Fall 2012 Discovery by Yellowstone Association

INSPIRE

PRESER

VOLUME 27, NUMBER 3 fall 2012

DISCOVERY

Q u a r t e r ly

p u b l i c a t i o n

o f

t h e

y e l l o w s t o n e

a s s o c i a t i o n

history and future meet in gardiner

For well over 100 years, visitors have traveled to Gardiner to enter Yellowstone. Photo: NPS

By Lee H. Whittlesey

uring four out of the previous five years, record numbers of vehicles have used the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana, causing traffic back-up’s that often stretched to Park Street. These back-ups, combined with the proximity of Park Street to Yellowstone’s boundary and the public’s desire to see and photograph Roosevelt Arch safely, led the park to initiate studies of possible solutions. Beginning in 2010, park officials began holding public meetings to solicit comments on possible solutions. At that

visitors blocked the streets and used their restrooms without buying merchandise. Residents created the Greater Gardiner Community Council to address the community’s side of the project, and gradually the entire effort became known as the “Gardiner Gateway Project.” Meanwhile, the park produced the “North Entrance/Park Street Environmental Assessment” in 2011.

time, some Gardiner businesspeople suggested that if road work would be done and construction crews available, the community should work with NPS to expand the original project scope to include improvements to Gardiner itself. Gardiner has essentially no public restrooms, and business owners consistently complained that

What’s Inside...

Kick-Off Ceremony

• Interview with Doug Smith, Wolf Project Leader

The result of these combined efforts—tagged as a project to revitalize the historic entrance to Yellowstone National Park—has now culminated in an agreement

• winter wildlife watching programs • autumn angling tips from local experts

Continued on page 2 w

w .

Y e

o w

e 1

a t

Arch Park and Roosevelt Arch as imagined in the Gardiner Gateway Project

among fifteen state, county, federal, and nonprofit stakeholders (including the Yellowstone Association). On June 14, 2012, stakeholders, park officials, park partners, and members of the public gathered in Gardiner to celebrate

the formal signing of the project’s memorandum of understanding. Escorted by local riders on horseback, Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer and Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Dan Wenk led a coterie

of dignitaries who rode from the Yellowstone Association headquarters to Arch Park in a two-horse Yellowstone stagecoach and an historic 1930s park bus to emphasize the region’s colorful transportation history. Upon arrival at Arch Park, several of the participants gave speeches. “For well over 100 years,” stated Superintendent Wenk, “visitors have traveled to the Gardiner area to enter Yellowstone National Park. We welcome working with this great group of local, state, federal, and nonprofit partners to enhance the experience of visiting Yellowstone, Montana, and Gardiner.” Wenk noted that the National Park Service’s second century, which begins in 2016, will continue to connect parks and help communities protect what is special to them, highlight their histories, and retain or rebuild their economic sustainability.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Park Store.......................................................................................6–7 Resource Notes...................................................................................8 Association News ..............................................................................9 In the Spotlight................................................................................10 Institute Winter Wildlife Watching Programs...................................11 Autumn Angling........................................................................12–13 Summit Society................................................................................14 Membership...............................................................................15–16

Governor Schweitzer stated that “this agreement calls for all the partners to work together, cooperatively, to make this historic, iconic park entrance a more memorable experience for hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.” “The community of Gardiner and businesses in the gateway area,” he pledged, “will reap additional economic benefits from the revitalization, and future generations will continue to see the benefits of the Montana Gardiner Gateway Project for years to come.” Schweitzer also reported

THE MISSION OF THE YELLOWSTONE ASSOCIATION

The Yellowstone Association, in partnership with the National Park Service, connects people to Yellowstone National Park and our natural world through education. P.O. Box 117 • Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190 www.YellowstoneAssociation.org • ya@yellowstoneassociation.org 406-848-2400 Monday - Friday • 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Mountain Time Printed on Forest Stewardship Council certified paper with soy-based ink.

w .

Y e

o w

e 2

a t

Governor Schweitzer and Superintendent Wenk arrive at the event via stagecoach. Photo: Mike Kautz

to the crowd that for every dollar spent by the state on promotion of tourism, 151 more dollars rolls into Montana, and this tourism is worth $2.8 billion annually to the state. NPS Landscape Architect Joe Regula stated that community groups want to avoid the over-development in Gardiner that often occurs in gateway towns. Therefore, the proposed improvements seek to maintain the historic atmosphere by taking design cues from the Roosevelt Arch and other historic buildings.

Historical Perspective

The historical background for the entire project centers on the park’s north boundary and its proximity to Gardiner’s Park Street. Park Street—the east-west street that fronts Yellowstone National Park—has been Gardiner’s w

w .

