Yellowstone Science A quarterly publication devoted to the natural and cultural resources Geyser Gazing A Visit with a Historian Tales from Forest and Stream Protecting Pronghorns Volume 6 Number 4 NPS photo by Jim Peaco. Legends of Yellowstone It was a great legend…that near the end 1960s, while writing a comprehensive searching and writing park histories, 25 of their exploratory journey across the history of the first park. Not until I inter- years after his retirement. The above photo Yellowstone region, members of the viewed Aubrey for this issue did I learn is affectionately called “The Historian Washburn party, camped near the another Yellowstone Story. The NPS was and Three Other Guys,” though the latter confluence of the Firehole and Gibbon preparing to celebrate Yellowstone’s cen- are too modest—they include former park rivers on September 19, 1870, discussed tennial in 1972, attended by park manag- historians Lee Whittlesey, the current how to divide up the landscape among ers and supporters from around the world, archivist; Paul Schullery; and Tom themselves. Instead, reported expedition when Haines’ work was to have been Tankersley—each of whom has himself leader Nathaniel Langford in 1905, a man published by the Park Service. Accord- carried on the tradition of preserving the named Cornelius Hedges magnanimously ing to author/historian Paul Schullery, ongoing record of Yellowstone. suggested that everyone in the party who helped me interview Haines, “The Still, I was dismayed to find that NPS should support setting the region aside as old guard in the NPS and the conserva- officials had even attempted to suppress a “great National Park.” tion community was very angry that the results of Haines’ careful study. Al- The creation story of the world’s first [Aubrey] debunked the myth of the Madi- though researchers working for govern- national park was proudly told by many a son Campfire story and proved that ment agencies are often accused of being ranger for decades at campfire programs Yellowstone [Park’s] origins were much under the thumb of agency managers or in Yellowstone and across the nation. Yet more complex.” As a result of the furor politicians, in my years in Yellowstone I when I first joined the staff here in 1982, over questioning the legend in his book, have observed such scientists to be inde- we naturalists were taught that the legend Haines retired earlier than planned. Myths pendent and outspoken in their opinions. was likely false, exaggerated at least; in and legends are powerful influences on I fervently hope that it is our continued his diary of the day, Hedges noted noth- our culture, and perhaps on managers as intent to foster sound, objective studies. ing exceptional: “…No fish in river, grub well. We should not expect them to produce getting very thin…” Haines’ research was published, a myth consensus, but to at least contribute to Though earlier historians had criti- exposed—and the Service and healthy, informed debate on how to best cized the simplistic Yellowstone creation Yellowstone survived with public affec- conserve the cultural and natural resources tale, it was park historian Aubrey Haines tion intact. Aubrey has become quite a in all of our parks—even as we spin our who notably challenged its validity in the Yellowstone legend himself, still re- tales around the campfire. SCM Yellowstone Science A quarterly publication devoted to the natural and cultural resources Volume 6 Number 4 Fall 1998 Table of Contents Gazing at Yellowstone’s Geysers 2 One of the park’s volunteers describes how and why he and many other dedicated observers spend countless hours watching Yellowstone’s lesser-known but ever-fascinating geysers. by Ralph Taylor Yellowstone History: 125 Years and More to Tell 9 A former park historian shares tales from the park’s long past— and from his own colorful career—as he urges current employees not to forget the importance of documenting the events they live and observe. Interview with Aubrey Haines Tales from Forest and Stream: News of 16 Yellowstone in the late 1800s Articles featured in a turn-of-the-century periodical, now compiled and indexed for readers’ use, were highly influential in fostering support for park expansion, resource protection laws, Old Faithful Geyser. NPS photo. and a conservation ethic. by Sarah Broadbent Editor Yellowstone Pronghorns: Relict Herd in a Sue Consolo-Murphy 20 Associate & Design Editor Shrinking Habitat Sarah Broadbent A biologist summarizes the natural history of the park’s smallest, Assistant Editor fleetest ungulate, and makes a case for additional research and management attention toward this population of tenuous status. Mary Ann Franke by James W. Caslick Assistant Design Editor Tami Blackford News and Notes Printing • New World Mine Settlement Finalized • New Pronghorn 25 Artcraft