Winter Magic Emergency
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YellowstoneOfficial Newspaper of Yellowstone National Park Today Winter 1998- 99%/ Caution, Winter Visitors ellowstone has many hidden and unmarked hazards. Freezing, Ythawing, and extreme temperatures can create dangerous con ditions. Take proper precautions; use cpmmon sense and extra care near canyons, waterfalls, thermal areas, viewpoints, and wildlife. Watch your children. Your hand and your voice may be too far away once your child leaves your side. Road conditions on the stretch of road open to automobiles from Gardiner to Cooke City, Montana, can be icy, snowpacked, and hazardous. Snowtires or chains are always recommended and, at times, may be required on this road. Please drive, walk, snowmobile, and ski safely to protect yourself and your park. Non-Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Winter Magic However, when heat meets cold, tenance to other animals. Plants and Permit No. 104 the clash creates incomparable animals depend on the reservoir of Livingston, MT 59047 beauty. Through time, Yellowstone water locked in the snowbanks and has been shaped by fire and ice. freed through the months of spring, now and cold transform During winter, these ancient and summer, and fall. Over the long SYellowstone's 2.2 million acres ongoing forces seem compressed term, winter is a major regulator of in ways both obvious and subtle. At into a snapshot of geologic time. natural systems, an essential part of first, the effect is one of simplifica the cycle of building and destruc tion: the ground appears to be cov Snow and cold transform more than tion. Winter helps maintain a bal ered by a monotonous white blan the landscape. All living things ance between living and nonliving ket. Spend more time and that illu change somehow to adapt to harsh things. sion is shattered. Cold, wind, and conditions. For some, this means Yellowstone light shape and color snow in infi simply leaving the area for the du In the wildness of Yellowstone it is Association nite textures and tones. ration of winter. Others enter states possible to see not only the beauty of dormancy or considerably of the season but to begin to com Yellowstone Today, which is distributed to visitors at park entrances, is published by the staff of Yellowstone National Park. As a member of the Another force is at work here, too: reduced activity. Still others move prehend the sublime necessity of its Yellowstone Association (YA), you have contributed to the production heat, rising from deep within the to different habitat, grow thicker harshness. costs of this publication, a major source of information for millions of earth. Yellowstone's heat source is coats, change colors, and alter feed park visitors each year. YA operates book sales facilities in visitor centers uninfluenced by the change of the ing habits to survive. and museums; YA staff provide information and assistance to park visitors. seasons, and thermal activity—gey Ultimately, much of YA's revenue is returned to the park's educational, sers, hot springs, mud pots, and Winter takes life and gives life. interpretive and research programs. As a YA member, you are a part of the fumaroles—continues nonstop. Animals perish but death gives sus team striving to preserve Yellowstone "For the Benefit and Enjoyment of Future Generations." Emergency- Contents Spring plowing starts March 8 Dial 911 Throughout the park, groomed roads will close to oversnow vehicle (snowmobile and snowcoach) traffic for spring plowing as follows: Safety 2 March 8 Mammoth to Norris Visitor centers 3 March 10 Madison to Norris to Canyon Snowmobile regulations 10 March 15 All other park roads close to oversnow Entrance fees 13 traffic. Park map 16 Roads close at 8:00 AM on the days listed. M -, *. A Printed mi recycled paper with so\ inL — • '""' 2 Some Things all Visitors Must Know... Yellowstone Today Icy roads and trails The only roads plowed for the win drifting snow. Snow tires or tire Emergency ter season—and not open to over- chains may be required and are snow vehicles—are the 56 mile (90 always recommended. —dial 911 km) stretch between the North Entrance and Cooke City, Montana, Park roads are designed for slower- via Mammoth and Tower Junction, than-highway speeds—45 mph (73 Park and a 1 mile (1.6 km) stretch from kph) maximum, lower where post information— Mammoth to the parking area at the ed. Do not stop on the road and Upper Terraces. These roads are block traffic when viewing wildlife (307) 344-7381 maintained only during daylight or scenery, please use pullouts. hours and may close during severe (long distance from storms. Trails and overlooks may be icy, making footing dangerous. Obey some locations in Expect snowpacked roads, icy trail closures. Proceed with cau the park) spots, and frost heaves. High tion at all times and watch your