Y e

today of dirt and gravel parking) are all technically inside the park.

most prominent street since the first settler, James McCartney, settled near its east end in late 1879. The street has buildings only on its north side, and it runs parallel to the north boundary of Yellowstone National Park.

Other parts of the history that today influence the project include the Roosevelt Arch, the transportation history of the area, and the more recently established Arch Park. The Roosevelt Arch, erected in 1903, is a cultural icon of Yellowstone National Park. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is a National Historic Landmark, a part of the Fort Yellowstone National Historic District, and a portion of the park’s North Entrance Road Historic District.

When the town of Gardiner was established, the park’s north boundary was not yet surveyed, and this fact caused town builders to crowd their buildings literally up to the park line, assuming that the boundary was farther south. The boundary, first surveyed in 1902–03, was found to run along the north edge of Park Street’s sidewalk, so that even today a person entering a town building is simultaneously exiting the park, and a person leaving a town building enters the park the moment he steps onto the sidewalk. Thus, Park Street is tied elementally to Yellowstone National Park because the street’s single sidewalk, its two paved driving lanes, and its south side (composed o w

e 3

Named for President Theodore Roosevelt who laid its cornerstone on April 24, 1903, the arch was originally intended by road engineer Hiram Chittenden and architect N.J. Ness to “improve” the entrance to Yellowstone National Park. This was done so that stagecoach visitors stepping off the Continued on page 4 i

a t

Hall Store (“sells everything”) near the arch, which provided supplies to park visitors from 1903 to 1954. Several historic sources point to W.A. Hall having first run his store at Cinnabar (three miles west), but by February 21, 1885, the Livingston Enterprise newspaper recorded that Hall also had a store in Gardiner. The Yellowstone Association purchased and renovated the Hall building as part of the Legacy for Learning Campaign, and moved their headquarters there in April 2009. The project also includes improved pedestrian access and a greenway with interpretive signage in front of the Yellowstone Association building. “The Yellowstone Association is delighted to be a partner in the Gardiner Gateway Project,” Executive Director Jeff Brown said. “By pooling our resources and working together, the various organizations and agencies involved with this effort can make improvements which highlight the historical significance of Gardiner while providing a new level of service for visitors.”

Stagecoaches departing Northern Pacific Railway station at Gardiner, Montana en route to Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, 1904. Photo: NPS

train at the railroad depot in Gardiner could immediately sense—by absorbing the symbolism of the arch’s stately presence—that they were entering a special place, namely the world’s first national park. While there is some undocumented information stating that architect Robert Reamer worked on the arch (He definitely designed the nearby 1903 railroad depot), there is no absolute documentation on that point. Another reason for the arch’s presence centers on area transportation. Visitors stepping off the Northern Pacific Railroad trains from 1903 until the 1950s were attracted immediately to the majestic entrance to Wonderland. Initially they boarded stagecoaches to ride through the arch. When passenger trains quit running in the 1950s, park tour busses carried visitors to and from the site. Trains continued to bring park freight to and from the depot until the tracks were removed during the summer of 1976. As early as 1972, the NPS erected an amphitheater here for evening interpretive programs, and it slowly evolved into “Arch Park,” jointly managed by the NPS, Park County, the community of Gardiner, and the state of Montana. In 1999–2000, these entities jointly built the muchimproved Arch Park picnic pavilion on the site for $129,000, and equipped w

w .

Y e

it with interpretive wayside exhibits describing the history of the area.

Proposed Changes

The Gardiner Gateway Project as envisioned in 2012 includes routine road and culvert improvements, widening Gardiner’s Park Street to improve pedestrian safety, and the extension of Third Street south through the fence to provide motorists the option of either passing in front of Gardiner businesses or bypassing the Roosevelt Arch. This will allow visitors who want to photograph the arch the opportunity to experience it unencumbered by traffic (a safety consideration), and will abate the narrow bottleneck that exists there now.

Joe Regula stated that the Federal Highway Administration will provide some of the money for the project, because the roads, including Gardiner’s Park Street, are federally owned. Bill Berg admitted that “funding is a huge question mark,” but said that his organization is soliciting private funds and researching state grants. He noted that Gardiner is also an entrance to Montana for visitors leaving the park in a northerly direction so it “pays” for Gardiner to make a good first impression on tourists.

In addition to planned NPS Park Street improvements, the Gardiner Chamber of Commerce is pursuing options to address the need for public restrooms and visitor information. There is also a plan, according to Greater Gardiner Community Council President Bill Berg, to rebuild the previous, ornate railroad depot and use it as a museum or library.

