West Yellowstone - Vacation Summer 2016

VACATION Summer Guide to the West Yellowstone Area SUMMER 2016

National Park Service

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

Record-Setting

VISITATION

CAMPING LOCATIONS

near West Yellowstone

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A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE

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Summer Guide • 2016

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Summer Guide • 2016

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Table of Contents Record Visitation by: JEREMY WEBER

Park Service Centennial Celebration by: JEREMY WEBER Camping near West Yellowstone by: Jeremy Weber Stay Safe in Yellowstone by: mike moore

4th of July in West Yellowstone by: Jeremy Weber Yellowstone Rod Run by: mike moore

Rodeo

by: mike moore

Seasonal Events by: JEREMY WEBER

Summer Guide Special Edition: 2016 The West Yellowstone area Summer Guide is a special publication of the West Yellowstone News.

Contents copyright 2016 unless otherwise noted.

Cover photo by Jeremy Weber

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Editor Jeremy Weber WYN Reporter Mike Moore Advertising MANAGER Denise Buchner Advertising DEsign Manager Jessica Ferreyra

Summer Guide • 2016

Yellowstone National Park set a new record with nearly 4.1 million visitors in 2015. The park expects to surpass that number by as much as 20 percent in 2016.

Yellowstone Park visitation expected to surpass record setting numbers in 2016

By JEREMY WEBER

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Summer visitors to Yellowstone National Park this year should expect large crowds, crowded parking lots and extended waits to get into the park.

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West Yellowstone News

fter seeing a record number of tourists a year ago, Yellowstone National Park is expecting as much as a 20 percent increase in 2016.

Yellowstone topped four million visits in 2015, a rise of 16.6 percent from 2014, making it the highest visitation year on record.

The park ended the year with 11,049 recreational visits in November and 20,470 visits in December to bring the total visits in 2015 to 4,097,710. The figure breaks the previous visitation record of 3,640,185 set back in 2010.

The park reminds that the number of visits is always greater than the actual number of individuals who came to the park because people could potentially enter the park multiple times during their stay.

The West Entrance next to West Yellowstone received the heaviest traffic into the park last year, with 42.5 percent of total visitation coming through that entrance, which was a rice of 21.2 percent from 2014 levels.

The park attributes the large rise in visitation last year to the National Park Service’s “Find Your Park” public awareness campaign, along with marketing and tourism promotions by the states of Montana and Wyoming and cheaper gas prices across the

Summer Guide • 2016

nation.

The significant increase in visitation put demands on park staff, facilities and resources. Most of the summer of 2015 in Yellowstone saw long lines, traffic jams and the resultant frustration of visitors and staff affected the visitor experience, park officials stated. It was not uncommon for the West Entrance at West Yellowstone to be backed up all the way outside of town on both U.S. Highway 191 and U.S. Highway 20 during the mid-day hours with visitors attempting to enter the park.

“We are going to look at how traffic can be made to move more efficiently, but even if you can get up to the gate quickly, there may be a bison three miles down the road and then the traffic has nowhere to go,” Park Superintendent Dan Wenk said. “I don’t think people want to move through the park faster, but I think they have certain expectations when they come here. I don’t think they expect to have to wait more than an hour to get into the park when they reach West Yellowstone or that it might take two hours to get from West Yellowstone to Old Faithful.”

“We still have people that come to the park at 4:00 in the afternoon, pulling a trailer, and expect to be able to find a campsite. This is the kind of thinking that we are having to deal with. If we could find a way to move people through the park more efficiently and cut down on those frustrations, it would benefit us all,” he added.

While Wenk said the park will be looking at finding ways to accommodate more visitors and more vehicles, he stressed that the main goal of the National Parks is preservation.

“How many people can you accommodate in this park and maintain a normal expectation for travel time and parking availability? Even if you do figure that out, what do you do about it,” he asked. “Our obligation is to preserve this place for future generations. If that means limiting the number of people in Yellowstone National Park at some point, then we may do that. We are not going to do that until someone can tell us what the right limitation would be. We are nowhere near close to having that conversation, yet.”

Wenk stressed that, in the end, it us up to our society to determine the future of Yellowstone.

“Do we, as a society, have the desire and the ability to protect places like Yellowstone National Park in the future?

Will we make the decision that will allow a place like this to support visitors as well as bison, elk and wolves,” he asked. “In a time of rapid development and the Me Generation coming of age, do we have the ability to say no to development and be able to preserve this place for the future?”

While the Park is taking steps to help ensure a pleasant summer experience for everyone despite the high number of visitors, Wenk admits that it is impossible to be ready for all possabilities.

