Latest / This Week in Yellowstone National Park / This Week in Yellowstone: May 29th to June 4th, 2025

Transcript

This Week in Yellowstone: May 29th to June 4th, 2025 · This Week in Yellowstone National Park

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From Yellowstone National Park, where bears are
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still prevalent, all the roads are open, the
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quality hiking season is just around the corner,
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and the high visitation season is kicking off.
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Oh, it's also a place where it'll be 80 degrees
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on the weekend and probably snow during the weekdays.
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This is that Scott guy you know and love with
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another episode of This Week in Yellowstone.
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What's up everybody this week in Yellowstone
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National Park from May 29th to June 4th I'll
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talk about how to avoid getting stuck in the
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lines at West Yellowstone Tell you about Dunraven
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Pass and why you should drive it and share a
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great hike for a rainy day as it's gonna be rainy
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Monday Tuesday Wednesday next week. I'll also
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give you the complete weather forecast Wildlife
0:55
report and everything else you need to know to
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have an incredible time this week in Yellowstone
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Here's the disclaimer. I might miss a few details,
1:04
so feel free to reach out with any questions.
1:06
I also mentioned park locations very casually.
1:09
So if you're unfamiliar, a quick search can help.
1:12
And this report. Oh, I don't have to say that
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anymore. But this report only covers the drivable
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areas of the park, which is the whole park. Also,
1:21
this podcast is a passion project. I'm not paid
1:24
or sponsored. So if you're enjoying it, I'd love
1:26
to have a review or just get a quick email. I've
1:30
been getting messages via text via email from
1:33
a lot of you. Thank you so much. Every single
1:35
one means a lot to me. It is awesome. This community
1:39
that listens to this and the ramblings of me.
1:43
I thank you. If you'd like to further support
1:46
my work, you can check out my guidebooks on hiking
1:49
and wildlife watching, or highly recommend joining
1:52
me on a guided Yellowstone hiking tour. Cannot
1:55
stress enough, I know the park so well, I will
1:58
tell you everything you need to know and show
2:01
you cool spots in the backcountry. For details,
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you can visit outdoor -society .com or reach
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out to me directly. I currently have a lot of
2:11
availability in July, so if you want to hike,
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July and you're coming to the park in July hit
2:15
me up. I'm pretty free Kind of weird, but also
2:19
it's fine All right this week in Yellowstone
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news the North Gate to Mammoth Road striping
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On Friday, May 30th, between 11 a .m. and around
2:30
3 p .m., the road connecting Gardner and Mammoth
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will have some delays. The delays might be up
2:36
to 30 minutes for road striping. This impact
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should be minimal and should only be from 11
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to around three. Shouldn't last any longer than
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that. I just want to give a heads up to be aware
2:46
of that. If you're headed to the park, it won't
2:48
be too bad. There is a new webcam that offers
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a glimpse into Yellowstone's Black Diamond Pool.
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So a powerful. A powerful hydrothermal explosion
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at Yellowstone's Biscuit Basin on July 23rd of
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2024 did more than just reshape the landscape.
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It spurred a new era of monitoring and public
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engagement. In response to this explosion, scientists
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have installed a webcam to observe Black Diamond
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Pool, one of the park's most active geothermal
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features, providing real -time insight for researchers
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and the public. On May 14th, the Yellowstone
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Volcanic Observatory set up a high -resolution
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pan -tilt zoom webcam on the damaged boardwalk
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overlooking Black Diamond Pool. Though temporary,
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the camera captures still images every 15 minutes
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and records video on site for later analysis.
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This is part of a broader monitoring effort and
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the webcam offers a clear, if slightly tilted,
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view of daily geothermal activity and unexpected
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changes. You can follow the webcam at the link
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in the show notes. I'm not going to read it out
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because it's not going to do anybody any good.
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So go to the show notes of this episode and there's
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a link there. Due to the limited bandwidth, live
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streaming isn't available. However, if notable
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changes like new debris or wet ground are seen
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in images, stored videos can be retrieved and
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shared on the YVO website. Biscuit Basin remains
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closed due to safety concerns, making the webcam
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the only current way to view Black Diamond pool
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up close. It's a valuable resource for both researchers
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and virtual visitors, eager to stay connected
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to the Yellowstone's dynamic geology. Now this
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camera is expected to operate through the summer,
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but may be extended in the winter depending on
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performance. And while temporary, it plays a
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vital role in tracking activity and potentially
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detecting early signs of future eruptions. And
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as I am reading this, I just got an email alert
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from Yellowstone. There was a small fire. Well,
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still is a small fire burning out on the western
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side of the park. It's being contained. It's
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all fine. It was caused by lightning and is nothing
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to worry about. But it's a good reminder that
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we are entering fire danger season. Fire danger
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levels right now are still low and with some
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rain coming in, they still should be there. But.