The National Park Service’s preferred alternative in what is called the “North Entrance/Park Street Environmental Assessment” would phase in a series of changes. The park would build a new entrance station complex to speed up visitor entry into the park. Visitors would have the option of entering Yellowstone through the historic Roosevelt Arch, or traveling over a new access road (probably at Third Street) to bypass congestion at the arch. Expanded parking, new pedestrian walkways, and improved

Currently, the Yellowstone Association building at the west end of Park Street functions as a de facto visitor center for Gardiner. It occupies the old W.A. o w

e 4

a t

Approved North Entrance Plan

traffic circulation would make it easier for visitors to access businesses along Park Street. The administrative road in front of the Gardiner Transportation Center would be moved to separate visitor traffic from delivery vehicles and employee parking (It is currently signed “Do Not Enter” for visitors.). These plans were outlined at the June 14, 2012, ceremony. Following remarks, fifteen individuals representing 14 organizations then signed the memorandum of understanding. They are as follows: Brian Schweitzer, Governor of Montana; Dan Wenk, National Park Service; Bill Berg, Greater Gardiner Community Council; Daniel Bierschwale, Gardiner Chamber

of Commerce; Clara Conner, Western Federal Lands Highway Division, Federal Highway Administration; Tim Reardon, Montana Department of Transportation; Randy Taylor, Park County Commissioner; Marty Malone, Park County Commissioner; Ron Hecker, U.S. Forest Service, Gallatin National Forest; Jeff Brown, Yellowstone Association; Paul Reichert, Yellowstone Park Foundation; Patricia Dowd, National Parks Conservation Association; Katrina Hecimovic, Transportation Scholar for the Gardiner Gateway Program; Robin Hoover, Executive Director of Yellowstone Country; and Jeri Duran, Montana Office of Tourism.

The memorandum of understanding establishes a steering committee and framework for working across boundaries, transferring money when necessary, and generally outlining who will do what work. Both the community of Gardiner and Yellowstone National Park are seeking funding sources to begin work on their respective parts of the project. Construction on the Gardiner project will take place sometime over the next four years, with the project expected to be completed by 2016, the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. For more information about the Gardiner Gateway Project please visit: http://gardinergatewayproject.org

The northern pacific railroad & yellowstone national park

By Phyllis Smith and William Hoy. The story of how the Northern Pacific Railroad influenced developments in the early days of Yellowstone National Park. Contains information about early visitors to the park area, railroad men scouting out the landscape, the first businesses inside the park boundaries, and problems that the first superintendents of the park encountered. Price: $24.95 YA Member Price: $21.21

Order online at www.YellowstoneAssociation.org or call us at 406-848-2400. w . Y e l l o w s t o n e A s s o c i a t i o n . o 5

instit

u te news YELLOWSTONE ASSOCIATION

PARK STORE FREE

shippin g ( see

on web

or d ers

for

o v er

$75

d et a ils )

2013 Yellowstone National Park Calendar—Now 25% Off!

By the Yellowstone Association. Get up close and personal with America’s first national park as each month guides you through the natural and cultural history of Yellowstone. Stunning photography and depictive captions let you enjoy this wonderland from the comfort of your own home. Sale Price: $9.71

Charting Yellowstone Wolves

By Dr. James Halfpenny. The complete collection of Dr. Halfpenny’s annual laminated wolf charts, produced from 1995–2011. Trace the genealogy of both individual wolves and packs with this permanent record containing all 46 charts. Price: $24.95 YA Member Price: $21.21

Counter Assault Kozee-Tote

Bear spray transportation and storage safety container, requested by Forest Service and military personnel to protect bear spray while traveling. Includes highly absorbent foam inserts within a heavy-duty container with handle. (Bear spray not included). Price: $24.95 YA Member Price: $21.21

Women in Wonderland: Lives, Legends, and Legacies in Yellowstone National Park

By Elizabeth A. Watry. Read profiles of courageous Yellowstone women, such as Marguerite “Peg” Arnold, an intrepid adventurer who drove a motorcycle from Philadelphia to Yellowstone in 1924 and became the first woman permanent ranger in the National Park Service, and Dr. Mary Meagher, an expert on Yellowstone’s bison and overall park ecology, who blazed a path for women scientists in the National Park Service. Price: $19.95 YA Member Price: $16.96

The Wolf’s Tooth: Keystone Predators, Trophic Cascades, and Biodiversity

By Cristina Eisenberg. Scientist and author Eisenberg explores the concept of “trophic cascades” and the role of top predators in regulating ecosystems. Provides clear explanations of the science surrounding keystone predators and considers how this notion can help provide practical solutions for restoring ecosystem health and function. Price: $29.99 YA Member Price: $25.49

w Order w . online Y e at l www.YellowstoneAssociation.org l o w s t o n e A s s or o call c ius aat 406-848-2400. t i o n . o r 6

instit

u te news YELLOWSTONE ASSOCIATION

PARK STORE FREE

shippin g ( see

on web

or d ers

for

o v er

$75

d et a ils )