“I would like to tell you that we are ready for the summer, we know what is going to happen and that we are going to be able to take care of it all,” he said. “We are as ready as we can be. We don’t know what is going to happen, but we will adjust on the fly to deal with it.”

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Summer Guide • 2016

Gardiner and the Roosevelt Arch will play host to the National Park Service’s Centennial Celebration August 25. The event will feature speaches from prominant local and national figures as well as a concert featuring Emmylou Harris and John Prine.

Gardiner to host National Park Service Centennial Celebration August 25

By JEREMY WEBER

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football field. Tickets will be available starting Sunday, May 15 at noon MT. You can claim a ticket here through Ticket River.

Additional tickets will be available June 15 and July 15.

The Gardiner Chamber of Commerce encourages Gardiner and Jardine residents to come to them for tickets, which they will be giving away as a “thank you” for “putting up” with the Gardiner Gateway Project.

Event organizers suggest people arrange lodging accommodations before acquiring tickets, as area accommodations in and out of Yellowstone National Park are limited.

Besides Harris and Prine, the program will include cellist/folk musician Leyla McCalla, “The Singing Angels” children’s chorus from Cleveland, Ohio and Teddy Roosevelt reenactor Joe Wiegand.

13 Grammy Award-winner Emmylou Harris has been performing since the early 70s, gaining notoriety as a singer with Gram Parsons. Her backing on both GP and

West Yellowstone News

inger-songwriters Emmylou Harris and John Prine are slated to headline a concert at the Roosevelt Arch in honor of the National Park Service Centennial.

The event, entitled “An Evening at the Arch: Yellowstone Celebrates the National Park Service Centennial,” will take place Thursday, August 25, 2016 at 7 p.m. mountain time (MT) in Gardiner, Montana. It will also be broadcast online.

“This very special event will kick off the second century for the National Park Service, highlight the importance of public/private partnerships, and recognize the completion of the Gardiner Gateway Project Phase One,” said Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Dan Wenk in a press release.

It is a free but ticketed event. There will be seats set up in Arch Park and open seating available on the high school 8

Summer Guide • 2016

Grievous Angel, which brought a dulcet sheen to Parsons’ “Cosmic American Music,” have ensured her place in rocky history, After the death of Parsons, Harris made her solo debut with 1975’s Pieces of the Sky—and the rest is history.

Singer-songwriter John Prine has been heralded as one of the best country/folk singers of all time since his 1971 self-titled debut, which contained classics such as “Hello in There” and “Angel from Montgomery.” Subsequent classics (1973’s Sweet Revenge, 1978’s Bruised Orange, 1999’s In Spite of Ourselves) have only solidified his reputation.

Leyla McCalla first broke on the scene as a member of African American string band Carolina Chocolate Drops; she made her solo debut in 2014 with the widely-heralded album Vari-Colored Songs: A Tribute to Langston Hughes.

Cleveland’s Singing Angels choir, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit originally founded in 1964, combines music performance with community building. To date, the choir has performed in 34 countries and has been featured on national and international television. They have also performed four times at the White House, along with a suite of other performers.

Joe Wiegund first started performing as President Roosevelt in 2004, making a name for himself in 2008 when he performed across the United States as a part of Roosevelt’s 150th birthday and the centennial year of his presidency. Wiegund was subsequently featured on the History Channel’s “The Men Who Built America” documentary as well as in “Wild America,” an IMAX film about the national park system.

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Summer Guide • 2016

Finding camping around West Yellowstone

By JEREMY WEBER

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north on Hwy 191 from West Yellowstone for five miles and then turning left onto Rainbow Point Road. Fees are the same as Baker’s Hole Campground but there is only one toilet facility. Rainbow Point Campground is open through Sept. 27.

Lonesomehurst Campground also opened May 13 and features 27 camp spots, including 5 with electricity.

Campsites there cost $16 per night while tent sites are $7.

There is an additional charge of $7 for access to an electrical outlet. Lonesomehurst can be reached by taking Hwy 20 eight miles west of town and then turning north on Denny Creek Road for four miles. The site is open until Sept. 27.

There is one toilet.

Beaver Creek Campground opened May 20 and features 64 campsites, all without electricity. Beaver Creek Campground can be reached by taking Hwy 191 north from town for eight miles and then traveling west on Hwy 287 for 16 miles.

There are two toilets available at the site, which closes Sept.

20.

Cabin Creek Campground also opened May 20 and features 15 sites without electricity. Campsites there cost $15 per night while tent sites are $7. There is one toilet available.

Cabin Creek closes Sept. 20.

Spring Creek Campground is located eight miles west of town on Hwy 20 and features six sites with no electricity and one toilet. There are no fees to camp at Spring Creek. The site is open until Dec. 1.

