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From: glen@hpfcla.UUCP (glen)
Newsgroups: net.travel
Subject: Re: Orphaned Response
Message-ID: <23000013@hpfcla.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 23-Jul-85 16:04:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: hpfcla.23000013
Posted: Tue Jul 23 16:04:00 1985
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Nf-From: hpfcla!glen    Jul 23 12:04:00 1985

/***** hpcnoa:net.travel / ut-sally!brian / 11:12 am  Jul  6, 1985*/

     Not long ago I posted a query about Yellowstone National Park.
Apparently no one has ever been to Yellowstone.  No replies.
     Let's try again, maybe one of you has a third cousin that flew over
it in a plane once twenty years ago.

     What are the things to see/miss?  We'll be spending five days.  What
should we take that we won't think of until we get there?  Any suggestions
for climate?  (We're from Texas; "What do ya mean 'cold at night'.  Shoot,
it gets down to 65 here in Austin at night.  That's pretty cold.")

     The most helpful responses would be about what to do while there, but
any comments would be most appreciated.


Brian H. Powell      brian@ut-sally.{ARPA,UUCP}

		 U.S. Mail:		 Southwestern Bell
		P.O. Box 5899		451-0842
		Austin, TX 78763
					 AT&T
					(512) 451-0842
/* ---------- */

My wife and I returned from a camping trip to Yellowstone over the 4th
of July, here's some pointers.

1.) Cool at night (at least in July) meant from upper 40's to low 50's
    depending on the altitude. It has snowed a couple of days before
    we arrived and did snow in the Grand Tetons while we were in
    Yellowstone.

2.) Ask the rangers at the information centers about anything, they
    can tell you the best trails by what you want to see and they know
    where the most recent animal citings are.

3.) Be prepared to see a lot of wildlife (animals) except for bears.
    They are in a program to eliminate bear-human contact and are
    very serious about it. They will gladly write you up a $25 ticket
    if you don't keep your campsite clear of anything related to food
    including your stove and cooking utensils.

4.) We camped at Grant Village which has newly opened showers, campstore
    and information center.  There were some very nice campsites, many
    right on the lake, I would strongly recommend it.

5.) The central part of the park has the most rapids and waterfalls
    if that is what you like, see the "Grand Canyon of Yellowstone",
    Old Faithful and the other thermal features around it (the colors
    on a sunny day are unbelievable), and Mammoth Hot Springs.  When
    visiting the northern sections of the park remember that they are
    the oldest and sparsely accomodated, while touring up there we
    had a hard time finding a decent place to picnic (buying food in
    the park is expensive) and you really have to cover a lot of
    ground to get to the next attraction.

6.) We didn't make it to the northeast gate, but in that area is
    Pebble Creek which is supposed to have the best hiking in
    Yellowstone.

7.) Don't push, we were up there a week and saw a little over half
    the park (and put on over 500 miles), it really is huge, but 5
    days is plenty of time to see a lot of attractions to make it
    worthwhile

8.) Avoid people from Utah.

9.) Try to follow the runoff from the thermal features downstream
    to a semi-deserted place, it's a great place for a bath complete
    with warm running water.

10.) Do not waste money on the horseback rides, we went on one in
     the northern section by Roosevelt lodge, it cost $30+ for 2 hrs.
     and although you do see scenery you can't see from a car, it 
     isn't any better than that you see from a car.  Also they don't
     have picture stops anyway any you have to put up with sluggish
     horses and inexperienced riders.

11.) Most trails in Yellowstone are moderate and if you do want to
     hike into the mountains it is over a days time since you have
     to clear valleys and foothills first.  I would strongly reco-
     mend taking some time to stop in the Grand Tetons for a day
     or two. There we took a climb that lasted 10 hours (including
     time off for rests, lunch, and sightseeing) and went straight
     up into the mountains (the Tetons have no foothills, a lot
     like the Alps in Europe) from 6200 to 9700 feet over about 5
     miles of trail.  My wife and I are not expert hikers and were
     out from Indiana for about a month before the trip and made
     it with some effort, but we never felt overly taxed, and the
     view was unbelievable (I can't remember the name of the trail
     but it led to an alpind lake called "Surprise Lake".

I hope this information will be of some use, we had a wonderful time.
Above all, let me re-emphasize that they are serious about their bear
program and the rangers are well trained, use them freely, that's
what you're paying for.  Have a good trip!