Courtesy of National Park Service
YELLOWSTONE
A WONDERLAND IN ALL SEASONS By Amber Travsky I glance to my right, and the pitter-pat of my heart clicks up a notch. I have second thoughts, but it is too late to reconsider my decision, since I’ve already made my move. I pop my bicycle into high gear and pedal for all I’m worth. Just 25 feet away, a burly bull bison moseys down the highway. My goal is to get past him as quickly as possible, praying he doesn’t react. I’m on my way back to West Yellowstone after visiting Old Faithful with other cycling friends. The weather is typical for early May: some blue sky, some clouds and even some snow. I dress in cross-country ski attire, and it serves me well through the day. Only a few roads are open, and motorized traffic is minimal. The trick, though, is maneuvering past all the bison wandering on and near the highway. Initially, when there were a few motorists on the road, I’d flag one down and ask
them to serve as a shield, driving past the bison with me on the other side. That worked great until the traffic decreased to a trickle. With the day on the wane, I can’t wait for the bison to wander off the road; I need to get back to West Yellowstone before dark. I figure meeting a bison on the road in the dark might not end well. My plan with this bull is to dash by as far away from him as I can get — and to do it all quickly. As I pull even with him, his size is truly impressive. I, on my bicycle, come to his shoulder. “Be nice,” I whisper, only half joking, and pick up my pace even more. Luckily, Mr. Bull gives me nary a glance. No pause; no turn of the head. He doesn’t miss a step in his meander down the road. Once past, I let out a sigh of relief and move back to my side of the highway. 150TH ANNIVERSARY • YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK • 29