Yellowstone Folk Art Puzzle

Featuring the art of Eric Dowdle. This 1000-piece puzzle captures Yellowstoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s geysers, waterfalls, historic hotels, wildlife, and more, and comes in a handy travel suitcase.Â Price: $19.99 YA Member Price: $16.99

Elk: A Falcon Field Guide

By Jack Ballard. This guide presents substantive yet easy-to-understand information on this most majestic of large mammals, including where they live, what they eat, the type of predators capable of taking down an elk, and how much their massive antlers weigh. Price: $9.95 YA Member Price: $8.46

Vapur Element Collapsible Water Bottle

Patented flexible design makes this reusable water bottle lighter and easier to hold. It folds flats when empty. Featuring the Yellowstone Association logo, it is also dishwasher safe, BPA Free, and made in USA. Size: 1L. Price: $13.99 YA Member Price: $11.89

Wolf Identification Chart 2012

By Dr. James Halfpenny and Diann Thompson. Laminated chart displaying a map of the approximate territories of 11 packs found in Yellowstone with photographs of key pack members, as well as information about individual pack members, their positions within the pack, and identifying features. Price: $4.95 YA Member Price: $4.21

Venture to Yellowstone: A Teddy Bear Explores Yellowstone National Park

By Sloan Heermance. Join Venture, the traveling teddy bear, and explore the unique features and many animals of Yellowstone. Venture guides children aged six to eleven through the beauty of Yellowstone with child-friendly information, photographs, and engaging activities. Price: $15.95 YA Member price: $13.56

Order online at www.YellowstoneAssociation.org or call us at 406-848-2400. w . Y e l l o w s t o n e A s s o c i a t i o n . o 7

eso

rce

otes

latest wolf data revealing secrets about coat color, aging By Lisa Reuter Yellowstone Association New details from the ongoing study of wolves in Yellowstone National Park are attracting great interest in the wolf science world. The first surprise is one humans can sympathize with: Despite relatively short life spans (five years on average), wolves experience the effects of aging like humans and other mammals. Abilities to hunt and produce offspring diminish with age, said Wolf Project Threatened and Endangered Coordinator Dan Stahler. Another attention getter: the discovery of the gene responsible for black coats and that gene’s effects. Half of Yellowstone’s wolves are black, half are gray, with the black gene dominant. Black wolves may be more resistant to disease, while gray females have a 25 percent greater pup survival rate than black females. The gene appears to have originated in domestic dogs thousands of years ago. “We don’t know the whole story yet, but we think this finding involves a complex interaction of the coat color gene with other aspects of wolf physiology, such as immune system function,” Stahler said.

17 Years and Counting

The Yellowstone study, now at 17 years and counting, looks at behavior, reproduction, survival, genetics, and interactions with other species—including elk, the primary prey. Such studies, said Wolf Project Director Doug Smith, “are worth their weight in gold because 80 percent of wildlife studies last three years or less. Although those are useful work, things change, so drawing conclusions from a brief snapshot is difficult. We are in a position to monitor wolves and their changes in Yellowstone.” The Yellowstone study, Smith added, has passed from wolf recovery (colonization and expansion), to Phase II: watching the wolves adapt to a more dynamic equilibrium with their food source (elk). “There will be surprises and twists and turns along the way that we never expected.” w

w .

Y e

Half of Yellowstone’s wolves are black, half are gray, with the black gene dominant. Photo: Barry O’Neil, NPS

Findings

I am most surprised that northern range wolves have not started hunting bison more.”

A typical pack is closely related, with the older wolves the parents and leaders of the rest. Pack life is a year-round effort to maintain and defend a territory possessing adequate resources for survival and reproduction. The study shows that a larger, more socially complex pack will change the alpha male-alpha female-only mating bond to improve reproductive success. The dominant male may mate with more than one unrelated female to sire multiple litters, or the alpha female may mate with multiple males to try to have the fittest one sire her offspring.

Wolves in the park’s interior have learned to hunt bison because they must in winter. “It will be interesting to see whether the northern wolves shift to bison,” he said. Other study findings: • The best hunters are ages two to three. • At least one wolf a year is killed while hunting, but the leading cause of death among Yellowstone wolves is other wolves.