Cherry Creek Campground can be reached by traveling

West Yellowstone News

ummer can be a tough time to find a place to stay in and around Yellowstone National Park. The park’s campsites fill up quickly and the majority hotel rooms in surrounding communities have been booked for months.

Luckily, the National Forest Service can provide other options, including large campsites with full hookups available as well as primitive camping throughout the Hebgen Basin.

“We still have people that come to the park at 4:00 in the afternoon, pulling a trailer, and expect to be able to find a campsite. This is the kind of thinking that we are having to deal with. If we could find a way to move people through the park more efficiently and cut down on those frustrations, it would benefit us all,” Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Dan Wenk said.

Baker’s Hole Campground is the first of the major Custer/ Gallatin National Forest campsites in the area to open each year. This year, it opened May 1. Located three miles north of West Yellowstone on Hwy 191, vehicle campsites there cost $16 per night while tent sites are $7. There is an additional charge of $7 for access to an electrical outlet. The campsite features 73 camping spots (33 with electricity) and two toilet facilities. Baker’s Hole closes Sept. 30.

Rainbow Point Campground opened May 13 and has 86 camp spots, including 26 with electricity. Located north of town, Rainbow Point Campground can be reached by going 10

Summer Guide • 2016

west of town on Hwy 20 for eight miles and then going north on Denny Creek Road for an additional six miles. Cherry Creek features six sites with no electricity and one toilet (not ADA approved). There are no fees to camp at Spring Creek.

The site is open until Dec. 1.

Along with the larger campsites in the National Forest, there are also many dispersed (primitive) camping sites in the area. Dispersed camping is the term used for camping anywhere in the National Forest outside of a designated campground. There are no services (such as trash removal) and little or no facilities (such as tables and fire pits). Trailers are strongly advised against and several of the sites are remote. Proper food storage is required at all dispersed camping location for bear safety reasons. Dispersed camping is not allowed in the vicinity of developed recreation areas.

The Hebgen Basin Ranger Station can be reached at 406-823-6961 for a list of locations and access info.

Dispersed camp areas can be used for 16 days. After 16 days, campers must move at least five road miles to another site. Campers cannot return to their original campsite again

for seven days.

Campers are asked to be “bear aware� and know all of the food storage regulations before camping. These regulations are strictly enforced.

Campers are asked to use existing fire rings and to avoid creating new ones. Please contact the local ranger district to learn about fire restrictions. It is the responsibility of campers to know what fire restrictions are in effect before camping.

Before leaving a campfire, campers are asked to make sure that it is completely out. Many forest fires are caused by campfires that were not put out completely.

Firewood permits are not needed if the wood is used in the forest. If wood is transported home for personal use, a firewood permit must be purchased at the nearest district office.

Dispersed camping means no bathrooms and no outhouses. Extra care must be taken when disposing of human waste. To dispose of feces, dig a hole six to eight inches deep and at least 200 feet away from any water source.

When done, the hole must be filled and any toilet paper must be disposed of in a proper container.

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Summer Guide • 2016

A grizzly bear waits to cross the Yellowstone River in Hayden Valley to get to an elk carcass earlier this spring. Park regulations require visitors to stay 100 yards away from bears and wolves.

Stay safe while recreating in Yellowstone

By MIKE MOORE

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West Yellowstone News

ellowstone National Park is home to numerous species of wildlife, bubbling thermal features, canyons, dense forests and unaltered wilderness throughout its boundary of nearly 3,500-square miles.

Nowadays, the popular park brings more than 3 million visitors annually from around the world to experience a wonderland unlike anywhere else.

Since Yellowstone is a truly wild place that sits as an island in the midst of modern society, the land is unforgiving to those who push their limits and should not treat Yellowstone as a theme park found elsewhere.

Yellowstone has a number of rules and regulations with the intent of keeping the millions of visitors who experience the park annually safe and out of harms way.

Most spot their first sightings of wildlife within the first few miles of driving inside Yellowstone. In fact, Yellowstone National Park South District Resource Education Ranger Rich Jehle says Yellowstone is recognized as having one of the most significantly diverse populations of wildlife in the lower 48 states.

Yellowstone is surrounded by national forests and Grand Teton National Park, making up the Greater Yellowstone

A bison calf leaps across a puddle of water while grazing with his mother in Hayden Valley. Yellowstone is full of wildlife viewing opportunities.

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Summer Guide • 2016

Ecosystem, which is approximately 18 to 20 million acres in size.

This large, unaltered wilderness attracts a wide variety of wildlife, including bison, bears, wolves, bobcats, mountain lions, elk and much more.

To keep visitors safe, regulations require visitors to stay at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves and at least 25 yards away from all other large animals, including bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose and coyotes.

