Monday, September 30, 2024

UPDATE: Search continues in remote southeast corner of Yellowstone National Park

Roughly ten days ago search and rescue efforts were launched for a missing hiker in the vicinity of Eagle Peak in Yellowstone National Park. Austin King, an employee of Xanterra Parks and Resorts, a private business authorized to operate in Yellowstone, was reported overdue to the Yellowstone Interagency Communications Center when he failed to arrive for his boat pickup near Yellowstone Lake’s Southeast Arm on the afternoon of Sept. 20, after his planned 7-day backcountry trip to summit Eagle Peak.

According to a report from the Cowboy State Daily this past Friday, King's family has announced that the search has shifted from “rescue” to “recovery”. The park, however, was unwilling to confirm that report.

As of Friday, September 27th, 96 personnel, two helicopters, a search dog team, ground teams with spotting scopes, and a drone have looked for King in this high-elevation, expansive and hazardous area. Eagle Peak, at 11,372 feet (3,466 m), is the highest point in Yellowstone National Park. Teams will continue to search from the peak to about 8,000 feet in various drainages and ridgetops surrounding the peak.

On Thursday, Sept. 26, two helicopters, one belonging to Yellowstone National Park and the other to Teton County, Wyoming, searched extensively throughout the area. In addition, Yellowstone staff have followed up on cellular activity by King that occurred the evening of Sept. 17 on Eagle Peak, the night King summited the peak. Staff are working with cellular forensics experts to attempt to learn more from this data.

As of Friday, Yellowstone continues to partner with Grand Teton National Park, Park County, Wyoming, and Teton County, Wyoming, to look for King. Multiple crews will continue searching for the next several days as conditions warrant. The park will provide more information when it is available.



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Thursday, September 26, 2024

National Public Lands Day Will Unite Thousands to Conserve and Celebrate Across the U.S.

On Saturday, September 28, an estimated 45,000 volunteers nationwide will join "Together for Tomorrow" on National Public Lands Day (NPLD), supporting and celebrating America's public lands through activities like trail maintenance, tree planting, beach clean-ups, and more. NPLD is a fee-free day that not only supports conservation efforts but invites participants to experience and appreciate the beauty of America's public lands.

"For over three decades, National Public Lands Day has been integral to our goal of promoting the many benefits of America's public lands, from recreation and education to mental and physical well-being," said Sara Espinoza, president and CEO of the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), the coordinating organization for National Public Lands Day.

National Public Lands Day is more than a clean-up—it connects communities, provides meaningful outdoor experiences for attendees, and showcases the educational, recreational, and health benefits of public lands. The excitement surrounding NPLD also provides a boost in volunteer recruitment for federal, state, and local public land managers. Last year, over 40,000 volunteers participated in more than 600 events across the US, representing $11.6 million in volunteer service.

To find interesting NPLD events happening near you, please visit https://www.neefusa.org/npld-event-search.



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Monday, September 23, 2024

Tourism to Yellowstone National Park contributes $828 million to local economy

A recent National Park Service report shows that 4.5 million visitors to Yellowstone National Park in 2023 spent $623 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 8,560 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $828 million.

Grand Teton's overall numbers were slightly better. In 2023, 3.4 million park visitors spent an estimated $738 million in local gateway regions while visiting Grand Teton National Park. These expenditures supported a total of 9,370 jobs, $331 million in labor income, $542 million in value added, and $936 million in economic output in local gateway economies surrounding Grand Teton.

“I’m so proud that our parks and the stories we tell make a lasting impact on more than 300 million visitors a year,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “And I’m just as proud to see those visitors making positive impacts of their own, by supporting local economies and jobs in every state in the country.”

The National Park Service report, 2023 National Park Visitor Spending Effects, finds that 325.5 million visitors spent $26.4 billion in communities near national parks. This spending supported 415,400 jobs, provided $19.4 billion in labor income and $55.6 billion in economic output to the U.S. economy. The lodging sector had the highest direct contributions with $9.9 billion in economic output and 89,200 jobs. The restaurants received the next greatest direct contributions with $5.2 billion in economic output and 68,600 jobs.

An interactive tool is available to explore visitor spending, jobs, labor income, and total economic contribution by sector for national, state and local economies. Users can also view year-by-year trend data. The interactive tool and report are available on the NPS website.



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From Montana to New Mexico, the American Rockies stretch for more than a thousand miles. Within this spectacular mountain range are thousands of miles of hiking trails. With such an overwhelming number of options, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?

Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Rocky Mountains takes all the guesswork out by focusing on some of the most amazing hikes across this range, and provides you with a handpicked list of options that will allow you to make the most of your trips in the Rockies:


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Friday, September 20, 2024

Section of Highline Trail closed due to bear encounter

Glacier National Park rangers closed a section of Highline Trail yesterday morning from Haystack Butte to Granite Park Chalet due to a visitor’s encounter with a bear. The species of bear is still under investigation. The closure will remain in place until further notice.