Between 1995 and 1996, 31 wolves were re-introduced into Yellowstone. The population peaked at about 174 in 2003 and now numbers about 80 in 11 packs, with four packs occupying the northern range. The ecosystem has changed too.

• Wolves are successful just 25 percent of the time when hunting. Success depends on identifying the most vulnerable prey. • Wolves can kill an elk in 10 minutes; a bison may take five days.

“Even after 17 years of research, many of us feel things are just now getting interesting ecologically,” Stahler said. “In 2003, we had 98 wolves on the northern range in nine packs. Today, we have about 35 in three to four packs. We have five times the number of bison up north compared to when wolves were reintroduced, and a smaller, healthier elk herd. o w

e 8

• Females’ prime reproductive years are between ages two and five, and the bigger the mother, the more pups and surviving pups she will have. • Hunting success peaks when a pack numbers four adults, while reproductive success is optimal when a pack has eight. i

a t

ssoci

tion

news

destination yellowstone welcomes park visitors The next time you fly into Bozeman, Montana, be sure to visit Destination Yellowstone a collaborative effort by Yellowstone’s primary nonprofit partners, the Yellowstone Association and the Yellowstone Park Foundation. Our newest Park Store opened in December 2011 just days after the Gallatin Airport Authority voted to formally change the name of the airport to the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN). Destination Yellowstone sells educational books, maps, guides, outdoor items, and accessories to enhance visitors’

Volunteer information assistants work alongside sales associates to help orient visitors to the park and the surrounding area, providing visitors with free maps and current reports from the field. These reports are displayed via a customized Google Earth LCD display that illustrates road closures, snow-pack levels (winter), and current wildlife sightings.

understanding and enjoyment of Yellowstone National Park and other public lands. “Destination Yellowstone provides a unique experience for visitors arriving at the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport,” said YA Director of Sales and Marketing Daniel Bierschwale. “It increases YA’s ability to connect more visitors to Yellowstone National Park through our educational services, including our Park Store and Information Desk.”

An additional LCD display shows a live view of Old Faithful, and the Yellowstone Park Foundation will provide educational and interactive exhibits that will be in place later this year. These amenities give travelers the opportunity to organize their trip with up-to-date information from knowledgeable and enthusiastic YA staff immediately upon arrival. Served by five major airlines, BZN is located just 90 minutes from Gardiner, the only year-round gateway to the park and home of the Yellowstone Association headquarters. The airport recently announced extended non-stop service to New York City through March 30, 2013, on United Airlines. Destination Yellowstone is located before security checkpoints next to baggage claim so that locals are also able to visit the store, which is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. We look forward to seeing you the next time your travels take you through Bozeman.

w .

Y e

o w

e 9

a t

rewriting history:

an interview with doug smith, leader of the wolf project By Stephen Camelio Yellowstone Association

HOW DID YOU PICK THE THREE NEW WOLVES TO PROFILE?

This summer Doug Smith and Gary Ferguson unveiled a revised and updated edition of Decade of the Wolf, their award-winning book about the wolves’ return to Yellowstone. Smith shared his thoughts with Discovery on the new edition and a host of wolfrelated topics.

WHY A NEW EDITION VS. NEW BOOK?

There are some interesting things going on with wolves right now that are unfinished, so we decided to wait and see what happens before writing a new book. But a lot has happened, so there is plenty of fresh material in the new edition, including new data and pictures. And we show how we did on our predictions six or seven years later.

HOW DID YOU DO?

We said wolves would decline, and that happened. The second—the wolves’ effect on the ecosystem—is ongoing and has been hotly debated. We weren’t 100 percent conclusive on it, but we’re sticking to our claim that wolves are changing the Yellowstone ecosystem.

FOR INSTANCE?

What did they do to the elk? Wolves are one agent among many that

Photo: Doug Smith

caused elk to decline. However elk have not declined to none as a lot of people said they would. There are fewer elk, but they’re healthier elk and the wolves are paying for it.

HOW SO?

The wolf population is not doing well this year. We have ten packs and only four of them are denning. That’s the lowest ratio we’ve ever had. Wolves are adjusting to fewer elk and we touch on that in the book, but we didn’t have this summer’s data.

HOW HAS THE POPULATION CHANGED SINCE THE FIRST EDITION? In 2005 wolves had just come down from a high of well over 140. This year, in mid-winter there were 98; right now [June] it’s about 78, but we don’t have pup counts yet. What comes next? Certainly it is fewer wolves. What will it stabilize at: what we have now or will it go lower still?

They are all famous wolves. At 148 lbs., Number 760 from the Delta pack is the single biggest wolf we’ve ever caught. Number 692 is interesting because she’s a rogue female that nobody could tie down. Unfortunately, she was shot illegally outside the park in Gardiner. And everybody knew Number 302, the Casanova who seemed like a happy-go-lucky wolf who had no aspirations in life. Each story captures the human imagination.