Recent incidents of people getting too close to bison have been reported already this 2016 season, as one visitor walked up to pet a bison on the head on opening day this spring.

The park reminds visitors that bison can sprint three times faster than humans can run, are unpredictable and dangerous, and visitors are gored and sometimes killed each summer season.

Bears require food and garbage to be stored in bear-proof containers, and if viewing a bear from the road, they suggest staying in your vehicle. They also suggest carrying bear spray while recreating in Yellowstone’s backcountry, as the spray is proven to deter bears during close encounters.

Along with the wildlife, Yellowstone also brings potential danger when visitors are exploring the famed geothermal features that Yellowstone was set aside for back in 1872.

Geothermal basins have boardwalks and trails that help protect visitors and the delicate geothermal formations.

Park safety information states that visitors must stay on safety | continued on page 14

Water rushes over a bacteria mat near Grand Prismatic Spring. The park is home to numerous thermal features that visitors should be careful around while viewing.

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Summer Guide • 2016

safety

from page 13

boardwalks and designated trails. You never know when you could be walking over a thin layer of crust covering boiling water that can cause severe or fatal burns.

Pets are prohibited in thermal areas, and parents need to keep their children close to them at all times and understand the potential dangers of the boiling waters.

According to park safety information, swimming or bathing in thermal pools or streams where the water flows entirely from a thermal spring or pool is prohibited. There are locations where swimming is allowed, but must be done at the visitor’s own risk.

With this year serving as the National Park Service Centennial celebration, park visitation is expected to be high this summer season.

Big visitation numbers could bring bison jams or other traffic situations within Yellowstone in popular destinations such as at Old Faithful and Canyon.

To reduce traffic jams and congestion, the park suggests watching wildlife from the numerous pullouts scattered throughout the park and to not stop in the middle of the road to view wildlife. They also remind visitors that the top speed limit throughout the park is 45 miles-per-hour, unless posted slower.

For more information regarding how to have a safe and enjoyable visit in Yellowstone, visit www.nps.gov/yell/ planyourvisit/safety.htm.

A lone wolf walks near the roadway at Artist Point near Canyon Village last spring.

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Summer Guide • 2016

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Visitors from Utah enjoy West Yellowstone’s annual Fourth of July fireworks dispay last year. This year’s event should be another spectacular show.

4th of July a special time in West Yellowstone

By JEREMY WEBER

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Corinna Smith of the Adam Ezra Group entertains the crowd during the annual Music in the Park performance during the Fouth of July festivities in West Yellowstone.

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West Yellowstone News

hose fortunate enough to be in West Yellowstone on the Fourth of July will get the chance to enjoy the many unique ways the town celebrates our nation’s Independance Day. Whether it is Music in the Park, the Fireman’s BBQ or Buffalo Chip Tossing in Pioneer Park, West Yellowstone guarantees unforgettable experiences for everyone during the holiday.

This year should see the return of the fire department benefit barbeque, which will have hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hotdogs, homemade root beer and lemonade at the Chamber of Commerce parking lot. For $5 attendees can get a burger, chips and a drink.

Early in the afternoon, the annual Pie on the Porch fundraiser will return and will be located at the Yellowstone Historic Center at 104 Yellowstone Avenue. The event sells pie

Summer Guide • 2016

by the slice, along with whole pies to help support YHC programs. The popular event usually runs from 1 p.m. until all the pie is gone, which usually doesn’t take too long. So, arrive early to take part in the tasty fundraiser.

Also returning this year should be the fourth annual Buffalo Chip Chuck, a fundraiser that is held by and supports the Friends of the Library.

Contestants can purchase three chucks for five bucks, with the top three winners in several classes receiving prizes.

Participants will throw, underhanded, appropriately seasoned buffalo chips (manure) as far as they can in an area similar to the shot put.

T-shirts reading “I Flung the Dung” will also be available for a $15 donation.

Those who wish to take a chip home as a memento can purchase them for $5 a piece. The event will take place at the baseball diamond at the city park.

For those who are scared to touch buffalo chips, the chips will be varnished and latex gloves will be provided.

The Fourth of July parade brings town visitors and community members into the evening’s festivities and usually kicks off at 6 p.m. The parade lineup starts along Grizzly Avenue and starts at 5 p.m.

The parade will weave through the town streets and will have a theme.

Following the parade, free music will be held at the city park as part of the annual summer Music in the Park series.

The music will begin around 7 p.m. and will end just before the start of the town fireworks around 10 p.m.

The town fireworks show will begin at approximately 10 p.m. and will be visible from most locations in town.

Fireworks are allowed in the town of West Yellowstone starting at noon on July

The Buffalo Chip Chuck is just one of the many unique events that take place in West Yellowstone each year to celebrate the Fourth of July.