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Always be careful in the backcountry. Know that
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lightning may cause fires out here and always
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extinguish every campsite fire to the point that
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you can touch it and not feel any heat whatsoever.
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Please do that. Alright, a reminder about park
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staffing. As of May 2025, Yellowstone National
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Park employs approximately 782 National Park
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Service staff, compromising of 395 permanent
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and 387 seasonal employees. This marks an increase
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from 2024, which had 392 permanent and 356 seasonal
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staff. Additionally, there's about 3 ,200 individuals
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that work for park concessionaires during the
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summer peak, supporting lodging, dining, and
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retail services. Now, despite a federal hiring
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freeze earlier in the year, all seven probationary
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employees affected were reinstated, with six
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currently active in the park. The park staffing
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levels have remained relatively stable over the
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past decade, even as visitation has surged nearly
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40 % since 2008. To address the housing challenges
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exacerbated by increased visitation, Yellowstone
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received a $40 million donation in 2024 to construct
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approximately 70 new housing units for staff.
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Alright, my experience of the week. Winding through
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Yellowstone's high country at 8 ,859 feet, Dunraven
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Pass is more than just a mountain road. It's
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a journey through some of the park's most awe
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-inspiring terrain. Linking Tower Junction and
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Canyon Village, this alpine route offers breathtaking
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views, dramatic geology, and a front row seat
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to the park's wild heart. Named after Lord Dunraven,
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an Irish noble who visited in 1874 and became
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an early advocate for Yellowstone's protection,
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the pass is a tribute to the power of nature
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to move and inspire. As you climb, the road opens
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up to a series of thoughtfully placed pull -outs,
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each revealing a new layer of Yellowstone's grandeur,
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showing off Specimen Ridge, Washburn Hot Springs,
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and even glimpses out to the Tetons. The High
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Alpine Corridor is also a great wildlife -watching
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area. Grizzlies and black bears often roam near
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the roadside, especially in the spring and early
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summer. Watch for bighorn sheep as they navigate
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steep cliffs, marmots basking on warm rocks,
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and hawks and eagles soaring overhead. Each pullout
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offers not just a view, but a chance to witness
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Yellowstone's untamed spirit up close. At the
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Chitted and Road junction, you can head up to
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the Mt. Washburn trailhead when the snow's all
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melted. It's not open right now. Don't expect
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it to be this week. And that offers a hike that
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rewards you with unrivaled panoramic views stretching
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across the entire region. Once that road opens
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up and that trail is hikeable, if you are looking
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for a good hike, you can hike it. There's two
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trails. There's two routes up. There's actually
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three. We'll talk about that in coming weeks.
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It's great, though. Mount Washburn. Great hike.
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So. Dunraven Pass weaves through a landscape
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shaped by fire and time. Beneath your wheels
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as you're driving it lie ancient volcanic flows
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and layers of ash from one of Earth's most powerful
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super eruptions. Mount Washburn, standing in
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Sentinel over the pass, is a remnant of an extinct
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volcano. Its presence is a quiet reminder of
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the park's turbulent past. Also, if you're driving
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down from Mount Washburn toward Tower and there's
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all those cool cliffs around Tower, that was
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caused by the lava flows of Mount Washburn. So
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the road that you're going to be driving around
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Dunraven Pass was built in the 1930s by the Civilian
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Conservation Corps, the CCC, and the road itself
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is a marvel of design blending seamlessly into
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terrain and making the wild both accessible and
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unforgettable. Driving Dunraven is unforgettable.
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Dunraven Pass is where Yellowstone lifts you
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above the everyday, offering not just a scenic
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drive, but a powerful reminder of nature's scale,
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beauty, and timeless rhythm. My tip of the week.
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Why is West Yellowstone so busy, and how can
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I avoid the lines? So if you follow me on social
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media, you probably know that once tourism season
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kicks off, I start to post the webcam images
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showing the lines at both the West and North
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entrances to Yellowstone. I've been doing this
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for almost a decade and I may monitor the entrances
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more than anyone not living in West Yellowstone
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or directly affiliated with the park. Nearly
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every day there is a long line at West and only
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a few cars at Gardiner. Some interpret my postings
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as a way of showing my dislike toward West Yellowstone.
