For several columns, I have been writing about the fabulous trip I
made to Wyoming and Montana with the Worthington family; Bill, Jessica
and Mary Jo, but now that it is time to do the column about
Yellowstone National Park, I am nearly overwhelmed with the amount of
information that I want to convey to the readers. Yellowstone
National Park is larger than words and is home to wildlife, geysers,
waterfalls, scenic landscapes, and more nature pictures than you can
count.
Here are some of the statistics that they advertise on their pages;
Yellowstone National Park contains "2.2 million acres; there are 310
miles of paved roads, 10,000 + hydrothermal features, 290 waterfalls,
and 131.7 miles of shoreline on Yellowstone Lake." There is one
vitally important statement that everyone visiting the park should
memorize; "Yellowstone is a dangerous place to visit." They are not
trying to scare you from visiting; they just want you to be aware and
be vigilant.
The wildlife that you will encounter is not fenced in or managed in
any way; you are in their habitat so you must remain mindful of the
rules of viewing them safely. Under no circumstance are you to touch
any of the animals; you can however photograph and make videos from a
safe distance but you must be ready to seek safety if they become
agitated. There are countless instances each year where tourists are
injured.
"Yellowstone National Park is a nearly 3,500 square mile wilderness
recreation area atop a volcanic hot spot. Mostly in Wyoming, the park
spreads into parts of Montana and Idaho too. "In order to see the
important sites and have time to view the wildlife and the wildflowers
that cover the ground in most areas, it takes several days of
visiting. Summertime is probably the best choice of seasons because
in the cooler months, several of the roads are closed because of ice
and snow. Being there in July, we were fortunate that all the various
roads were open and Bill could choose our pathways.
There are enough pull-offs to view choices along the highway that you
can get that once-in-a-lifetime photograph. In order to see the
wildlife you only have to look for the crowds of people with
binoculars and those who are staring and pointing. Seeing a group of
vehicles pulled over to the side of the road tells you that a wild
animal has been sighted.
It is advisable to map out your visit before your trip and remember
that frequently it is a long ride between stops for food and services.
Even though we were there during the Covid-19 crisis; we saw
countless signs for picnic lunches and baskets being prepared by the
local restaurants.
We bought supplies in Paradise Valley and enjoyed lunch right in the
middle of Yellowstone. Our homemade sandwiches and chips along with
fresh fruit and boiled eggs was what we needed to sustain us on our
travels.
The mooning incident is something I will never forget.
Brenda S. Brown