1 through midnight on July 4. Discharge of fireworks is not allowed from or into any national forest, national park, state recreation area or state highway.

It also isn’t allowed to shoot off fireworks within 100 feet of a church or medical clinic or within 50 feet of any

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business. It is also prohibited to discharge fireworks in the downtown business area and within 200 feet of any flammable fuel or compressed gas. Those who use fireworks are required to clean up any debris, garbage or litter that is left behind.

Summer Guide • 2016

Rod Run attendees cruise along the Firehole River in Yellowstone National Park during last year’s event. The popular ride to Old Faithful is scheduled again for this year.

Cool, classic cars highlight annual Rod Run

By MIKE MOORE

U

West Yellowstone News

nique cars, flashy paint jobs and the rumble of American muscle will be on tap yet again this year, as the 46th annual Yellowstone Rod Run rolls into West Yellowstone Aug. 4-6 for another octane-infused weekend featuring a massive collection of classic cars and hot rods from around the country.

This year will be the first in recent memory that won’t be put on by brothers Terry and Jerry Oksa. Jerry passed away in Salt Lake City, Utah during last year’s Rod Run and Terry is helping the newly founded West Yellowstone Event Association this year with taking over the Rod Run to keep the successful tradition going.

According to West Yellowstone Event Association secretary Travis Watt, a similar schedule of events can be expected this year.

Registration for the event begins on Thursday, Aug. 4 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the town park. A Yellowstone National Park ride to Old Faithful will be held at 7 a.m. on the morning of Friday, Aug. 5, with a poker ride beginning at 10 a.m. Dinner and the poker run awards will be held at 5 p.m. at the Holiday Inn that evening, with an ice cream social and a Free Music in the Park event following at the town park.

On Saturday, Aug. 8, the annual parade will be held, where cool

Ann Hermanson passes out candy to parade attendees while riding in Mark Weeden’s Chevrolet during the 2013 Yellowstone Rod Run. 18

Summer Guide • 2016

classic cars and unique hot rods will cruise the town streets before parking at the town park for the Show and Shine, which will run from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A Poker Walk will run from 11 a.m. through 3 p.m., and live music will be occurring at the city park that evening. The weekend of activities will wrap up with an awards ceremony at 5 p.m. that evening at the Holiday Inn. One new addition this year will be a pinstriping booth for car owners to add some flare to their rides. They are also trying to get a mobile dyno test machine on site for car owners to test the limits of their cars.

Watt says they wanted to expand and build some excitement for the event by doing the registration and ice cream social at the town park.

He says they expect anywhere from 350 to 500 cars this year, which brings more than a thousand car enthusiasts to town.

Larger rod runs in big cities such as Reno and Las Vegas bring in thousands of cars, however, the small mountain town of West Yellowstone brings together a special show each year.

“As far as small towns go, the Yellowstone Rod Run is one of the most coveted in the region,” he said. “It is very well attended and well known. It is sandwiched in between other rod runs with a great spot. It’s always held the first full weekend in August; A classic car cruises along the Madison River during the annual cruise to people can plan on it.”

Old Faithful at the annual Rod Run.

Classic cars and hot rods line the edge of the town park during a Show and Shine event during the annual Rod Run a few years ago.

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Summer Guide • 2016

Mia Robinson shoots a bow as her father Joe, left, and trader Dave Coombs of Two Rivers Trading watch intently during the annual Mountain Man Rendezvous back in 2013.

Rendezvous brings historical living camp to town

By MIKE MOORE

T

Handmade pottery, beadwork, leather goods and more are available for purchase from vendors throughout the Smoking Waters Mountain Man Rendezvous.

West Yellowstone News

ake a step back in time and learn about life as a fur trapper or trader that lived back in the 1800’s during this year’s 11th annual Smoking Waters Mountain Man Rendezvous. The historical living camp features traders from all around the Rocky Mountain region, who travel to West Yellowstone to educate town visitors about the early struggles of being a mountain man, while also selling their handcrafted wares that range from pottery, animals furs, knives, beadwork, clothing and leather goods.

This year’s rendezvous event will be held from Aug. 5-14th at the Old Airport west of West Yellowstone. According to event organizer and Two Turtles Trading Post owner Sunshine Kirkpatrick, this year should be similar to previous years. Traders will have their tents open daily throughout the event for visitors to browse, while a few special events are expected throughout the 10-day event. Those special events include a primitive bow shoot, a black powder shoot and knife and tomahawk throw competition.

Kirkpatrick expects anywhere between 20-40 tents to be set up this year, which is on par with previous years.

She says the event is special for those who visit, as it can teach them about the fur trade era, with everything in the living camp being period correct from the 1800s.

