YELLOWSTONE QUARTERLY
Fall Issue 2013
Connecting Yellowstone in a Digital Age Arch House Renovations Honor Architectural History Colleen Curry, NPS Curator of Yellowstone’s Heritage & Research Center Picturing Autumn in Yellowstone
As the busy summer season begins to wind down, I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge and thank the incredible volunteers who donate their time and skills to benefit a place they love. Last year, 49 Yellowstone Association volunteers gave more than 16,000 hours of collective time to help preserve Yellowstone. Using the current estimated value of volunteer time, this is the equivalent of a $350,000 donation to the park! Volunteers are critically important to our core operations and provide year-round assistance. Based from Bozeman to the Lamar Valley, they assist Institute programs, provide hospitality at two field campuses, orient travelers at the Bozeman airport, and share interpretive wildlife information at our Gardiner headquarters. Their volunteer support allows the Association to keep our costs low so we can provide high-quality educational programs and services for a larger number of park visitors. Many of our volunteers return year after year, season after and season, and they are an integral part of the Yellowstone Association family. Though they hail from a variety of backgrounds—former state prosecutor, Alaskan bear preserve guide, retired U.S. Air Force—they all choose to share their passion so that others will also come to value our national parks and help preserve them for future generations. They receive a daily stipend and housing is provided for most positions, with volunteers living at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch, Yellowstone Overlook Field Campus, or the new condominiums in Gardiner. For these and many more reasons, we salute our volunteers. Their efforts, combined with the generous support we receive from our members, help to ensure that visitors will continue to be able to enjoy life-changing educational experiences in Yellowstone National Park. Sincerely, Jeff Brown Yellowstone Association Executive Director
Yellowstone’s official nonprofit education partner To learn more about available volunteer opportunities, please visit YellowstoneAssociation.org
COVER BRAD ORSTED/ HORSEFEATHERS PHOTOGRAPHY
Fall
Yellowstone Association Leadership Team
Jeff Brown
Executive Director
Daniel Bierschwale Director of Sales and Marketing
Chris Gaudette
Director of Finance and Administration
Dennis McIntosh
Director of Facilities
Stacey Orsted
Director of Development
Ken Voorhis
Director of Education
TA BL E OF CO NT EN TS
e wstone in a Digital Ag llo Ye g tin ec nn Co 02 Renovations Honor 04 Arch House Architectural Histor y rr y, NPS Curator of 07 Colleen Cu & Research Center Yellowstone’s Heritage tumn in Yellowstone 08 Picturing Au llowstone 09 Teach for Ye Symphony 10 An Autumn 11 YA Family p 12 Membershi
Yellowstone Association Board of Directors
Don Ableson
Board Chair West Bloomfield, MI
Claire Campbell Vice-Chair Boulder, CO
Lou Lanwermeyer
Treasurer Brasstown, NC
Patty Carocci Secretary Arlington, VA
Mark Benjamin Malibu, CA
Katie Cattanach Denver, CO
Sandy Choate Austin, TX
Gale Davis Wilson, WY
Tom Detmer Denver, CO
Penney Cox Hubbard Baltimore, MD
Mat Millenbach Portland, OR
Alex Perez Atherton, CA
Alan Shaw Big Sky, MT
Bob Shopneck Denver, CO
Patty Washburn Pinedale, WY
Anne Young Cody, WY
Yellowstone Quarterly 1
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By Ruffin P
revost
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Among the hardy souls who accompanied geologist Ferdinand Hayden on his 1871 survey trip through what is now Yellowstone National Park were painter Thomas Moran and photographer William Henry Jackson. Hayden included their beautiful and astounding depictions in his report to Congress, and those images proved instrumental in the creation of the world’s First national park. Their work also gave a captivated public its First glimpse of the curiosities and wonders of Yellowstone. Nearly a century and a half later, the public is still captivated with images of Yellowstone. But now, they use social media networks like Facebook and Twitter to share their photos, videos, and other creations with the entire world, often before even leaving the park. In 2012, the National Park Service joined in, launching a Yellowstone National Park Facebook page on June 25. By the one-year anniversary of that launch, more than 100,000 people had “liked” the page, turning to it for news updates, photos, and information about what’s going on in the park. Social media networks and other online technologies have become a key part of how Yellowstone National Park, the Yellowstone Association, and other organizations with ties to the park communicate with visitors before, during, and after a trip to Yellowstone. Park’s New Media Guru “The idea is to really explore how we can keep visitors informed, educate them, and keep them connected,” said David Restivo, new media specialist for Yellowstone National Park. Restivo took the helm of Yellowstone’s online universe in January, after spending 10 years in Glacier National Park where he developed interpretive media. He won the Freeman Tilden Award in 2007, an annual National Park Service award recognizing outstanding contributions to the public through interpretation. Restivo created a series of exhibits for Glacier’s Going-to-the-Sun Road that used computer kiosks and flat-panel screens to convey trip-planning information and encourage visitors to experience Glacier in new ways. He’s now doing much the same thing in Yellowstone, but using the park’s website and other online channels, including YouTube, Twitter, Flickr and Facebook.
