Comments on: Yellowstone National Park

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:10:38 +0000

As someone who grew up in MT…go there!! You can fly into West Yellowstone as well. But I prefer Gallatin Field in Belgrade. (near Bozeman.) I grew up in Three Forks. It's a bit of a drive, but well worth it.

I would love to go with you!!! I'm jealous!

By: sincerely

sincerely — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:10:37 +0000

I have been to both. Yellowstone many times I live within a few hours drive from the southern entrance. Yosemite is different from Yellowstone in the aspect of all the geothermal activity. I have only been to Yosemite twice. I don’t remember any wildlife in Yosemite other than the rock chucks & the tree squirrels. The thing about Yellowstone is there is much more in the area than just Yellowstone. The Grand Tetons are magnificent!
My favorite drive in the area is The Beartooth Highway is an All-American Road that has been called "the most beautiful drive in America," by late CBS correspondent Charles Kuralt. Due to heavy snowfall at the top, the pass is usually open each year only from Memorial Day in late May through Labor Day in September.
The Beartooth Highway is the section of U.S. Highway 212 between Red Lodge, Montana and Cooke City, Montana. It traces a series of steep zigzags and switchbacks, along the Montana-Wyoming border to the 10,974 foot (3,345 m.) high Beartooth Pass. The approximate elevation rise is from 5,200 to 8,000 feet in 12 miles (1,600 to 2,400 m in 20 km) in the most daring landscapes.
When driving from the east to the west, the highest parts of the Beartooth Highway level off into a wide plateau near the top of the pass, and then descend to where the Beartooth Highway connects to the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway near Cooke City, which forms the northeast gateway to Yellowstone National Park.
At Alpine Wy about 40 miles from Jackson Wy is my alltime favortie place to go. Greys River road. This isnt atourst attration just buetifull Wyoming back contry.
So in answerer to your question they’re both beautiful in there own way.

By: pens90

pens90 — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:10:37 +0000

The Sheepeater Indians, a band of Shoshone, also known as Snake Indians, lived in the area of what is now Yellowstone Park.

By: Ashley B

Ashley B — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:10:36 +0000

Nothing good.

There are two parts to the question. What would the impact be to the environment and what would it be to the human population?

Take a look at the Mount St. Helens eruption in 1980. About 72 people died in the actual event so the human toll was relatively small. The changes to the landscape were dramatic. What was once a pristine, snow-covered mountain in a forest was now a smoking caldera surrounded by ash fields and dead trees. Since that time it's been amazing to watch how the flora and fauna have begun to recover and regrow in the area.

The effects of an eruption in Yellowstone would depend on the size. There is a lot of evidence that a super-volcano exists there. If the dome on top of that magma source were to collapse it would effectively mean the end of the world, at least our part in it. The amount of ash released would block out the sun around the world for months if not years ruining global crops and plunging humanity into a food crisis that would wipe out most of us. Also, the temperature would be lowered leading to longer and harsher winters making it impossible to raise livestock or grow anything in what little sun was left. Sorry to be a downer.

If a more 'normal' volcano went off. The effects would be more local and probably look very much like Mount St. Helens did.

By: stunkos

stunkos — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:10:36 +0000

Almost any travel agency can do it. Major tour companies typically work with any accredited travel agency.

Check with a couple of agencies in your area and see if any have someone on staff who knows Yellowstone well. Check also to see if the agency is a member of ASTA (America Society of Travel Agents). ASTA members are required to adhere to a code of ethics.

By: jkrocks

jkrocks — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:10:36 +0000

July is beautiful. Lots of wildlife to see and everything is in bloom.

The closest airport is in Cody, Wyoming, it is quite pricy to fly into there. You can also fly into Billings, MT which is what we did. Not too bad of a drive and it's a nice area to sightsee in anyway.

Have a great trip

By: Linda

Linda — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:10:33 +0000

The answer to both of your questions is the south entrance by way of Grand Teton National Park. The south entrance is the shortest route between Boulder and Old Faithful. If your geography is as bad as you say it is you should get yourself a map so you can plot your route. You can also use mapquest.com to find your way.

I hope you plan to spend a few days in Yellowstone because Old Faithful is just one of many thermal features in the park. Lower Yellowstone Falls and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone are also must see. For planning purposes I recommend you spend at least 3 full days in the park to see the highlights. Be sure to get out of your car and into your walking shoes because there are miles of boardwalk and paved trails in the Upper, Midway and Lower geyser basins not to mention West Thumb geyser basin, Norris geyser basin and Mammoth Hot Springs. Be sure to stop at Canyon Village to see the Visitor Center and the displays there.

If you can't get accommodations in the park or decide to stay outside the park you should consider the town of West Yellowstone located at the west entrance to the park. All things considered it's the most centrally located accommodations outside of the park. I spent 4 nights in West Yellowstone last summer and 3 full days exploring the park. I would have liked to spend more time there but since it was my third visit and I also wanted to do some hiking in Glacier and Banff I limited my visit to 3 days. If you stay in West Yellowstone be sure to check out the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center located about a block south of the park entrance. Grizzlies and wolves are two animals that you are not likely to see in the park.

Whatever you decide to do, have a great time.

By: KM T

KM T — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:10:33 +0000

I'd go a little further and stop in Wendover NV . I'd spend an hour early the next morning exploring Bonneville Salt Flats.

By: ejiowol

ejiowol — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:10:30 +0000

everything you need is on this site
http://www.yellowstone.net/forums/index.php

just remember its not a zoo and the animals are WILD and will attack if threatened.

By: Punkala

Punkala — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:10:26 +0000

I don’t see a video of you coming back up all those millions of steps, are you still down there?? We’ll be going there in two weeks, I’m going to have nightmares about all those stairs. It’ll take me two days to get back upstairs! It’s worth it with it with that amazing view though, isn’t it? Let me know! Punkala