WHEN MORE INFORMATION IS IN, WILL THERE BE A NEW BOOK?

Yes, once we get through this interesting phase. It will be Yellowstone wolves, the whole story dissected into its parts. There will be chapters on wolf-elk relations, wolf-bear-coyote relations, disease, genetics, ecosystem impacts, scavengers, behavior, management, habituation, etc. I may sit down and write it with a couple colleagues or have the outside experts we’ve collaborated with each take a subject and treat it as its own chapter.

Decade of the Wolf: Returning the Wild to Yellowstone

By Douglas W. Smith and Gary Ferguson. This newly updated edition looks back to the winter of 1995–96 when 31 Canadian gray wolves were set free in Yellowstone. Wolf Project experts provide additional wolf profiles, new information on the effects of climate change and disease, and a retrospective on what the scientists have learned during this extended study of the Yellowstone wolves.

Price: $16.95 YA Member Price: $14.41

w Order w . online Y e at l www.YellowstoneAssociation.org l o w s t o n e A s s or o call c ius aat 406-848-2400. t i o n . o r 10

winter wil d life w a tchin g pro g r a m s Lamar Valley Wolf Weeks

Immerse yourself in the wolf’s winter world and learn about their habitat, behavior, history, and management. After the morning wolf action winds down, stretch your legs on guided snowshoe excursions or enjoy afternoons on your own. Dinner each evening is followed by an evening presentation or listening for wolf howls under the stars. This special week includes catered meals that begin with dinner the first evening and end with breakfast on the last day. 4-day program offered at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch beginning December 3, March 4, March 12, and March 17. $620 per person, including meals. Shared cabins are $30 per person per night. If space is available, you may rent a private cabin for $75 per night for 1— 2 people. Minimum age is 12.

Photo: Diane Simpson

Lodging and Learning programs

Our Lodging and Learning programs are based at park hotels and taught by naturalist guides who are intimately familiar with Yellowstone. Packages are offered in partnership with Xanterra Parks and Resorts® and include daily field trips, lodging, most meals, in-park transportation, and optional evening programs. Rates are double/single occupancy plus taxes or utility fees. Minimum age is 12. Rates are higher for holiday sessions.

Winter Wildlife Expedition

Wildlife abounds in Yellowstone’s northern range, which you can access by vehicle and foot even in winter. Observe and learn about Yellowstone’s pronghorn, bighorn, bison, elk, wolves, and other wildlife. 3-day program offered December 30, January 13, 27, February 10, 24, 26 4 nights at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel $665/$847 Photo: Sandy Shapiro

Winter Wolf Discovery

Delve into the world of Yellowstone’s wolves with the guidance of experts, who share their knowledge about ecology and wolf management. Search for wolves at first light, and spend afternoons snowshoeing in their habitat.

Photo: MacNeil Lyons

3-day program offered December 23, January 6, 20, February 3, 12, 17 4 nights at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel $705/$887

Choose Your Own Adventure Private Tours offer daily options that best fit your itinerary and interests, with the opportunity to combine days for a longer stay. Your naturalist guide will pick you up at your hotel. Better yet, through March 31, 2013, stay with us at our Yellowstone Overlook Field Campus and save 25 percent on your tuition. Go wildlife watching on the northern range; immerse yourself in the wolves’ winter habitat; or explore Yellowstone by ski or snowshoe. Tuition includes a naturalist guide, transportation for the day, snacks, and use of high-power spotting scopes and binoculars. Tours begin in Gardiner, Mammoth, or Lamar and last approximately 8 hours. Daily tuition rates: $495 ($371.25 with lodging discount) for 1–5 participants; $650 ($487.50 with lodging discount) for 6–13 participants; $1,300 ($975 with lodging discount) for 14–26 participants. To book visit w w w wa program, w w .. Y Y e eplease ll ll o o w wwww.YellowstoneAssociation.org s s tt o o n n e e A A s s s s o o c c ii a aor ttcall ii us o o at n n 406-848-2400 .. o o rr g g 11

Autumn Angling It’s usually during the spring, after waiting for the snow to melt, that our thoughts turn to fishing. But Yellowstone in the fall, after early-season runoff has ended and the summer heat subsides, can be one of the best times to fish in the park. We talked to a few local experts to get the hot fishing spots for the cool weather. By Stephen Camelio Yellowstone Association

GARDNER RIVER

Thanks to spawning brown trout coming up from the mighty Yellowstone River, the little Gardner River is home to big fish in the fall. “A rig with two nymphs is the way to catch the fall runners,” says Richard Parks, author of Fishing Yellowstone National Park. “Try big beadheads and stonefly imitations like Minch Stones, the 20-incher and Minch’s bead, hare, and copper.”

