X Y Z!

X is for… Xanthic – according to dictionary.com: of or relating to a yellow or yellowish color. Okay, I admit that’s a stretch since it really doesn’t have anything to do with YNP, but at least it’s “yellow”! Y is for… Yellowstone! (Photo by Donna Preble) The park was actually named after Yellowstone River. The French trappers named it Roche Jaune which was translated from a Native American word meaning Rock Yellow River. Later, Americans changed that to Yellowstone. There is also a line of thought that it was named for the yellow rocks that are seen in Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon. Notice the yellow tint in the above picture. Z is for... Zones – there are 6 zones in the North America that scientists say would be affected by should Yellowstone have another major eruption. These are determined by the ash fall from the eruption 2 million years ago. You can check the map at http://www.cbc.ca/doczone/features/the-zones to see which zone you reside in and how you would be affected either by fatalities or economic loss.

ENDING (Photo by Donna Preble) Thank you for taking the time to glimpse this amazing place through my eyes! I have thoroughly enjoyed sharing it!

W is for...

WEST YELLOWSTONE (Picture by yellowstonehistoriccenter.org) The history of West Yellowstone is similar to the history of the park. As early guides traveled with people into the park, they followed the Madison River which would later become the town of West Yellowstone. Later, in 1908, “the iron horse” (train) arrived in West Yellowstone. Once cars were allowed in the park in 1915, the town grew in leaps and bounds to cater to the tourists. It is estimated to receive more than half its annual business from Chinese tourists. ("A New Yellowstone Tourist Attraction". BBC World. June 19, 2015) According to the Chamber of Commerce, visitation to West Yellowstone tops 4 million people per year. Some attractions I have enjoyed there include the Yellowstone Big Screen (IMAX) Theater, the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center, and the Yellowstone Historic Center (housed in the former Union Pacific Depot). Of course, I cannot fail to mention some fun and delicious restaurants including Buckaroo Bills (where you get to sit in booths resembling a stage coach), Wild West Pizzeria (with pizzas named after famous Old West people like Doc Holliday), and The Buffalo Bar (serving everything from bison burgers to Rocky Mountain oysters).

WYOMING (Picture by www.yellowstonepark.com) Approximately 96% of Yellowstone National Park is located in Wyoming, 3% is in Montana, and 1% is in Idaho. (http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/parkfacts.htm) In addition to this, the Grand Tetons are located in Wyoming south of Yellowstone National Park. Continuing south to Jackson Hole, you will find the National Elk Refuge and Teton Village, known and loved by skiers, as well as the four famous Antler Arches. Cody, Wyoming (east of YNP) has the Buffalo Bill Center of the West – a fantastic museum.

(Photo by Lisa M. May)

V is for...

VOLCANO (Graphic by https://images.search.yahoo.com/images) A volcano is a vent at the Earth's surface through which magma (molten rock) and associated gases erupt. It is also the name for the cone built by effusive and explosive eruptions. Yellowstone is such a large volcano that it does not have a distinct cone but rather has raised the elevation of the region approximately 1700 feet higher than surrounding areas. (https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/photosmultimedia/glossary-iy.htm) Most people will immediately notice the difference in altitude. Temporary side effects include an increase in breathing rate, headaches, and fatigue. Most people can adapt in a few days. One of the things that I have found that helps me is drinking a lot of water. This seems to take care of the headache the best. I also have found that walking slow and steady helps until my body has had time to adjust.

VISITORS (Photo by Donna Preble) People have been visiting the Yellowstone area for 11,000 years! The first Euro American believed to have visited was John Colter, a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Following him came trappers and additional explorers. In the 1880’s, proper roads were built and in 1915, private vehicles were allowed in the park. From the early 1900’s through the 1970’s, Yellowstone was America’s playground with the general attitude expressed on the Roosevelt Arch: For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People. As the years progressed, people began to realize the importance of protecting the fragile ecosystem of this amazing area and implemented restoration and maintenance procedures so that it could continue to be enjoyed for many generations to come. Unfortunately, there are still people who either do not understand the necessary rules for sustainability or blatantly ignore them such as petting bison, moving baby bison, and walk across protected thermal areas. See: http://abcnews.go.com/US/yellowstone-bison-calf-euthanized-visitors-reportedly-rescue-looked/story?id=39155027

U is for...

Uncle Tom’s Trail(Photo by Donna Preble) This wonderful trail takes you from the top of the Grand Canyon to the bottom of the Lower Falls. There are over 300 steps down to the bottom and of course, that means climbing back up the approximately 500 vertical feet. Fortunately, there are plenty of benches and platforms to rest and catch your breath. It is well worth the effort and time (no matter how long it takes) just to see the rainbows in the water spray, the incredible view of the falls, and the surrounding scenery on the way down and back up.