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Restivo leads what he calls a “very interdisciplinary team” of about 10 social media contributors who share content daily with avid followers. Contributors work in a variety of fields, but post online as a “collateral duty,” he said. Most national parks don’t have a full-time new media specialist, Restivo said, and the depth of resources devoted to producing online content shows how committed Yellowstone managers are to a digital strategy. That includes new initiatives like the online “plow tracker” that Restivo helped establish. That web page offered daily updates on the progress of spring snowplowing in the park, while high-resolution plowing photos were posted on Flickr. Restivo has plenty of ideas for other online innovations he’d like to tackle, as time and budgets allow. High on the list is a smartphone app that might offer up-to-the-minute information, such as the next expected eruption time for Old Faithful Geyser, weather reports, road closures, and campground vacancies. Another innovation might be interactive video chats, where park staff could stream live updates about their latest field work. Streamlining the park’s website to make it easier to use and simpler to navigate is another priority, Restivo said. YA’s Online Presence
That’s a project the Yellowstone Association completed earlier this year, as part of a wider push to broaden the organization’s online presence and connect with members and park followers across a range of digital channels. “We’re working towards providing content much quicker and eliminating the layers users have to click through to get the information they’re looking for,” said Daniel Bierschwale, director of sales and marketing for the Association. The redesigned website includes a more timely news feed that will offer more frequent updates. “Life at Lamar” is an ongoing blog with news from the Lamar Buffalo Ranch Field Campus, the historic Lamar Valley site where the Association offers classes and field seminars. The new Association website includes a trip planner that lets users tailor a visit to the park based around a specific program or interest, or by group size or age. In addition to accounts on Facebook and Twitter, the Association has established a presence on Pinterest, Flickr, and Instagram, all aimed at communicating with users in ways that are helpful and meaningful to them, Bierschwale said. “It’s all about finding new ways to share stories and connect people with the park.”
conversation that has been going on for years, and I don’t have a best answer for you on it,” he said. “But I do know that as people change how they communicate, I think it’s important for the National Park Service to adapt to some of those new forms of communication.” That’s what CoolWorks.com founder Bill Berg has done with his online employment website. It was launched in 1995 as a digital extension to Berg’s paper-based job placement service that finds workers for national parks, dude ranches, ski areas, and other similar venues. As more employers have begun online recruiting efforts of their own, Berg has expanded CoolWorks to include a social media portal that lets workers rate employers, share stories about life in Yellowstone and other parks, and stay in touch across the miles and through the years. But many of those same seasonal workers who search for a dishwashing or housekeeping job online also expect WiFi and cell coverage in Yellowstone, Berg said. “As use of cell phones becomes more pervasive, more and more seasonal workers are unwilling to do without for a season as well,” Berg said in an email. “That’s a problem for some in Yellowstone.” The process also works in reverse, with viewers outside the park going online to view webcam images from Mount Washburn, Mammoth Hot Springs, and even a live video feed of Old Faithful Geyser. Connections Count “That’s where all this new technology started in the Park Service—with webcams,” Restivo said. The live-streaming Old Faithful webcam, launched in January 2008, remains the most-visited National Park Service web page, drawing 516,000 unique visitors in May alone, Restivo said. By comparison, Yellowstone had 293,250 in-person recreational visitors in May. “We’re reaching so many more people this way than ever before,” said Restivo, who often checks a Glacier National Park webcam for an online view of Lake McDonald. “When you provide a realtime view of a place that people love, they just keep coming back to it. We get emails from people who watch these webcams every day. Some people just keep a screen up all day,” he said. “They love this place, and this is their way of staying connected.”
