This park has a lot to offer. During our stay we saw thermal features, great scenery, waterfalls, and lots of wildlife. Probably the most impressive aspect about the park for me was the thermal features. Once you get into the park, there are clouds of steam rising from the ground about everywhere you look in the active thermal areas. Water erupts from the ground, mud boils and bubbles like nothing I had ever seen, and gas spews out of the ground sounding like a jet engine. While we were there, we caught a geyser that had not erupted for 20 years or so before 2000, and only a few times since then. We were the only camera crew to catch this on film. It was exciting! Be sure to look for this video on the site!
The wildlife would have to be the next impressive thing about the park. Right when we drove into the park we saw a herd of about 50 elk grazing. During our stay we saw lots of elk, bison, deer, marmots, birds, and we even got to see a bear. The elk and deer especially do not seem to notice all of the crazy tourists snapping pictures and you can get close. Be extremely careful when doing this and don’t feed the animals. They are still wild and un predictable.
This park get millions of visitors. Be careful while in the park. I have never seen the type of human behavior I saw here in any other park I have been to. I saw a guy standing on the edge of a waterfall that was 100 feet high, totally disregarding the sign that says don’t do this. People did not seem to use common sense. Another family was stepped over the rock barrier at the Grand Canyon and stood right on the edge. The funny thing was they were standing right next to the sigh that says don’t stand on the edge or pass over the rock barrier. It was a good picture. If there is any wildlife spotted in the park, watch out, that makes for an instance traffic jam and people parking in the middle of the road. There are also many dangers around the thermal features of the park. In many areas the ground and water is very hot, and the ground may also be hollow in some places due to running water passages underneath the ground. If you come in contact with this boiling hot water, or fall in, you will most likely decease to exit, or be in very bad shape. It is extremely dangerous so do not go off of the trails. The thermal features are also very fragile as well and they have received a great impact from humans. Some people actually throw coins into these pools. This can greatly damage the amazing colors that they have, and, they have to send people to clean them out. Try to keep a safe distance from the wildlife. When we drove through Hayden Valley there were thousands of Bison. They were crossing the road when we were going through. These Bison are huge, probably as big as two cows. People were standing outside of there cars taking pictures with Bison only feet away. At any moment that animal could decide it does not like you so close, and take you out. This surely will lead to a lot on pain, if you even make it through. Exercise extreme caution and use common sense while viewing these magnificent animals.
Bechler Area
This area is sometimes called the forgotten corner. It is located in the South West corner of the park and you enter through Idaho. This is a back country area of the park, so you if don’t want to see a lot of people, then this is where you want to go. Bechler is known for its many waterfalls. There is a campground in this area called Cave Falls campground. Just up the road you will find a Cave Falls which is a very cool waterfall. We decided to do a 2 day backpack trip into the area, but there is a popular route that would take three days and this would allow you to enjoy more of the waterfalls. During our 7 mile hike, we saw 7 people. Along the way you will hike through some amazing forest areas and meadows. Be sure to bring your water shoes because you will need to cross several streams during your hike into the area. It was sure refreshing to take a dip in the water after a long hike. Our campsite was near Dunnanda falls and it was a very remote campsite. The only complaint I had was the mosquitoes. I have never experienced anything like it. They were out full force during the day and evening and finally went away after sun down. Be sure to bring full mosquito gear including repellant, clothes to cover your entire body, and a mosquito net. At this campsite you actually setup your tent on tall grass in the meadow area.
The next day we hiked to Dunnanda Falls. This was a very impressive fall and I understand there are hot springs that you can swim in.
I would not recommend coming out in the area until late June or the first part of July when the meadows dry up. They say after August the mosquito’s settle down.
Checkout the Yellowstone pictures at http://www.adventure-crew.com/cat.asp
Checkout the Yellowstone Backcountry Video at http://www.adventure-crew.com/cart/gallery/shopquery.asp?catalogid=1341
Clint Pollock President, Adventure-Crew Inc. http://www.adventure-crew.com http://www.adventure-space.com