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This is not the case. I merely post these to
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show the lines. I want you to be informed. I
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want everybody to know that there's lines in
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West Yellowstone and there's usually not lines
10:08
in Gardner. Now, some people want me to keep
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the lack of lines at Gardner on most days a secret.
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To this I say the following. No. Also, realistically,
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Gardner and the surrounding region do not have
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the infrastructure to handle as many tourists
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as West Yellowstone. Unless Gardiner builds a
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few dozen more hotels and adds a ton more restaurants
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and amenities, they will never see the traffic
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that West Yellowstone sees. Until that changes,
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I can scream from the mountaintops to go through
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the north, but there's not enough people that
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can stay there to really impact that. Now you
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may be wondering, okay, just how many cars are
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we talking? So May through September of 2024
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in Gardiner had 339 ,000 384 vehicles. May through
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September of 2024 in West Yellowstone had 676
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,697 vehicles. That's nearly twice as many cars
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in West Yellowstone as compared to Gardner. Now
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for fun, because I love data and stats, I'll
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share the numbers of the other entrances. The
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south entrance had 259 ,955 cars enter between
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May through September in 2024. The east entrance
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over the same period had 151 ,096 cars and the
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northeast entrance over the same months had 120
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,975 cars. So west is busier. It sees twice as
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many cars as Gardner throughout the year or throughout
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those months of May through September and this
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Naturally leads me to explain why West has such
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long lines in the mornings. West Yellowstone
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has the most amenities right outside the park.
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Gardner comes in second, but it's nowhere close.
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Because of the large numbers of hotels, short
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-term rentals, campgrounds, glampgrounds, restaurants,
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and other needed infrastructure, everyone stays
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at West. Plus, West Yellowstone does a much better
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job marketing itself as a gateway to Yellowstone,
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showcasing itself as the fastest way to Old Faithful.
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Add in that they also have flights coming directly
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to town through their airport for part of the
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year. It's little wonder why so many go to West
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Yellowstone over any other entrance. Without
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further setup, here's my single simple surefire
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tip to avoid the lines at West Yellowstone May
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through September. Enter the park early in the
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morning or later in the afternoon. That is all
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you need to do. Early means before 7 a .m. Preferably
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by before 6 30 a .m. Late means after 2pm. It's
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honestly really that simple. The overwhelming
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majority of visitors will enter between 8am and
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noon. Everyone knows to get there early, yet
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few actually do. Entering at the times I suggest
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will allow you to have pretty much no wait as
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you head to the park. In the early morning, parking
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will also be easier to find at the popular spots
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throughout the park. Those entering in the afternoon
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need to know that the parking lots at popular
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spots will remain busy until around dinner time.
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I'm going to get more into how to avoid crowds
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at the popular spots in the park next week. One
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thing to mention before I wrap this up is to
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know that a lot of people who enter the park
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in the morning are also leaving the park in the
13:28
late afternoon or early evening. This alone often
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causes a small traffic jam running from Madison
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Junction to West Yellowstone. If there's a bison
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or elk near the road between West and Madison,
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traffic can be backed up for five miles with
13:42
ease, potentially taking up to an hour to go
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13 miles. So plan around what everyone else is
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doing, and your visit to the park from West Yellowstone
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is going to be fantastic. If you do what everyone
13:53
else does, enjoy the lines. All right, because
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this episode is going to be a little long I am
14:01
skipping the Random Yellowstone fact of the week
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and putting that at the very end. So we're gonna
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jump right to the weather So the weather for
14:12
the coming week Lamar Valley the forecast from
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Thursday through Sunday and Lamar looks pretty
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great highs on each of these days and Lamar will
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be Incredibly toasty around 70 degrees mid 70s
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even with lows in the 40s There's a 24 % chance
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of some afternoon showers on Thursday, but Friday
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and Saturday will have only a 5 % chance of rain.
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It may hit 80 degrees in Lamar Valley on Saturday,
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which is extremely hot at that elevation. Sunday
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will start out sunny and in the 70s by noon,
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and then rain is potentially going to be coming
14:45
in that afternoon or evening. Everything then
14:48
shifts. Monday is going to be rainy and cool
14:51
with a high in the 50s and a low in the 30s with
14:54
a potential for a half inch of rain. Tuesday
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will be 48 and 34 with a third of an inch of
14:59
rain and Wednesday will be pretty much the same.