A 35-year-old male sustained non-life threating injuries from a bear while hiking the trail early yesterday morning. His hiking party encountered the bear near the Grinnell Glacier Overlook trailhead. The injured visitor hiked to Granite Park Chalet with assistance from rangers and other hikers where he was met by Two Bear Air and flown to the Apgar horse corrals, then transported by Three Rivers ambulance to the hospital in Whitefish, MT. No further details are currently available.

Visitors to Glacier National Park are reminded that the park is home to black and grizzly bears. Hikers are highly encouraged to hike in groups, make noise when hiking, and have bear spray accessible and know how to use it. For information on trail closures in the park, visit the park’s trail status webpage.

For more information about recreating in bear country, please visit the park’s bear safety webpage.



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Thursday, September 19, 2024

Glacier National Park reminds visitors about construction this fall

Glacier National Park posted this reminder on their social media earlier this week:
Looking to visit Many Glacier this fall? Be prepared for very limited parking due to construction in the Swiftcurrent area. The only parking available is at the Many Glacier Hotel parking lot.

If the valley becomes too congested, rangers may temporarily restrict entry.

Access to all hiking destinations is from the Many Glacier Hotel parking area. Detours are signed and marked.

There are also limited services in the valley, as most commercial facilities and the campground have now closed for the season. Be aware that there is no potable water in the Many Glacier valley—you will need to bring all your drinking water for the day.

Consider choosing another east side destination if need be—the St. Mary and Two Medicine valleys have many options for hikes and scenic views!

Find more information about the closures here: https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/news/swiftcurrent-area-of-glacier-park-closes-september-16.htm




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Bridger-Teton Cautions Recreationists about Unattended Campfires

All too often people don’t intend to start wildfires, yet they leave campfires unattended or don’t completely put them out. Employees with the Bridger-Teton National Forest are visiting campsites throughout the area and are helping to educate campers about how to responsibly tend to campfires. During recent patrols several smoldering campfires were found unattended. These campfires could have been potentially disastrous.

“Leaving a campfire burning on the National Forest is a punishable offense,” said Forest Supervisor Chad Hudson. Violators could face a fine and/or prison, and anyone responsible for starting a wildfire may be held responsible for the cost of putting it out. “A cold morning doesn’t mean fires can’t spread quickly,” said Hudson. Visitors to the Bridger-Teton are reminded to never walk away from a smoldering campfire. The best way to make sure your fire is completely out and cold to the touch is to mix water, earth, and embers and stir them until they're cool enough to hold in your bare hand. Anyone lighting a campfire on the Forest should have a bucket of water and a shovel nearby.

Although an area may appear green, the danger for fire still exists. The reports of unattended campfires have Fire Management Officer James Turner reiterating a fire safety message for all Forest users. The number one culprit of human-caused fires that require the attention of fire crews is escaped campfires which are not fully extinguished. This summer we have found 66 abandoned campfires on the Forest. “Even though we have had recent moisture across much of the Forest, we still need to be careful with campfires and warming fires,” said Turner. He reminds visitors and particularly campers and hunters to the Bridger-Teton to build their campfires in a safe spot, and keep them small. Attention throughout the fall should also be given to identifying other sources that could ignite a wildfire, such as discarded cigarettes or hot mufflers on vehicles parked in tall, dry grass.



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Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Woman sustains thermal burns in Yellowstone National Park

On Monday afternoon, Sept. 16, 2024, a 60-year-old woman visiting Yellowstone National Park from Windsor, New Hampshire, reportedly suffered second and third-degree burns to her lower leg while walking in a thermal area near Mallard Lake Trailhead at Old Faithful.

The woman was walking off-trail with her husband and leashed dog in a thermal area when she broke through a thin crust over scalding water and suffered burns to her leg. The husband and dog were not injured. The woman and her husband went to a park medical clinic where they were evaluated. The patient was later transported via helicopter to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center for further treatment.

Visitors are reminded to stay on boardwalks and trails in hydrothermal areas and exercise extreme caution. The ground in these areas is fragile and thin, and there is scalding water just below the surface. Learn more about safety in thermal areas.

Pets are prohibited on boardwalks, hiking trails, in the backcountry and in thermal areas.

This incident is under investigation and the park has no additional information to share. This is the first known thermal injury in Yellowstone in 2024.



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Saturday, September 14, 2024

Eight trumpeter swans released in Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park posted this news on their social media yesterday:
On Monday, September 9, staff from Yellowstone, the Wyoming Wetlands Society, and Yellowstone Forever released eight young trumpeter swans (cygnets) at Alum Creek in Hayden Valley.