The Association’s best-selling printed visitor guide is now available as a smartphone app, allowing users to access maps, photos, and other information, even without a data connection. EXPERIENCE Yellowstone your way.
Smartphone users will also notice the Association’s website makeover is mobile-friendly, using a responsive design that automatically reformats content to best fit the screen size of any computer, tablet, or other device. A mobile makeover of Yellowstone National Park’s website is inevitable, Restivo said, but will have to wait until changes are made at the national level, because all Park Service websites use a common content management system. Digital Debate The National Park Service doesn’t often use mobile devices for online updates from the field, Restivo said, mainly because of spotty cell coverage around the parks.
JOIN our family. SHOP the official Park Store. SHARE your Yellowstone experience.
A 2011 YA website feedback survey highlighted the need to reduce the number of clicks to access content. The four “Calls to Action”— Experience, Join, Shop, and Share—were designed to provide information as quickly as possible.
How to best improve digital connectivity in the park, or even whether to, has been part of an ongoing debate common to parks across the country, Restivo said. “That’s a Ruffin Prevost is founding editor of YellowstoneGate.com, an independent, online news site offering community news and inside views about Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and their gateway communities.
Yellowstone Quarterly 3
In 1922, Jack Ellis Haynes and two partners remodeled the building as a general store.
By Ruth Quinn
A rch House R e novat io
ns
y r o t is H l a r u t c e it h c r A r Hono Gardiner, Montana, blossoms with subtle changes. In one corner the Yellowstone Association (YA) claims a pivotal location, bridging Yellowstone’s Roosevelt Arch and historic Park Street. The recently renovated Arch House expands office space in support of YA’s increased educational services, pays tribute to park developers, and foreshadows a related community development effort. History
The Arch House touts a multi-use past as utility building, commercial space, private residence, bed and breakfast, and employee housing. The attractive structure also reflects the lives of several of Yellowstone history’s giants. Learn more about Robert Reamer in Weaver of Dreams, available for sale in YA Park Stores and online.
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Harry W. Child operated Yellowstone’s hotel and transportation concessions in the early 20th century. Forbidden to bring his automobile inside park borders, he commissioned Robert Reamer, architect of Old Faithful Inn, to design a garage in Gardiner. Completed in 1910, its stone foundation, artistic display of windows, and wood floor defied its utility purpose.
In 1922, photographer Jack Ellis Haynes and two partners remodeled the building as a general store. They installed plate glass windows and added a front porch and fireplace. Haynes assumed operations of the Haynes Photo Shops from his father F. J. Haynes in 1916, and was a founding member of the Yellowstone Library and Museum Association (now Yellowstone Association) in 1933. In the mid-1930s, general contractor George Larkin, nephew of Mrs. J. E. (Margaret) Haynes, adapted it as a residence. Larkin designed and built the Old Faithful Haynes Photo Shop (recently relocated near its 1927 location by the Yellowstone Park Foundation) and made additions to other Haynes Photo Shops.
Ruth Quinn is a tour guide of Old Faithful Inn, an amateur historian, and a fan of the architecture of Robert C. Reamer.
Renovations were completed in April 2013.