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The lows should drop and this could be snow.
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Like the rain that I'm talking about could be
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snow. It more than likely is going to be snow
15:10
in Cook City and definitely will be snow on the
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Beartooth Highway. So Gardener. Like Lamar, there's
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a chance of rain on Thursday afternoon and evening
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then clearing up on Friday and Saturday. Expect
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highs in the upper 70s and 80s through Sunday
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with lows in the mid to upper 40s. Rain moves
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into the region on Sunday afternoon or evening.
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Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will be rainy with
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highs in the 50s and lows in the 30s. Expect
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a total rainfall of just under an inch on those
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three days total. West Yellowstone. Highs for
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Thursday, Friday, and Saturday are going to be
15:46
in the 70s, maybe hitting 80 on Saturday. Lows
15:48
are going to hover around 40 on those days. There
15:52
is a chance of a thunderstorm on Thursday afternoon
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and evening. Then a chance of precipitation returns
15:57
on Sunday evening, just like everywhere else.
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Expect rain Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, with
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highs in the 50s, lows in the 30s. It should
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rain a total of an inch on those three days.
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Now Old Faithful is going to be similar to West,
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but around five degrees cooler. The rain may
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fall as snow, especially up around Craig Pass
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and the Continental Divide areas, so there may
16:18
be some road closures. I'll talk about that in
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a minute. Now Cody... Out in Cody, I'm including
16:24
it because I haven't yet and I figure I should.
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The forecast is similar to everywhere else. Thursday's
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gonna see a high of almost 80 and a low of 55
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with chance of thunderstorms. Friday's gonna
16:34
be about 75 and a low of 50. Saturday and Sunday
16:37
are gonna be almost 90 degrees with lows in the
16:39
50s. And then Sunday has around a 25 % chance
16:42
of rain, mostly in the afternoon evening. And
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Monday, rain. Expect that rain to last through
16:49
Wednesday with highs in the 40s and 50s and lows
16:51
in the 40s and upper 30s. The rain is going to
16:54
follow snow on Sylvan Pass in the park from the
16:57
east entrance which could cause closures or delays.
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Snowpack update. The snowpack in the park as
17:04
of May 28th 2025 is in the 60 % of normal range.
17:08
The west side of the park is up in the 70 percent
17:11
of normal range while out toward Cook City and
17:13
the Beartooth Highway it's between 70 and 80
17:16
percent of normal. The snow should help a little
17:18
but we're not going to see potentially too much
17:21
of an increase. I could be wrong though these
17:23
storms are really hard to predict just how much
17:25
snow will fall. Road conditions. All major roads
17:29
are open right now in and around Yellowstone
17:32
National Park. This includes Dunraven Pass and
17:34
the Beartooth Highway. Please be aware that these
17:38
and other high elevation roads in the park may
17:40
close due to snowy weather conditions. Yes, even
17:44
in late May and June, it's going to be snowing
17:46
in the park. Now, because Monday through Wednesday
17:49
look cool and wet, I am expecting some temporary
17:53
road closures due to snow, likely Sylvan Pass,
17:56
Dunraven Pass, and Craig Pass. I would also anticipate
17:59
longer closures for the Beartooth Highway, could
18:02
be closed Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Might
18:04
not close at all. Probably will though. If this
18:08
weather forecast is correct, it should snow enough
18:11
to potentially cause some closures. If there's
18:14
no closures, great. But if there are, be prepared.
18:18
Also be aware of that road striping on Friday
18:21
near Mammoth that I mentioned in the news section.
18:24
And if you want up -to -date road information,
18:26
call 307. 344 -2117 for recorded information,
18:32
or you can sign up to receive Yellowstone Road
18:34
Alerts on your cell phone by texting the number
18:37
82190 to the number 888 -777. Camping information!
18:46
As always, Mammoth Hot Springs Campground is
18:48
open, Madison Campground near the West Yellowstone
18:51
entrance is open, The Fishing Bridge RV Park
18:54
and Bay Bridge are also open, Tower Campground
18:56
is now open, and Canyon Campground opens the
19:00
30th of May. The Wildlife Watching Update. Alright,
19:06
this is, I think more people listen to this section
19:08
or want to hear this section than probably anything
19:10
else I talk about. And right now, Wildlife Watching
19:14
is going to be hit or miss. Last week was ridiculous.
