World Travel Blog From Las Vegas, USA
  • Home
  • Must Visit National Parks in The USA
  • Must Visit Places in the USA
    • The Most Exciting US Cities
    • US Casino Cities
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Must Visit National Parks in The USA
  • Must Visit Places in the USA
    • The Most Exciting US Cities
    • US Casino Cities
  • Contact
World Travel Blog From Las Vegas, USA

Unforgiving Circumstances

Katherine Hanson by Katherine Hanson
Unforgiving Circumstances

Yellowstone is such a fascinating place. There are over 10,000 thermal features in the park, the highest concentration of geysers, hot springs, mud pots, and fumaroles on the planet. There are believed to be nearly 500 geysers here, more than half the total number of the entire world. North America’s largest extant land mammal, the bison, is found wild here along with the pronghorn, North America’s fastest land mammal. Gray wolves, grizzly and black bears, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, wolverine, red fox, river otter, beaver, and many other diverse wildlife inhabit this wilderness corner of the Rocky Mountains. The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is one of the last largely intact northern temperate ecosystems on the planet. It is indeed a fascinating place and I am extremely fortunate to be able to work here for the summer.

However, Yellowstone can also be a most unforgiving place, especially for the incautious visitor. For backcountry hikers venturing away from the popular geyser trails, one decision may well set into motion a sequence of events ultimately leading to some circumstance from which there is no turning back. Sadly, two hikers during this summer of 2011 made their own separate fatal decisions somewhere along the line and paid for it with their lives.

Park officials warn hikers to travel in groups of three or more, make lots of noise when hiking, always be aware of their surroundings, carry bear pepper spray and know how and when to use it. One hundred yards is given as the “safe” distance to keep from bears and wolves, twenty–five yards from everything else such as elk, moose, and bison. It is unwise and illegal to approach any wild animal – the risk is real that you would be considered a threat by them, something to be charged or mauled. This advice is plastered all over the park on signs and in the park newspaper, and rangers remind visitors of it every day. These are park rules, put forth to encourage visitor safety. In the end, though, we make our own decisions whether or not to adhere to the rules. In a place such as Yellowstone there are no guarantees of our safety if we find ourselves following too closely to a grizzly sow and her cub, or if we choose to hike alone into the backcountry.

At the end of the day, responsibility for our fate is ours alone. We will probably never know exactly what happened during the events that led to the deaths of the two hikers, but a lesson can nevertheless still be learned.

Katherine Hanson

Katherine Hanson

Hey there, I'm Katherine Hanson, the curator of watchingforrocks.com, a site dedicated to uncovering the hidden gems of the USA. With a passion for exploration and a love for discovering the beauty in every corner of this vast country, I'm on a mission to share the best cities, national parks, historic landmarks, and entertainment hotspots that the USA has to offer. From towering mountains to bustling cities, there's so much to see and experience. Join me as I embark on adventures and uncover the wonders that make America truly remarkable.
Facebook / E-mail: [email protected]

Next Post
Random Notes From The Northern Yellowstone Landscape

Random Notes From The Northern Yellowstone Landscape

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Plugin Install : Widget Tab Post needs JNews - View Counter to be installed
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Best Casino Cities in the USA

Casino Cities in the USA

March 13, 2024
When Is This Thing Gonna Blow?

When Is This Thing Gonna Blow?

August 21, 2019
Serious Canadian Folds

Serious Canadian Folds

May 17, 2021
Random Thoughts On A Summer At Katmai

Random Thoughts On A Summer At Katmai

August 21, 2019
Watching For Rocks
Best Casino Cities in the USA

Casino Cities in the USA

March 13, 2024
When Is This Thing Gonna Blow?

When Is This Thing Gonna Blow?

August 21, 2019
Serious Canadian Folds

Serious Canadian Folds

May 17, 2021
Plugin Install : Widget Tab Post needs JNews - View Counter to be installed
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Best Casino Cities in the USA

Casino Cities in the USA

March 13, 2024
When Is This Thing Gonna Blow?

When Is This Thing Gonna Blow?

August 21, 2019
Serious Canadian Folds

Serious Canadian Folds

May 17, 2021

Recent News

Best Casino Cities in the USA

Casino Cities in the USA

March 13, 2024
When Is This Thing Gonna Blow?

When Is This Thing Gonna Blow?

August 21, 2019

Copyright © 2019 Watching For Rocks

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Must Visit National Parks in The USA
  • Must Visit Places in the USA
    • The Most Exciting US Cities
    • US Casino Cities
  • Contact

Copyright © 2019 Watching For Rocks

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
1080