Unusual Facts (Photo by Donna Preble)**Yellowstone has the largest free-roaming herds of bison in the world. **The rotten egg smell at Yellowstone’s geysers and mud pots is caused by sulfur. **There are approximately 4000 earthquakes in Yellowstone each year. **Private cars were not allowed in the park until 1915 and that was changed at least partially due to people traveling to the Panama Pacific International Exposition. **For years, fishermen used to dip their fresh caught trout into the Fishing Cone hot spring (near West Thumb) to cook their meal right on the spot. **Hunting in Yellowstone was officially prohibited in 1883. **Yellowstone’s Old Faithful Inn, built in 1903-04, is the world’s largest log cabin building. (facts.randomhistory.com/yellowstone-facts.html) **Temperature records for Yellowstone: High: 99°F/37 C, 2002 - Mammoth Low Temp: -66° F/-54 C - West Entrance, 1933 ( http://yellowstone.net/intro/fast-facts/) **Old Faithful was once used as a laundromat! In the 1880s, members of the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition discovered that clothes placed inside the crater became totally clean once ejected by Old Faithful. They found that linen and cotton washed just fine, but wool clothes were shredded by the geyser. (http://quirkytravelguy.com/9-things-you-didnt-know-about-yellowstone-national-park/)

T is for...

(Picture by flyfishyellowstone.blogspot.com) TRAVEL - Yellowstone is far from any major airports. There are small airports with limited service in Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Cody, and Idaho Falls. If you are traveling from far away, you can fly into one of these airports and then rent a car to travel the remaining distance. There is a very small airport in West Yellowstone that is open June - September with SkyWest service connecting through Salt Lake City. By car, there are five entrances: North, which will take you to the Roosevelt Arch and into Mammoth Falls; Northeast through Cooke City, which is closed from mid-October to late-May; East from Cody, which is closed from November to May; South from Grand Teton National Park, which is closed from November to May; and West through West Yellowstone, which is closed November through April. The only entrance open all year is the North. Most people use private vehicles to get around the park, unfortunately, some are international travelers who do not always understand our basic driving rules. It can also be very crowded whenever people stop to view wildlife. There are multiple pull-outs located along the roads, but not everyone uses them. There is no public transportation through the park, but there are companies who provide tours mainly from West Yellowstone. If you planning a visit to Yellowstone National Park, try to arrive before June 20th or after August 20th to avoid the worst of the crowds. If that is not an option, get up as early as possible each day to get into the park; you will see more animals in the morning and avoid the worst of the crowds working their way in.

(Picture by http://www.yellowstone.co) TUFF - Yellowstone is a very "tuff" place to visit. All humor aside, in case you don't know what tuff is: TUFF is a type of rock made of volcanic ash ejected from a vent during a volcanic eruption. As it is deposited the ash is compacted into a solid rock in a process called consolidation. Lava Creek Tuff ranges in color from light-gray to pale red. The tuff at Tuff Cliff has been exposed by erosion along the Gibbon River. You can find addition tuff in various places throughout the park.

S is for...

SNOW (Photo by Donna Preble) Yellowstone averages nearly 100 inches of snow per year. This is 315% higher than the national average (snowfall.weatherdb.com) In 2015, the day after we arrived in mid-May, we woke up to a fresh eight inches on the ground. The average snowfall the last 30 years in Yellowstone is only 2.5 inches - guess we lucked out to see the amount we did. The temperatures can vary widely as well with one night in July 2015 reaching a low of 19 degrees. That being said, when you visit Yellowstone, bring a variety of clothing depending on which month you visit. You will most likely need to dress in layers which can be added or removed as the temperature dictates. My long underwear is never out of reach!

SCARP (Picture by travellogs.us) As you travel in and around Yellowstone National Park, you will see several places where there appears to be a cliff or drop off. These are fault scarps which are caused when one side of a fault moves vertically either up or down in relation to the other side. They can be as small as a few inches to as large as several feet. The Teton Range is an example of an active fault scarp. Its vertical displacement is close to 30,000 feet. Yellowstone and the surrounding area is fascinating for anyone with even the slightest interest in geology!

R is for...

RIVERS (Photo of Elk in the Madison River by Donna Preble) There are multiple rivers, streams, and creeks throughout Yellowstone National Park. The Yellowstone is the largest major river in the park. It is also famous for being the longest undammed river in the contiguous United States which has allowed it to maintain its natural characteristics. (www.yellowstone.co) Other notable rivers include the Gardner River in the northwest part of the park, the Firehole River on the west side of the park with its warm water swimming hole, and the Madison River which flows alongside the west entrance road. I enjoy stopping by the Madison River where I have seen elk, bears, deer, and other animals.

RAILROADS (Picture of Union Pacific Depot by yellowstonehistoriccenter.org) When Yellowstone National Park initially opened, it hosted only about 1000 visitors per due to the remote location, difficult access, and primitive accommodations. It all changed when the Northern Pacific Railroad reached Livingston, Montana and eventually Gardiner near the north entrance in the late 1890's. Soon after that, the Union Pacific reached the west side of the park (West Yellowstone) though its trips were limited to running during June to September. The popularity of the railroads decreased following World War II because many more people owned their own vehicle and were able to drive right into the park. I sometimes wonder if the old track areas could be rejuvenated and extended so that quiet, energy-efficient electric trains could run which would help with the noise and air pollution as well as the traffic backups.