19:20
I on What day was that Thursday had to had a
19:26
12 grizzly bear day sighting? A lot of those
19:31
it was and I only drove actually from Mammoth
19:34
down to Norris Norris to Canyon Canyon to fishing
19:38
bridge fishing bridge to the east entrance and
19:40
back and saw 12 different grizzly bears I Would
19:45
do that same route if you want to see bears this
19:48
week also out in Hayden people have been seeing
19:51
some wolves at the grizzly overlook which is
19:56
right between it's pretty much just between um
20:01
canyon and mud volcano there's also been some
20:04
bears hanging around mud volcano so check that
20:07
out wolves have also been spotted up by slew
20:09
creek in lamar valley same with lots of grizzlies
20:12
There's been a lot of bighorn sheep out the east
20:14
entrance and some female bighorn sheep out around
20:19
calcite springs area and tower black bears around
20:22
tower. It is just a good time to drive around.
20:26
If you're going to be in the northern range,
20:27
expect to see some wildlife. If you're going
20:29
to drive through Hayden might be a little harder.
20:31
Hayden still is slowly ramping up into good wildlife
20:35
watching. I know there is a debate of like, oh,
20:40
Is Hayden or Lamar better for wildlife watching?
20:44
You know, I'm in the park a lot and probably
20:46
seventy five percent of days. Wildlife watching
20:49
is better in Lamar Valley and that region, maybe
20:52
not Lamar proper, but from. You know, the tower
20:58
junction to Soda Butte Cone or to Pebble Creek
21:03
Campground, that's. almost always better luck
21:07
with wildlife. There's baby bison everywhere.
21:09
There's bears roaming. This is a good time to
21:12
be out and put in miles if you're really looking
21:15
for wildlife. Again, if you want wolves, go to
21:18
Slough Creek area. Look for everybody set up
21:21
with scopes. There's a lot of people there. When
21:23
I was there last week, I drove through Slough
21:26
and at 8 a .m. I counted 77 cars. I had to check
21:32
my notes. So and that was on a weekday So, you
21:36
know Be there. No people are going to be watching
21:39
it. Also people are seeing wolves all over the
21:42
place and bears all over the place if you want
21:44
a good bear potential bear sighting that May
21:48
or may not pay off drive out to the east entrance
21:51
with the heat Definitely get there early in the
21:56
morning or in the evening that heat that's going
21:58
to be coming through on Thursday, Friday, Saturday,
22:02
Sunday, morning -ish, morning to early afternoon
22:05
before the rain comes, that heat is going to
22:07
make a lot of animals less likely to roam around.
22:10
So those super warm days wildlife watching during
22:13
the heat of the day is not going to be as good.
22:16
That being said, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
22:18
with a cool and rain, that's some of my best
22:20
bear sightings. It's going to be harder to scope
22:22
things, but there may be wildlife closer to the
22:25
road easier to see. Finally, if you are wanting
22:29
moose, drive out toward Cook City. Talk to a
22:32
lot of people that have gone out there. Almost
22:33
everybody has seen moose out by Cook City. So
22:36
that's where you can see moose. Otherwise, if
22:38
you want moose, drive down to the Tetons. That's
22:40
a better place for moose consistently. All right,
22:44
if you love what you're hearing on this podcast
22:46
and you want more information on wildlife watching
22:49
or where to hike I have guidebooks on both of
22:52
those at my website outdoor -society .com I would
22:57
appreciate if you bought it directly from me
22:59
because if you buy it through Amazon, I Don't
23:02
actually get Basically any profit from that Amazon
23:05
makes all of the money. It's convenient. You'll
23:08
get it in two days instead of a week, but Jeff
23:12
Bezos gets to build another terribly shaped rocket.
23:15
So if you'd rather support me, buy it through
23:17
my website, Outdoor -Society .com. You can also
23:20
book hiking tours there. Speaking of hiking,
23:23
hiking news and updates. Trails are open right
23:27
now all around the area, but that backcountry
23:30
situation report is still being updated. They're
23:33
not fully staffed. It's not. any other reason,
23:36
but they usually don't fully staff the backcountry
23:38
stuff until June. So we're going to get more
23:41
information soon, just not this week. So this
23:44
coming week, expect trails to be great on the
23:46
weekend than muddy and slick through the weekdays.