Inc. Studies to Begin • Park Hires New Wildlife Biologist • Education Bozeman, Montana on Thermal Habitats Improves • Errata Yellowstone Science is published quarterly, and submissions are welcome from all investigators conducting formal research in the Yellowstone area. Correspondence should be sent to the On the cover: A mounted Editor, Yellowstone Science, Yellowstone Center for Resources, P.O. Box 168, cavalry drill on the parade Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190. grounds, Fort Yellowstone, The opinions expressed in Yellowstone Science are the authors' and may not reflect either ca. 1910. NPS photo. In- National Park Service policy or the views of the Yellowstone Center for Resources. Copyright © 1997, the Yellowstone Association for Natural Science, History & Education. side cover: Lee Whittlesey, Support for Yellowstone Science is provided by the Yellowstone Association for Natural Aubrey Haines, Paul Science, History & Education, a non-profit educational organization dedicated to serving the Schullery, and Tom park and its visitors. For more information about the Yellowstone Association, including Tankersley. membership, write to P.O. Box 117, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190. Yellowstone Science is printed on recycled paper with a linseed oil-based ink. Photo courtesy Ralph Taylor. Gazing at Yellowstone’s Geysers by Ralph Taylor When the alarm goes off at 2 A.M., I that may occur during their absence, “geyser gazers.” Spanning a wide range grope to silence it. I crawl out of my warm geyser watchers like myself place a of backgrounds and levels of interest, bed and dress quickly, as it is cold in my marker, such as a small pile of sand, a these geyser gazers return to Yellowstone room at the Old Faithful Inn, even though stick, or a few pine needles, where the annually to watch their favorite geysers it is June. I move as quietly as I can, next eruption will wash it away. and socialize with other gazers. because the floors creak and the walls are After half an hour of waiting, Plume The geyser gazers can be spotted in the no barrier to sound at all. finally erupts. After placing the marker, geyser basins using CB radios to keep in I put on my coat and backpack, find the I wait another hour in the increasing cold touch with each other, notebooks to record flashlights—a white light and a small one in case there is another eruption, then geyser times, wide-brimmed floppy hats with a red lens to preserve night vision. head back to try to get a few hours sleep and long sleeves for protection during Making my way to Geyser Hill in the before dawn. long hours in the high-elevation sunlight, Upper Geyser Basin, I leave behind the What am I doing here? I am one of and backpacks in which to carry all their pools of bright light in the Inn’s parking more than a hundred amateur geyser other gear. Visitors learn to look for these lot and walk in deep shadow around Old watchers who return to Yellowstone year telltale signs because the gazers can be Faithful and down to the bridge over the after year to enjoy and learn more about good sources of information about what Firehole River. I hope the shadows along geyser activity. I am here to try to figure is happening and where to go next. The the trail are just trees growing along the out what Plume Geyser is doing this radios and word of mouth help maintain path and not sleeping bison! summer, to add a little to our store of an efficient grapevine communicating the On my first trips alone in the geyser knowledge about Yellowstone’s gey- latest lore among the gazers. basin, the shadows seemed threatening sers. The involvement of many gazers starts and the stillness a bit scary. Now Geyser with a simple desire to figure out when a Hill is a familiar place, where the white Geyser Gazers: For the Fun and Sci- certain geyser will erupt, since the park geyserite sand and lack of trees allow the ence of It naturalists at the Norris, Old Faithful, and starlight to show me the way. On this West Thumb thermal areas can provide night, I am just trying to stay warm and Yellowstone has the world’s largest predictions for only a few geysers. Fre- get to Plume Geyser quickly, to mark the collection of geysers, and thus attracts a quent visits can also lead to an interest in geyser after what I hope will be the last large group of dedicated (some say ob- geyser geology, the connections between eruption tonight. To check for eruptions sessed) geyser aficionados known as geysers, or just tracking changes in a 2 Yellowstone Science favorite geyser. But some geyser gazers encouraged the publication of dozens of strange way to operate! And because of like myself become more technically ori- reports on geysers and other thermal ac- my “real” career as an engineering man- ented, and spend years studying one or tivity.