This release is part of an ongoing restoration project to increase territorial pairs of swans which have undergone a decades-long decline in the park. From a high of nearly 70 birds and 17 territorial pairs in the early 1960s, to only four birds in 2009 and 2010, the swan population has declined for a variety of reasons. Researchers are collecting population data such as nest success, number of territorial pairs, and the number of cygnets produced each year. This data tracks key population drivers and may help determine the reasons for the decline.

Recent releases and other restoration efforts have bolstered the population to over 26 birds and five or more territorial pairs as of 2023, including natural reproduction at multiple sites. This September, the park population total will be assessed by park staff during the annual swan count across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

The effort is a public/private partnership between the National Park Service, Wyoming Wetlands Society, Ricketts Conservation Foundation, Greater Yellowstone Trumpeter Swan Working Group, and Montana State University.




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Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Alpine Section of Going-to-the-Sun Road closing at 9 pm tonight due to storm warning

Glacier National Park officials are proactively closing the alpine section of Going-to-the-Sun Road at 9 pm on September 11 through early morning Friday, September 13, 2024, due to forecasted moderate to heavy rain showers and thunderstorms that make the area susceptible to mudslides and falling rock. The road will be closed between Avalanche Creek and Jackson Glacier Overlook.

The National Weather Service issued a forecast for Wednesday, September 11, 2024 for moderate to heavy rain showers with embedded thunderstorms. Half inch or greater per hour rain rates are possible. New or existing burn scars will be very susceptible to debris flows. Known rockslide areas, such as Glacier National Park, may experience rock and mudslides. Thursday through Friday, persistent widespread rain will continue to cause rock fall or debris flow risks, especially in Glacier National Park.

The closure will remain in place until Friday morning unless conditions improve. The park will continually evaluate the conditions to see when the closure can be lifted.

Visitors are encouraged to prepare for inclement weather if they plan to travel to the park this week. Check the weather forecast and park road status before you visit, dress for varying degrees of weather, carry the ten essential emergency items, and be on alert for potential hazards on roadways and trails.



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Friday, September 6, 2024

Glacier National Park Vehicle Reservations End September 9

Glacier National Park would like to remind visitors that September 8, 2024 is the last day vehicle reservations are required. This includes reservations for Going-to-the-Sun Road via the West Entrance, the North Fork, and Many Glacier.

Based on observed traffic patterns during previous vehicle reservation pilot seasons, vehicular traffic is expected to increase when reservations are no longer required, and entry may be temporarily suspended due to congestion. Visitors are encouraged to plan for temporary delays, particularly during the peak hours of the day (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

Parking at Logan Pass, Apgar Village, Avalanche, and other popular areas is expected to be congested or temporarily unavailable.

Starting on September 3, shuttle service was reduced and will conclude for the season on September 15. Lines for shuttles are expected to be long.

The time restrictions for bicycles on Going-to-the-Sun Road will also end on September 9. During the 2024 season, bicycles were not allowed on Going-to-the-Sun Road (both directions) between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. from Apgar to Logan Pass. This restriction will be lifted starting September 9. More information on biking in the park can be found on the park’s website bicycling page.

Although vehicle reservations will no longer be required for the season, each vehicle entering the park is required to have an entrance pass for any entry point into the park. These passes could include any of the following: a $35 vehicle entrance pass purchased at time of entry and good for seven days; a valid Interagency Annual/Lifetime Pass; or a Glacier National Park Annual Pass.



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Glacier National Park preserves more than a million acres of some of the most spectacular scenery on Earth. With more than 740 miles of trails meandering throughout this vast park, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?

Exploring Glacier National Park takes all the guesswork out by focusing on the most amazing hikes, and provides you with handpicked recommendations that will allow you to make the most of your trip to Glacier:


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Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Report bighorn sheep and mountain goat sightings in Grand Teton

Grand Teton National Park posted this message on their social media over the weekend:
Bighorn sheep are one of the toughest mammals around, eking out an existence year-round in Grand Teton National Park. During the rut, bighorn males will collide horns at speeds up to 40 miles per hour!

Bighorn sheep have occupied the Teton Mountain Range for thousands of years. The Teton herd, though, is under threat. Less than 100 individuals remain, and the population is at risk of extinction because of its small size, genetic isolation, and habitat loss.

Invasive mountain goats may also compete against and spread diseases to the bighorns.

The dedicated ungulate crew at Grand Teton is studying where the sheep spend their time and what they eat to learn more about the species and its habitat. Park officials also work with other groups to create closures for winter recreation so bighorns can forage without disturbances.

Did you see a bighorn sheep or mountain goat on your visit? Please report your sighting to a ranger.




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