23:49
Most everything in the lowlands is open, snow
23:52
-free and awesome to trek around on. If you have
23:54
the right gear, especially with the rain, mountain
23:57
trails are going to be less than ideal. They're
23:59
getting new snow on them Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
24:03
and so I would avoid things like Avalanche Peak,
24:06
Mount Washburn, Bunsen Peak even, and just stay
24:09
to lowlands unless you're trying to do something
24:12
this weekend you want a snow adventure. Speaking
24:14
of adventures, that leads me to my Trek of the
24:16
Week. During this time of the year when rainstorms
24:20
roll through and reduce visibility, I tend to
24:23
find myself drawn to the geyser basins. The rain
24:26
makes these regions perfect for wandering for
24:28
a few reasons. The first is that rainy days tend
24:31
to reduce the crowds at popular spots. The second
24:34
is that some of the thermal features are even
24:36
better during or after rainy periods. Because
24:39
of this, I'm suggesting you take the time to
24:42
hike the Grand Prismatic Overlook Fairy Falls
24:45
Imperial Geyser Route. Now before I get into
24:48
the details of this hike, if you're going to
24:52
be hiking this weekend when it's super warm,
24:55
when it's very warm there will be very little
24:57
steam. anything and that is a great time to do
25:01
the Grand Prismatic Overlook because you'll be
25:03
able to see directly into the colors. So just
25:06
know that the hotter it is the less steam will
25:08
be blocking thermal areas. So you begin by crossing
25:11
the Firehole River Bridge and you follow the
25:14
historic Fountain Freight Road once known as
25:16
National Park Avenue tracing the southern edge
25:19
of Midway Geyser Basin. Almost immediately to
25:23
your right you'll kind of see Grand Prismatic
25:25
Hot Springs. This enormous hot spring spans more
25:29
than 370 feet across and plunges to a depth of
25:32
120 feet, making it the largest in the US and
25:36
the second largest worldwide. Its vivid colors
25:39
from a deep blue center fading outwards into
25:42
fiery orange, red, and lush green stem from heat
25:46
-loving bacteria that thrive in the temperatures
25:49
as high as 167 degrees Fahrenheit. Early park
25:53
visitors describe the brilliance of this area
25:55
as so dazzling that the eye cannot endure it.
25:59
Be sure to stop at the Grand Prismatic Overlook.
26:01
It's a short detour. Yes, you're going to have
26:04
to hike up a trail and, you know, gain some elevation,
26:07
but it is the best view of Grand Prismatic. It
26:10
is better than the boardwalk at Grand Prismatic
26:12
because you get a whole view. So take that in.
26:17
Don't skip it. then once you go up it you can
26:21
just keep hiking down and then you'll meet back
26:23
up with that road and around the one mile mark
26:26
the trail veers off to the left off of the old
26:29
road and slips into a forest that tells a different
26:31
sort of story. This area was ravaged by the 1988
26:35
fires and it transformed this dense aging lodgepole
26:39
pine forest into a rejuvenated landscape. The
26:43
fire opened up a canopy, allowing sunlight to
26:46
revive grasses, wildflowers, and a burst of new
26:48
life, including new trees. So as you stroll through
26:52
the new trees, which aren't that new now, right?
26:54
88 was a long time ago, but they're still new
26:57
to me. Keep an eye out for that rustle of animals,
27:00
both small and large. I've seen bear prints out
27:04
here. I've actually had a moose on the trail.