Brown Trout. Photo: Scott Morrison

MADISON RIVER

FIREHOLE RIVER

Working upstream from Hebgen Lake, trophy brown trout make their annual pilgrimage to spawn in the Park near West Yellowstone. If you want to land a Madison monster, Craig Mathews, co-author of The Yellowstone Fly-Fishing Guide, recommends going big with a size 6 streamer tied onto short, heavy leaders or, on overcast days, trying smaller BWOs or soft hackles.

Too hot to fish during the summer months, the Firehole once again becomes the dry fly fishermen’s go-to river in the park during the cooler autumn weather. But Parks says don’t go looking for the Pale Morning Duns that the fish loved so much in the spring. Instead, he recommends that from late morning to early afternoon anglers be on the watch for hatches of Blue Wing Olives and caddis.

LAMAR RIVER/SODA BUTTE CREEK

BECHLER RIVER

Despite the fact that heavy summer fishing with terrestrials makes the trout wary and hard to catch, Rhea Topping, instructor for YA Institute fly fishing courses, loves to fish the park’s northeast corner because of the Lamar Valley’s spectacular fall colors. And it doesn’t hurt that cloudy September days can mean hatches of big, size 10–12 drakes, both gray and green, which are a favorite food for large, hungry cutthroats preparing for a long, cold winter.

Insects are usually a fisherman’s best friend, but before September the mosquitoes in the park’s southwestern corner can drive even the most dedicated angler crazy. But come autumn when the pests disappear, the gin-clear, meadow stretches in this remote area can be productive for big rainbows, so long as you have long leaders and sight fish downstream with hoppers or ants.

Fishing in Yellowstone requires a license, which can be purchased at NPS visitor centers and local outdoor retailers. Regulations require barbless hooks, nontoxic tackle and catch-and-release for all native fish, as well as all fish in Wild Trout Enhancement Areas. All lake trout in Yellowstone Lake must be killed. This year fishing season runs through Sunday, November 5. Photo: Scott Morrison

w .

Y e

o w

e 12

a t

u te news Autumn Angling

instit

The Yellowstone Fly-Fishing Guide

By Craig Mathews and Clayton Molinero. This comprehensive guide to the park’s fishery includes discussion of insects, fly patterns, fishing techniques, and specific locations to fish in the park. Price: $16.95 YA Member Price: $14.41

Yellowstone Association Baseball Cap

This 100% cotton cap features the Yellowstone Association logo with an adjustable back strap. Sale Price: $7.99

Pocket Guide to Fly Fishing

By Ron Cordes and Gary LaFontaine. This handy pocket guide is made of durable plastic pages and spiral binding. It covers such topics as “Rod/Line,” “Plants,” “Location and Strategy,” “Technique,” and “Food Sources and Fly Patterns.” Price: $12.95 YA Member Price: $11.01

Fishing Yellowstone National Park

By Richard Parks. An insider’s guide to fly and lure fishing in Yellowstone. Includes resident fish species, recommended flies and lures, and detailed access information for more than 100 locations in the park. Price: $17.95 YA Member Price: $15.26

Pocket Guide to Fly Fishing Knots

By Ron Cordes, Stan Bradshaw, Gary LaFontaine. Each page of this takealong book provides direct and quick access to the knots you need while on the water, covering almost any fly fishing situation you can encounter. Price: $12.95 YA Member Price: $11.01

Order online at www.YellowstoneAssociation.org or call us at 406-848-2400. w . Y e l l o w s t o n e A s s o c i a t i o n . o 13

Summit Society “There is nothing so American as our national parks....The fundamental idea behind the parks...is that the country belongs to the people, that it is in process of making for the enrichment of the lives of all of us.” — President Franklin D. Roosevelt

LEAVE A LASTING LEGACY FOR YELLOWSTONE, JOIN THE SUMMIT SOCIETY TODAY! The Yellowstone Association’s Summit Society honors those who have included the Yellowstone Association in their estate plans. Join the Summit Society and other thoughtful donors whose gifts ensure the future of connecting people to Yellowstone and our natural world through education. There are many easy ways to leave a legacy, in addition to making a bequest to your will. You can designate the Yellowstone Association as a beneficiary of • Your IRA or pension plan • Life insurance policy • Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) • Charitable Lead Trust (CLT) • Stocks and Bonds • Bank Accounts To name the Yellowstone Association as a beneficiary, contact the institution that administers your account to request a beneficiary designation form.

