BEAR AND OTHER JAMS

WHY DID THE BEAR CROSS THE ROAD?

The most logical answer to that question is "to get away from the tourists".  This photo appeared in Backpacker Magazine and then made its way to Facebook. 

Several of the comments left on Facebook seemed to indicate that bear jams, buffalo jams, elk jams, wolf jams, etc. were all good reasons to stay away from Yellowstone National Park.

I take exception to those comments.  The bear, bison, elk, wolf and many other of God's creatures are the original and permanent residents of this amazing and wonderful Park.  They were here long before man arrived on the scene to invade their homes.  We humans tend to forget that WE are the visitors and we need to respect the rights of the original and permanent residents.

So - for those of you who do not wish to put up with the various "jams" and who are inconvenienced by tourists - perhaps you would be better off to avoid Yellowstone.  Never mind that you will deprive yourself (and probably your family) of the amazing creation that God has so generously provided for your pleasure.

If you are going to come with a bad attitude then the rest of us would just as soon you stay home.

ARE YELLOWSTONE ROADS MELTING????

FIREHOLE LAKE DRIVE

While it is true that Firehole Lake Drive in Yellowstone National Park was temporarily closed early in the month - I am pleased to let you know that the National Park Service has re-opened that road.


We lived in Arkansas for many years and I noticed that during the summer the asphalt roads and streets in our town would often appear to be melting.  The continued high summer temperatures would cause the asphalt roads to  "bleed" oil.  This is the same thing that happened to Firehole Lake Drive in Yellowstone.  The only difference is that the ground temperature is much hotter than it ever got in Arkansas.  I dare say that had Arkansas had the kind of ground temperature that is found under Firehole Lake Drive those Arkansas roads would have "melted" too.

I know that, if you do not live here year around, it is easy to become apprehensive and concerned when the news media reports that a road in the park is "melting". However, for those of us who are "locals" such announcements are pretty commonplace.

Several years ago a section of Norris Geyser Basin was closed due to extremely high ground temperatures.  That closing lasted a week or so - the temperature went back down to an acceptable level - and Norris was re-opened to the public.

When the National Park Service closes an area to driving or hiking or camping it is for the protection of our visitors who are not familiar with the conditions that can sometimes exist in Yellowstone.  It is not because the Park is melting or getting ready for an imminent eruption of the so called Super Volcano.

If you have questions I would highly recommend that you contact the National Park Service in Yellowstone rather than rely on the news media reports.  Get the straight story from the source.

I AM BACK

Between summertime business and family issues - I have been off this page for way too long.  I am back now and hope not to have too many interruptions from this point on.

We have been having typical summer weather.  Beautiful mornings and some late afternoon thunder storms that do not last long but do provide some needed moisture.

The town and the park seem to be pretty busy right now in spite of the fact that one of the news agencies on t.v. put out the word that Yellowstone was closed because all of the roads were all melting!!!!!  ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE.  I will do a post shortly that might help clear up that misconception.

Come on out.  Yellowstone is open - West Yellowstone is open and thriving.  You are missing out on a great adventure if you do not come see us.