27:06
I've seen some... snowshoe hares, I've seen some
27:09
martins, things like that out here. So be aware
27:13
that there's wildlife there. As you continue
27:16
on the trail for about a mile and a half, you're
27:19
going to start hearing that water in the distance
27:23
tumbling down the closer you get to that mile
27:24
and a half mark. That's Fairy Falls. Water from
27:28
Fairy Creek cascades nearly 200 feet off the
27:31
Madison Plateau into a serene pool below. Named
27:35
during the 1871 Hayden survey for its graceful
27:38
descent, Ferry Falls is a picture -perfect display
27:41
of nature's delicate yet powerful force. Just
27:45
a mile further west from Ferry Falls lies Imperial
27:48
Geyser. Almost no one that goes to Ferry Falls
27:51
goes to Imperial Geyser, comparatively. Ferry
27:54
Falls, very popular hike. Imperial Geyser, half
27:56
mile away. No one really knows it's there. Also,
28:00
to reach... Imperial Geyser, you have to follow
28:02
a sometimes swampy, sometimes muddy trail away
28:05
from the falls and creek, and that will lead
28:08
you to Imperial Falls. In the 1920s, its powerful
28:12
80 -foot eruptions from a 100 -foot crater captivated
28:15
visitors, even inspiring a naming contest. Although
28:19
Imperial Geyser now simmers quietly, its bubbling
28:22
overflow still commands attention. A short walk
28:26
that's, you know, .2 miles East along its runoff
28:30
channel will lead you to Spray Geyser, a smaller
28:32
yet consistently active wonder that shoots water
28:36
up to six feet through the air through multiple
28:38
vents. For those feeling adventurous if the weather's
28:42
good, consider hiking the steep trail that ascends
28:44
from the base of Imperial Geyser. Although the
28:47
climb can be challenging if it's muddy or weather's
28:50
not great or you have the wrong shoes, it rewards
28:53
you with spectacular bird's -eye view of Imperial
28:56
and, if you continue on, breathtaking overlook
28:59
of Fairy Falls in its entirety. Along the way
29:02
a modest lake comes into view on your left with
29:04
simple views but it's framed perfectly and you
29:09
know it's kind of beautiful to be up there and
29:11
again the further you go the less people are
29:15
there. So this hike offers a front row seat to
29:18
Yellowstone's dynamic contrast from boiling colorful
29:20
springs and steaming overlooks to the fire -forged
29:24
forests reborn with life and thundering waterfalls.
29:28
Every twist and turn reveals another chapter
29:31
in Yellowstone's ever -changing natural masterpiece,
29:34
inviting you to pause, observe, and marvel at
29:37
the wonders of the park. The total distance on
29:40
this if you don't go up that big hill is going
29:42
to be about 7 miles and roughly 400 feet of elevation
29:45
gain. Alright, as promised at the end of the
29:48
episode, my random Yellowstone Fact of the Week.
29:51
This week is a very quick overview of Truman
29:54
Everett's Lost in Yellowstone. In 1870, the rugged
29:59
American West was still largely unmapped. People
30:03
knew it, but it wasn't as documented as people
30:06
would have liked. A lot of people considered
30:09
it a wild and mysterious expanse full of natural
30:11
wonders and hidden perils. A lot of people considered
30:14
it their homelands and they were getting kicked
30:16
off of it. So, you know. Depends who you talk
30:18
to. But this week, I'm going to talk about Truman
30:22
Everets, who was a former tax assessor, a bureaucrat
30:25
from Vermont, and somebody who became an unlikely
30:28
symbol of survival against Yellowstone's wilderness.
30:33
At 54 years old, Everets joined the Washburn
30:36
-Langford -Done expedition, and that was a team
30:39
of explorers, scientists, and soldiers set on
30:43
surveying the largely unmapped region that would
30:46
later become Yellowstone National Park. The group
30:49
was composed of experienced frontiersmen, but
30:52
Everett stood out. He was slight in stature,
30:55
nearsighted, had no real background in wilderness
30:57
survival, and the only thing he had going for
31:00
him was that he had political connections and
31:04
an eagerness to contribute. What could go wrong?
31:08
The expedition traveled into Yellowstone Wilderness
31:11
in August 1870. They were marveling at geysers,
31:14
boiling springs, and canyons never before seen
31:17
by the majority of Americans. But in early September,
31:21
near the shores of Yellowstone Lake, Everett's
31:24
became separated from the group. No one's entirely
31:27
sure how this happened, but Everett's either
31:30
got lost while searching for a lost pack horse,
31:33
or simply strayed too far during a solo excursion.
31:37
Whatever the case, the result was bad he was
31:41
alone he had no supplies no weapons and no horse
31:45
only the clothes on his back and a small pair
31:48
of opera glasses you know those like miniature
31:51
binoculars that are comical when you you hold
31:54
them on a stick and put them up to your face
31:55
um i think that's what he had he probably had
31:58
something different but in my head he had those
32:00
little ones that so that's what i that's what
32:03
i imagine as he was lost peering through those
32:05
um but That's all he had was clothes on his back
32:10
and miniature binoculars. Timatures plummeted
32:13
at night. There, you know, it's September, so
32:16
snow can fall. He could fall into geysers if
32:21
he was walking at night. The forests were dense.