“They can get a glimpse of what the old west used to look like with

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Summer Guide • 2016

the fur trade,” Kirkpatrick said. “It was kind of a lonesome lifestyle and hard work without modern appliances.”

Kirkpatrick and her husband Casey operate the Two Turtles Trading Post tent throughout the event, and plan to sell beaded feathers, beaded jewelry, smudge kits and other items of décor. All of their items, along with the rest of the traders at the event, are homemade, she noted.

Kirkpatrick says she is excited for what this year’s rendezvous will bring. Both returning traders and brand new traders are expected, so visitors never know what unique item they may stumble upon.

Many visitors plan their vacations to the area around rendezvous just to revisit their favorite traders and to continue their collections.

“I’m definitely excited,” she said. “I live for rendezvous.”

Traders display their goods to visitors at the old airport during a previ-

Maurice Brown peels the bark off of lodgepole pine trees as he prepares

ous Smoking Waters Mountain Man Rendezvous event.

them for additional teepee lodges that will be set in the local area.

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Summer Guide • 2016

Tanner Whitlock lays on the ground after horse Goodie Bandit bucked him off during saddle bronc riding at the Wild West Yellowstone Rodeo last summer.

Rodeo brings high-flying action all summer long

By MIKE MOORE

W

Cowgirl Ashlee Barrington carries the American flag around the arena during the start of a Wild West Yellowstone Rodeo event.

West Yellowstone News

ith summer now in full swing, it won’t be long before the dust starts to fly at the Wild West Yellowstone Rodeo arena. The 52-performance season kicks off June 15, and runs through August 27.

According to rodeo owner Georgia McMillan, this year’s rodeo season will have similar events to previous years, with saddle bronc riding, team roping, bull riding, calf scrambles and more on tap on a nightly basis throughout the summer.

A few new additions this year will be trick rope acts, steer and calf riding, and possibly a surprise event along the way.

McMillan says they have a big roster of new and returning cowboys and cowgirls expected to compete this season, which should make for some exciting rodeo action and competition for the year-end awards that are handed out in August.

Some returning competitors from previous seasons include Todd Peter, who won the all-around buckle two seasons ago after putting together some solid performances in a wide variety of events.

“I’m excited to have Todd back,” McMillan said. “I think he’ll give them a run for their money in the all-around race again.”

Luke and JoBeth Hutchison will also be back for another year, along with Bobbe McMillan. Jay Broncho and his family

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Summer Guide • 2016

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Rodeo clown Rob Mattson helps youngsters stretch and warm up for a calf scramble during a Wild West Yellowstone Rodeo show last summer.

from Idaho will also be returning this season. All of the returning riders have won their fare share of buckles in the past, meaning some exciting rodeo action is to be expected this year again.

Along with the returning cowboys and cowgirls, McMillan says they have quite a few new people lined up for this season, including a female ranch rider, rough stock riders, saddle bronc riders and more.

“It’s exciting,” she said. “We’re going to have a talented group of contestants this year.”

Also new this season is the announcer, Brent Kautz, and a few new rodeo clowns are expected to keep the crowds laughing and entertained.

McMillan says there has already been a lot of interest from visitors traveling to town that plan to incorporate the rodeo and or a horseback ride from Creekside Trail Rides into their vacation plans.

“We’re hoping for dry conditions,” she said. “It should be a good year.”

Trail rides begin on June 10, and a new, larger wagon is being built to allow more people to come along for a pleasant ride in the foothills of the Madison Range.

“We’re looking forward to being back in West Yellowstone and working with the local folks,” McMillan said.

The Wild West Yellowstone Rodeo will have between four and five performances per week. All performances begin at 8 p.m. at the rodeo grounds on U.S. Highway 20 west of West Yellowstone. General admission tickets cost $15 for adults, and $8 for children.

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Summer Guide • 2016

Fun seasonal events around West Yellowstone

By JEREMY WEBER

T

The annual Mountain Bike Biathlon is just one of the many fun

he summer and early fall season is not just a time for fun in the park, there are also lots of fun activities going on around West Yellowstone.

For those who have always wanted to try the excitement of biathlon but don’t know how to cross country ski, West Yellowstone’s annual Mountain Bike Biathlon is scheduled for July 9.

This unique competition is open to any interested participants. It provides a training opportunity for experienced Biathletes and a chance for others to experience the Olympic sport of Biathlon. Mountain Bikes and Summer Trails substitute for skis and snow but the rifles and shooting are the same.

Match Class Biathletes must have their own equipment and will shoot on standard IBU targets. Novice Class Biathletes will be provided with rifles and ammunition and will shoot on the larger, ‘Standing’, targets for both Prone and Standing. The Children’s division is for age 12 and younger. Children will shoot in prone only and will be provided with a support for the rifle.