winds may cause blowing and children closely. Unpredictable wildlife; keep Scalding water can ruin your distance your trip You will see more of an animal's but are unpredictable and dangerous. natural behavior and activity if you See page 8 for tips on passing bison Yellowstone's thermal features, rare among the earth's wonders, are are sensitive to its need for space. or other wildlife on a snowmobile, extremely fragile. Boardwalks and trails protect you and preserve delicate That need is most critical in winter. formations. Cold and deep snow make it diffi COYOTES can quickly learn bad cult to find food, and every move habits like roadside begging. This Stay on boardwalks and designated trails. Scalding water underlies most ment costs precious energy. may lead to aggressive behavior of the thin, breakable crusts; pools are near or above boiling temperatures. toward humans. Do not approach any wildlife. View Pets are prohibited in thermal areas. them from the safety of your vehi BEARS may be seen in early and cle. If an animal reacts to your late winter. Be alert for tracks and Swimming or bathing in thermal pools or streams where waters flow presence, you are too close. signs. Never approach animal car entirely from a thermal spring or pool is prohibited. Thermal waters may casses. Report all bear sightings to contain organisms known to cause infections and/or amoebic meningitis Each year a number of park visitors a ranger. which can be quickly fatal. Swim at your own risk; for more information, are injured by wildlife when they ask at any ranger station or visitor center. approach animals too closely. SNOWMOBILERS: Stop and allow When on foot, you must stay at wildlife to move off roads before con least 100 yards (91 m) away from tinuing. If you must pass, then follow bears and at least 25 yards (23 the guidelines on page 8. BEWARE OF WINTER CAMPING PETS m) away from bison, elk, bighorn HYPOTHERMIA sheep, deer, moose, or coyotes. SKIERS: Give all animals plenty of Wheeled vehicles: winter camp Pets must be leashed. They are room. Do not ski through herds. AND FROSTBITE ing is available only at Mammoth prohibited on ski trails, in the back- BISON may appear tame and slow Campground (accessible via the country, and in thermal basins. Yellowstone's weather is unpredict North Entrance). Heated Leaving a pet unattended and/or able; a calm, clear day may turn restrooms and water are avail tied to an object is prohibited. fiercely stormy. Without adequate able. Overnight camping or stop clothing and gear an easy ski tour ping outside of this designated or snowmobile trip can turn into a FIREARMS campground are not permitted. battle for survival. Exposure to wind and cold can result in Firearms are not allowed in hypothermia. This rapid loss of BACKCOUNTRY Yellowstone. However, unloaded firearms may be transported in a body heat can cause death if not PERMITS treated. Early warning signs include vehicle when the weapon is cased, broken down or rendered inopera shivering, slurred speech, memory Permits are required for over ble, and kept out of sight. Ammuni lapses, drowsiness, and exhaustion. night backcountry use and may tion must be placed in a separate be obtained in person up to 48 compartment of the vehicle. Exposure to cold and wind can also hours in advance from any ranger result in frostbite. Frostbite can station. Rangers will provide in permanently damage tissue and formation on weather, trails and ATTENTION ANGLERS affect functional use of fingers, snow conditions, and alert you to toes, nose, ears or other bod\ any special winter hazards. Wood Yellowstone National Park's fishing extremities. Protect yourself with fires are only allowed in season closed on the first Sunda\ in warm, layered clothing and fre Mammoth Campground so November and will not reopen quent stops to warm up. skiers must carry stoves and fuel until Saturday of Memorial Day for cooking and melting snow. weekend. 3^ Information and Activities Opening and closing dates are weather dependent Yellowstone Today- Ranger-naturalist activitie Visitor Mammoth Hot Springs Centers Evening slide programs are offered Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nigl (December 24-March 6) at 8:30 PM in the Mammoth Hotel Map Room, ranger-naturalist accompanies the Wildlife Bus Tour to Lamar Valley or Wednesdays which leaves the Mammoth Hotel at 1:00 PM. For more inf mation, stop in at the visitor center or call (307) 344-2263. Open year-round. Winter hours 9:00 AM-5:00 PM daily. Informa Old Faithful tion, bookstore, and exhibits of the Evening programs are offered Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights wildlife, early history, exploration (December 18-March 13) at 7:30 PM in the Old Faithful Visitor Center, and establishment of Yellowstone ditorium. Allow one hour. For program topics, check at the visitor cente National Park are available.