32:23
Predators lurked, and there is no path back to
32:26
civilization. The expedition searched for him
32:29
for days, but eventually gave up and moved on,
32:32
probably assuming that he was dead. Everett wasn't
32:35
dead, though. Against all odds, he embarked on
32:37
a 37 -day odyssey that would test every shred
32:40
of his endurance. He began walking, often in
32:44
circles, driven by the delusion that the group
32:46
was just ahead. Nights were bitterly cold, and
32:49
he had no fire. His clothing was woollen and
32:53
heavy. It offered little protection when soaked,
32:56
and he was soon plagued by frostbite and exhaustion.
32:59
Food was almost nonexistent. He survived on thistle
33:03
roots and an occasional bird's egg or stray piece
33:05
of wild fruit. He would later write that thistle
33:09
root, roasted over a geothermal vent, became
33:11
his main sustenance, though it offered very little
33:14
in the way of nutrition. Everett's physical condition
33:18
deteriorated rapidly. He grew gaunt, lost his
33:21
sense of direction, and suffered multiple injuries.
33:24
At one point he fell down a ravine, badly injuring
33:27
his hip. In another moment, he was stalked by
33:30
a mountain lion for days. Rather than being torn
33:33
apart, he managed to frighten it off by waving
33:36
a stick and screaming, proof that even at his
33:38
weakest, his will to survive was still there.
33:43
Adding to his troubles, Everett's hallucinated
33:45
from starvation and exhaustion. He believed voices
33:48
spoke to him, offering directions or criticism.
33:51
He imagined reunions with his lost companions.
33:54
Yet somehow, despite his confusion and pain,
33:57
he kept moving, always thinking that rescue might
33:59
be just around the bend. He eventually stumbled
34:02
into a geothermal basin. It was here that his
34:06
fate might have turned fatal. He was exposed,
34:10
alone, and too weak to continue. But fate intervened.
34:13
A rescue party, led by two mountain men hired
34:16
by a friend of Everett's, spotted smoke from
34:19
a small fire. The fire had actually been started
34:22
by one of the rescuers, not Everett's. but they
34:24
decided to search the area that was near. What
34:28
they found stunned them. Everett's was there,
34:31
emaciated to just around 50 pounds, delirious
34:35
and near death. He was carried out on a makeshift
34:38
stretcher. The journey to civilization was slow
34:41
and grueling, but Everett survived. He spent
34:43
weeks recovering where doctors and friends cared
34:45
for him. Soon after he recovered, his remarkable
34:49
ordeal became national news. He wrote a vivid
34:52
firsthand account titled 37 Days of Peril published
34:55
in Scriveners Monthly in 1871. Scriveners? Anyway,
35:01
let me know. His tale gripped the imagination
35:03
of a curious public and helped fuel the growing
35:06
fascination with Yellowstone's wonders. What's
35:09
fun is you know how he was rescued near death.
35:12
He was such a stubborn dude. From all accounts
35:15
I've heard he said that he would have been fine.
35:18
He knew where he was going and gave these rescuers
35:21
basically no credit. So that's neat. Despite
35:26
having barely survived in the wilderness, Everts
35:28
was a huge advocate for Yellowstone's preservation.
35:32
When the National Park was established in 1872,
35:35
he was offered the position as superintendent.
35:38
He declined, probably understandably, but remained
35:41
a vocal supporter of the park's importance. Truman
35:44
Everts lived another 27 years, dying in 1901
35:47
at the age of 85. His name remains tied forever
35:51
to the landscape that nearly killed him. Mount
35:54
Everts, outside of Mammoth, and Everts Thistle
35:57
were both named for the man who survived Yellowstone's
36:01
most unforgiving terrain, armed with little more
36:03
than desperation and determination and a pair
36:07
of opera glasses and a lot of luck. Alright,
36:11
that is this week's episode. Next week, I'll
36:14
return with all the information you need to have
36:17
a good week in the park, including wildlife,
36:19
weather, and trail updates. I'll also talk about
36:21
the Beartooth Highway, how to avoid summer crowds
36:24
with some really good tips, not like my tip this
36:26
week, which is just get there early. I'm going
36:29
to give you some of my personal tips of how I
36:31
manage the summer and why I love visiting in
36:34
the summer, and most locals will never visit
36:36
in the summer because they don't know how to
36:38
do it right. Other than that, I am probably going
36:41
to talk about Bunsen Peak. Until next week, happy
36:45
trails! This week in Yellowstone is brought to
36:58
you by the Outdoor Society because that's my
37:00
company and that's where this is hosted. There
37:03
are no sponsors. This is a labor of love, so
37:06
thank you all for listening. Copyright 2025,
37:09
baby!