Sponsored by Altius Handcrafted Firearms and the West Yellowstone Ski Education Foundation, the race is open to all ages and experience levels, from novice to seasoned pro.

What began as a running and shooting event in the late 1990’s, West Yellowstone’s summer biathlon switched to mountain biking several years ago and continues to draw competitors from around the country and beyond.

OPEN DAILY

events that take place near West Yellowstone during the summer season.

West Yellowstone News

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Summer Guide • 2016

To enter match class, competitors must have their own rifle and ammunition that meets IBU criteria. Match class will shoot both prone and standing at standard IBU targets (prone 45 mm and standing 115mm).

Novice competitors will shoot at larger standing targets both prone and standing while the children’s class will shoot prone only and will provided with a support for the rifle.

Awards will be presented for first through third place male and female finishers in each class. Age group awards will also be presented.

Proof of USBA or Biathlon Canada membership is required to compete but “member for a day” membership is available online at http://www. teamusa.org/US-Biathlon/Membership.aspx or as an option through event registration.

The registration fee is $15 for children and $25 for all others if received by the Friday, July 8. A $10 fee is added for those who register on the day of the race. Online registration is available at www.rendezvousskitrails. com. Forms can also be faxed to 406-646-9433 or emailed to director@ renezvousskitrails.com.

Summer in West Yellowstone means the annual return of Music in the Park, a series of free family-friendly concerts at Pioneer Park.

Last year’s concerts kicked off with the first-ever Caldera Festival in July, followed by three more concerts over the next month. Read the West Yellowstone News later this summer to see which bands will be performing this year.

The second-annual West Yellowstone Ski Education Foundation (WYSEF) Golf Tournament will be taking place in Big Sky Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. Great prizes will be available for all four-person teams that compete in the scramble-format event. For more information, call 406-640-5713.

The third-annual Yellowstone Rendezvous Trail Run is scheduled for Sept. 24. The Trail Run includes 5k, 10k, and half marathon races that wind their way along the hard pack dirt trails of the Rendezvous Ski Trails in the Gallatin National Forest at the edge of West Yellowstone.

Once again, all runners, walkers, and stroller pushers will enjoy a great car-free run on wide, well-maintained trails. Enjoy the varying terrain as you take in views of the neighboring Yellowstone National Park and surrounding Gallatin National Forest. Start and Finish at the Rendezvous Trailhead Building (no shuttling required) and recover with friends, family, and a free beer. Dogs are allowed, but please pick up after your pet.

For more information, visit skirunbikemt.com/events.

Those wanting to get in a last ride before the end of the summer riding season and support the Yellowstone Park Foundation can participate in the Fall Cycle Tour in September.

Ride this 60-mile round-trip bicycle tour to Yellowstone’s Old Faithful, starting at 9:00am. Enjoy the fall colors of Yellowstone National Park as the 60 mile round-trip bicycle tour takes you past geysers, thermal features, bison and bugling elk.

There is a limit of 300 riders so register today at http://www.cycleyellowstone.com.

Beginning at the Visitor’s Center in town, riders move to the western gate of Yellowstone National Park and follow the beautiful Madison River to Madison Junction. They will then approach the only real climb on the route, Firehole Hill. Continuing on to Old Faithful, riders get to enjoy the fascinating attractions along the river as they pass famous thermal areas of the park.

All the participants in the Fall Cycle Tour hope to see Old Faithful erupt before taking off again to return to West Yellowstone by the same route in reverse. But they won’t be hungry as they wait for the spouting geyser to let loose. There’s a feed station at Old Faithful, as well as at Madison Junction. Patrols are around who can take you back to West Yellowstone if the going gets too rough for you, and also another patrol who can help with flats or needed repairs.

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FWP reminds boaters to be safe this summer News from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks ontana Fish, Wildlife & Parks reminds boat operators to take a boating safety course. FWP’s boat education program includes a home-study course or on-line education course for motorboat and personal watercraft operators.

Motorboat operators ages 13 and 14 are required to complete a boating course before operating a vessel with no adult on board.

Persons 13 years of age or older who successfully complete the course will receive a motorboat operator’s certificate.

Information about Montana’s boating courses is available on the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov.

Go to the Education page and click Outdoor Recreation then Boating, Floating, and Kayaking.

To obtain the motorboat home-study course packet, contact the nearest regional FWP office, or call FWP at 406-444-2535.

Boating classes are also offered by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. For your safety and the safety of others, please be certain you know Montana’s boating rules and regulations.