Summit Society Benefits Yellowstone Association will recognize your legacy commitment in our annual report, Discovery magazine, and on the honor wall at the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center. The greatest benefit will be the satisfaction from knowing you have made a difference in Yellowstone for future generations. Your recognition will also inspire others.

Please let us know of your plans so we can properly recognize you for your thoughtful gift.

For more information: Please contact Stacey Orsted: 406-848-2855 or sorsted@yellowstoneassociation.org

Photo: Karen Withrow

Information from the Yellowstone Association is not offered as legal or tax advice. Yellowstone Association Tax ID# 03-0374417

w .

Y e

o w

e 14

a t

Thank you to all our special patrons NEW and RENEWING MEMBERS OF THE YELLOWSTONE SOCIETY... The Yellowstone Society recognizes preservationists who annually support the Association at $1,000 or more through memberships and philanthropic contributions. Thank you to the following donors who joined or renewed their membership in the Yellowstone Society between April 1, 2012, and June 30, 2012. Your annual support plays a critical role in the Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission to educate visitors about preserving Yellowstone National Park. falls $10,000 - $24,999 Mark Benjamin

Sue and Roger Lang Nancy and Dan Maloney Dana and David Martin Anne Young and Jim Nielson Cathy and William Osborn Judith and Tom Reid Tia and Jim Roddy Carolyn Rosin Anne and Andrew Suk Wouter Vanderwal

Lamar $1,000 - $2,499 Nancy and Theodore Berndt Claire Campbell and Brian Makare Katie Cattanach and David Charles Catherine and Brooks Darby Charles Depres Jo Ann and Bert Eder William Freund John Harvey Olen Kitchings

Gallatin

$2,500-$4,999 Sandra and Jeffrey Dunning Penney and A.C. Hubbard Betty and Barry Hunlock Jackie and Jay Lauderdale Catherine and Bob Shopneck

Sandra and Roy Walters Ruth and Richard Waltman Kay and Frank Yeager Barbara and Donald Zucker

Summit Society... The Summit Society is a special program to recognize those individuals or families that have included the Yellowstone Association in their estate planning to ensure the preservation of Yellowstone for future generations. Due to space limitations only members joining or renewing at the Lamar ($1,000) level and above are listed here. However, every contribution is greatly appreciated and helps to make Yellowstone a better place for us all. A full list of Summit Society members will be included in our annual report. Jeane Burlein Stephen and Lara Compton Jerry and Shirley Cormier Frank Hensing

Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Lynn Bart

Dennis and Jayne Poydence William Ryerson

SPECIAL TRIBUTE DONORS...

Anonymous Anonymous Special thanks to the following donors who made a contribution to the Yellowstone Association as a tribute to someone special in their lives between April 1, 2012, and June 30, 2012. in honor of Marilyn Alikre Katherine Kline in honor of Gene Ball Deirdre Sevier in honor of George Buman Deirdre Sevier in memory of Wynn Drumm Rachel and Glen Goddard Kay and Rod Tyler Cheryl Russell Harold Ludwig Tony Luedecke in honor of Trent Francis Joyce and Dannie Francis In memory of Richard Janecky Lois Janecky in honor of Deborah Mignogno Thomas Smith and Allen Gosser

w .

Y e

In honor of Jacqueline S. Wilson Anonymous

in honor of John Scarlett Deirdre Sevier In memory of Bea Schmidt Rebecca and James Schmidt

in honor of Elizabeth Wright Deirdre Sevier

in memory of Joseph Skripac Linda Skripac in memory of Elizabeth Lystrup Smith Richard Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor Nina and Richard Shuyler Shirley Darling Karen Hutcherson in honor of Louis Spencer Deirdre Sevier

in honor of Jeff Trauger Rachel Trauger In honor of Mike West Dustin West

In memory of Jeanie Thompson Rebecca and James Schmidt in honor of Jon Trapp Deirdre Sevier

Photo: Bill Mahoney

o w

e 15

a t

Yellowstone

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Bozeman, MT 59715 PERMIT #209

Association

P.O. Box 117 Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Photo: Stephanie Ripley

Xanterra Parks & Resorts速 Offers Yellowstone Association Members Lodging Discounts Xanterra Parks & Resorts速 is pleased to extend to Yellowstone Association members a 20 percent discount between October 1 and October 20, 2012. Members may receive the discounted rates, based on availability, up to the day of arrival by notifying Xanterra that they are YA members. Not applicable to packages and cannot be combined with other discounts or specials.

Advanced reservations are recommended. Call our reservations office at 1-866-GEYSERLAND (866-439-7375). w

w .

Y e

o w

e 16

a t