountry Conditions
page. Things change all the time. The information
I can tell you today may not be accurate tomorrow.
So go there. That is the best thing. Just know
very quickly, a lot of people have been messaging
me and being like, I don't really want to hike
and be around bears. Bears can and will be on
every trail. They live here. You can't really
dictate where they're going to be. I've seen
them in the geyser basins. I've seen them in
the mountains. I've seen them in the prairies.
They're everywhere. I've seen bears walking.
I've been at calcite springs and I looked down
by the river along the steep steep very like
rugged terrain and there's been bears walking
by the river down there. Bears are going to be
everywhere. Just make sure you carry bear spray,
have it readily accessible and not in a backpack,
and know how to use it. Also, hike in groups,
be loud, use your voice, not bare bells, things
like that. I've talked about that previous weeks.
Alright, my Trek of the Week. My Trek of the
Week is Avalanche Peak, and I know you're saying,
well, the weather's going to be terrible. I love
Avalanche Peak, and while the weather may not
be great for this hike right now, once this rainstorm
passes, which should be late Sunday, Monday,
you could be able to go up there and have a really
good time. If you're looking for a hike that
will make you feel like you have truly earned
your views and exhausted your legs, Avalanche
Peak is that hike. Located along the East Entrance
Road near Eleanor Lake, this trail is one of
the park's classic mountain hikes. It's not especially
long, it's about 4 .2 miles round trip, but what
it lacks in distance, it more than makes up for
in elevation gain. National Park Service says
that this climbs roughly 2 ,100 feet, my watch
is read up to 2 ,600 feet, and it makes Avalanche
Peak one of the steepest maintained trails in
Yellowstone. This is not for beginning hikers
at all. If you want an easier mountain with great
views, hit up Mount Washburn, maybe Bunsen Peak,
or reach out to me, I can recommend some things.
The avalanche peak climb begins almost immediately.
There's no leisurely stroll to warm up your legs.
Within a few steps of the trailhead, you're heading
uphill through lodgepole pines. The trees provide
welcome shade during the morning hours, and if
you get an early start, the cool mountain air
makes this initial climb feel surprisingly comfortable.
Just do not expect this feeling to last. The
trail wastes very little time gaining elevation,
and most hikers, no matter how in shape they
are, find themselves stopping occasionally to
catch their breath and enjoy the growing views
behind them. As the forest begins to thin, Yellowstone
starts putting on a show. Openings in the trees
reveal Yellowstone lakes shimmering in the distance,
while the rugged peaks of the Bzurka Mountains
rise dramatically around the eastern skyline.
Wildflowers are beginning to pop off right now,
and you're getting splashes of color all around
you, making the landscape even more beautiful.
Every switchback seems to reveal another reason
to, you know, take a breath and blame it on you
wanting to take a picture. I love that. That's
my best excuse is like, oh, I really want to
take a picture here, and then I stand there for
three or four minutes and catch my breath. Once
the rain has passed in this coming week and you're
planning to hike Avalanche Peak, know that it's
important to remember that summer arrives slowly
in Yellowstone's high country. Lower elevations
are enjoying warm days and green meadows, but
Avalanche Peak still holds onto winter. Expect
the encounters near the top to have patches of
snow, especially on the shaded slopes in the
north facing areas and the upper portions of
the trail. Most of these areas are not really
that difficult, but they can be slippery especially
if they're icy in the morning or very loose snow
once it warms up. The effects of elevation as
you keep hiking really become noticeable. The
summit sits at 10 ,568 feet above sea level and
the thinner air can catch visitors by surprise.
Like I said earlier, Yellowstone's average elevation
is already around 8 ,000 feet and Avalanche Peak
takes you higher. Definitely stay hydrated, pace
yourself at elevation, and if you've arrived
in the park hours before maybe don't do this
wait until you're used to it. Know that even
strong hikers from lower elevations notice themselves
breathing harder than they expect. Eventually
on this trail the trees disappear and the landscape
opens into a broad alpine slope. This is where
Avalanche Peak starts to feel less like a Yellowstone
hike and more like a mountain climb. The views
expand dramatically, and so does the exposure.
Know that wind is common here, and it's sometimes
strong enough to make you glad that you packed
an extra layer. Pack an extra layer. Even on
days when the temperature reaches 70s in the
valley, conditions near the summit can feel much
colder. The final ascent of this is what most
hikers remember long after the hike is over.
Loose scree and large chunks of talus, big chunks
of rock. and the footing can be frustrating at
times. Every step forward may seem to result
in a little bit of a slide backwards. Trucking
poles can be extremely helpful during this section,
especially on the descent, but going up it just
feels better because then you can dig them in
and kind of push up and take that next step.
While this route is not technical, it does require
careful footing and patience. From the summit,
Yellowstone seems to stretch forever. Yellowstone
Lake dominates the view to the south, with glimpses
of the Tetons also possible if the sky is clear.
Sylvan Pass and the Absaroka Mountains of Wyoming
fill the eastern horizon, and this is one of
the most expansive views in Yellowstone, and
it's a reminder of just how vast the Greater
Yellowstone ecosystem really is. Many hikers
arrive at the summit expecting to spend just
a few minutes before heading down. They usually
end up staying much longer because it's difficult
to leave the views from the top. The combination
of mountain peaks, forests, lakes, and open sky
creates one of the most memorable panoramas anywhere
in the park. When you're done, do not rush down.
Take your time. Enjoy the views, bask in the
glory of hiking up this mountain. Remember that
Avalanche Peak is located in prime bear habitat,
so always carry bear spray and know how to use
it, make noise while hiking, and remain very
alert. Also know that afternoon thunderstorms
are very common in late June and early July,
especially at these higher elevations. A very
early start not only improves your chance of
finding a parking spot and enjoying cooler temperatures,
but also helps you avoid being exposed above
tree line during lightning producing storms.
If you are hiking this, and you hear thunder,
turn around. do not go up to the top unless you
know that that storm is way in the distance.
Avalanche Peak is not an easy hike, and it's
not meant to be. The steep climb, lingering snow,
sometimes muddy sections, loose rock and high
elevation, and strong winds all add to that challenge.
Yet, those are the same elements that make this
so rewarding when you do it. For experienced
hikers willing to put in the effort, Avalanche
Peak is one of Yellowstone's finest mountain
adventures, and some of the most spectacular
summit views in the entire park. Next week. In
the next episode, I'll return with all the information
you need to have a good week in the park, including
the wildlife, weather, and trail updates. Until
then, pick up a guidebook of mine, shoot me a
message, tell your friends about this podcast.
Thank you so much for listening, and happy trails.
Abrupt ending! This week in Yellowstone is brought
to you by The Outdoor Society. That's my company.
It's just me. I do this. It's a labor of love.
If you like it, tell your friends. Rate and review
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and I hope to see you in Yellowstone. Copyright
2026, baby!