As the summer boating season continues, FWP urges all boaters to follow three basic rules on the

M

Montana boaters are reminded that on waters greater than 35 surface acres west of the Continental Divide, watercraft must travel at no-wake speed from shorline to 200 feet from the shore. Watercraft towing skiers may travel faster, but must take the most direct route through the no-wake zone.

Give the buffalo a brake.

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This time of year buffalo are migrating out of Yellowstone to give birth, and are frequently crossing our highways in the process. This creates a high potential for accidents and injuries, especially at night, when the dark animals are very difficult to see.

We at Buffalo Field Campaign continuously move our “Buffalo on Road” signs according to the location of the buffalo. If you see these signs, there ARE buffalo on or near the highway. Also, if you see buffalo along the road but our signs are not present, please call our office so our road patrols can be notified.

Please slow down. Nearly twenty buffalo have been killed this spring on our highways. For your safety, and the safety of the buffalo, drive with caution.

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Limit 6 fountain items. Redeemable at Eagle’s Store, West Yellowstone, Montana. One coupon per customer, per visit. Not valid with any other offer or coupon. No copies or facsimiles. No cash value.

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406•646•0070 www.BuffaloFieldCampaign.org

Summer Guide • 2016

water: • Designate a skipper who won’t drink alcoholic beverages while the boat is on the water.

• Have approved lifejackets on board and readily accessible for every passenger, and require children under 12 years of age to abide by the law and wear their lifejackets when the boat is in motion.

• Do not exceed a boat’s safe carrying capacity. Boats that are over loaded or unbalanced are more likely to capsize.

Owners of motorboats, sailboats or personal watercraft also need to get new, free 2016-2019 validation decals for their watercraft soon.

Boaters who have permanently registered their boats, sailboats, or PWC must still obtain two free boat validation decals every three years at FWP regional and area offices, or by going to the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov; click Boat Validation Decals.

For new boat or PWC owners, the County Treasurer’s office will provide the first set of validation decals when the watercraft is registered. Boat owners will obtain subsequent sets of validation decals at a FWP regional or area office, or online.

In Montana, all boating accidents must be reported.

In Montana, the most common types of boating accidents are collisions with another

vessel, capsizing, collision with fixed or floating objects and falling overboard.

Factors that contribute to accidents include operator inattention, operator inexperience, hazardous water and excessive speed. Alcohol, however, may be the most devastating contributing factor, Jendro said.

FWP is responsible for enforcing Montana’s boating laws.

If you recreate on the water, it is your responsibility to know and understand the “no-wake” rules in effect on Montana waters.

That includes operators of personal watercraft.

In general, the same rules apply to all types of watercraft.

Here is a quick rundown on no-wake zones.

No-wake zones are in effect on all lakes and reservoirs in the state west of the Continental Divide in the Western Fishing District. Also, all commercial marinas have no-wake zones near their facilities. These rules help reduce the impact of vessel traffic on the shoreline, boat marinas, other recreators and residents with lakeside property.

“No-wake” means a vessel must travel at a speed where there is no “white” water in the track or path of the vessel, or in waves created by the vessel.

All watercraft operating on public lakes

and reservoirs under 35 acres in the Western Fishing District are limited to traveling at no-wake speed. A list of these waters is available on the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks website at fwp.mt.gov.

On waters greater than 35 surface acres west of the Continental Divide, watercraft must travel at no-wake speed from the shoreline to 200 feet from the shoreline. Exceptions are: • Personal watercraft, which must maintain a minimum operating speed to remain upright and maneuver in the water, may travel at that minimum operating speed following the most direct route through the no-wake zone to and from shore; • Motorized watercraft towing a skier from or to a dock or the shore, except that watercraft must travel the most direct route through the no-wake zone; • These lakes located within the Thompson Chain of Lakes in Lincoln county: Crystal Lake; Horseshoe Lake; Loon Lake; Lower Thompson Lake; McGregor Lake; Middle Thompson Lake; Upper lobe of Upper Thompson.

• Lake Five in Flathead County.

Boating laws and other water recreation rules are available on FWP’s website at fwp.mt.gov. Go to Recreation, Rules and Regulations, then Boating.

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Summer in West :: 2016 Guide to Summer Fun in West Yellowstone

Guides

• G e a r • r e n ta l s

406-682-5150 • montanatrout.com

3 0 1 E a st M a i n st r E E t • D ow n t ow n E n n i s , M o n ta n a Photo by Ken TaKaTa

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Summer in West :: 2016 Guide to Summer Fun in West Yellowstone

NATURE IN YELLOWSTONE Photos by: Jeremy Weber

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Where you’ll find everything you want... and want everything you find.

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P.O. Box 990 ~ 222 East Main St. 2B ~ Ennis, Montana 59729 406-682-3133 ~ www.otterbanksgallery.com

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