The Larkin home remained a residence until 1988 when owners Bev and John Whitman returned it to commercial use. A decade later they opened The Arch House Bed and Breakfast, adding a retail building (hereafter Whitman Building) on the adjacent lot to the east. YA purchased the two buildings in 2003, using the Arch House as housing for employees and volunteers and the adjoining storefront for Institute operations. R enovations
YA Director of facilities Dennis McIntosh succeeded in returning the Arch House to period-style, tying in themes that were used in the Hall’s Mercantile renovation (now YA headquarters). Sustainability and energy efficiency topped project objectives. Crews created a passageway between the Arch House and the Whitman Building, cutting through the 4 feet of stone, and paneled it with old shutters found in the attic. Eight inches of urethane foam insulation raise the building’s efficiency rating. Pella® designed new exterior windows, but McIntosh incorporated the 1910 windows inside—extending natural light through the space. The 1920s rubble-stone fireplace showcases a small sitting area that feels like home. Two brick chimneys were removed, but 1939 wood floors were retained. Using historic photos, an antique dealer located lighting bowls from the 1917–1920 period. “These are not reproductions,” McIntosh acknowledged, “they’re the real thing.” Remodeling crews discovered messages penned inside walls by George Larkin in 1939; his musings included daily weather reports, his family’s health, and predictions about U.S. entry into WWII. Larkin and J. E. Haynes even recorded personal bets between them from 1939–1954. A cadre of talented YA employees and volunteers joined McIntosh on the construction in November 2012. The building, completed April 2013, contains five offices, a small area for office machinery, and an accessible restroom. “With the Arch House,” affirms YA Executive Director Jeff Brown, “we have a facility that matches the quality of our educational programs.” In 2007, YA purchased lots east of the Arch House, including Hall’s (a 1903 Reamer project). The historically sensitive design of the warehouse (February 2008), the transformation of Hall’s into YA’s headquarters, and improvements to the Arch House secure a critical piece of history. The Association’s commitment to adapting historic structures protects a significant viewshed at the park’s northern entrance. En v irons
Nearby changes by the National Park Service (NPS) also celebrate park builders. Although Main Street is one block north, Park Street “has been Gardiner’s most prominent street since James McCartney settled near its east end in 1879,” writes Yellowstone National Park historian Lee H. Whittlesey. Historically the
eastern end of Park Street divided at the Town Café — one part continuing past 1st Street to the river, the other through the iron fence to structures occupied by Xanterra Parks and Resort’s® support operations. In November 2012, NPS crews placed road signs naming the latter “Robert Reamer Avenue.” Four Reamer-designed residences, built (from west to east) in 1924, 1926, 1906, and 1925, grace the avenue. Combined with the Arch House and headquarters building (anchoring west Park Street), the NPS and YA honor a talented architect who designed more than 40 projects in Yellowstone, including Old Faithful Inn and additions, Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and cottages, and Lake Yellowstone Hotel additions. Yellowstone Association is also participating in the Gardiner Gateway Project, aimed at reducing traffic congestion and improving visitor safety around the Roosevelt Arch. Last June 15 local, state, and federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations signed an agreement to cooperate in the venture, which includes re-aligning Robert Reamer Avenue and west Park Street to the south, and creating defined parking and pedestrian access. The Gardiner Gateway Project will receive $10.3 million from the Federal Lands Access Program, which helps fund state and local transportation repair and improvement projects. With local matching funds from the NPS and Park County, total project funding is nearly $12 million. Northbound traffic will shortcut into Gardiner just east of Roosevelt Arch; only southbound traffic will pass through the Arch. A parking area with universally accessible walkways will allow for safe Arch access. Significant project completion is scheduled for August 25, 2016—the NPS’s centennial celebration. In a 1903 report Army Corps of Engineers Captain Hiram Chittenden wrote of Gardiner: “The natural features … are about the least interesting of any part of the Park and the first impression of visitors upon entering the park was unfavorable.” Anyone who has watched the sun ignite Electric Peak on frosty winter mornings, and expectantly waited at the triangle for bluebirds to return, may not agree. YA gracefully perpetuates the legacy of Yellowstone pioneers Child, Reamer, Haynes, Larkin, and Chittenden. Yellowstone Quarterly 5
Be Yellowstone Prepared Whatever your age, our Park Store can help make Yellowstone your playground. (All items exclusive to Yellowstone Association)
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Colleen Curry, National Park Service Curator of Yellowstone’s Heritage & Research Center Surrounded by stuffed bear #264, photos of visiting U.S. presidents, furniture from the Lake Hotel, the skull of reintroduced wolf 7F, and original photos by William Henry Jackson is the office of Colleen Curry, curator of Yellowstone National Park and its Heritage & Research Center (HRC). While she was cataloging new artifacts, including elk #10’s ear tag, Yellowstone Quarterly caught up with her to discuss what she does and why the HRC is an important tool for the park and public alike. What does the HRC do?
Our mission is to document and preserve the natural and cultural history of the park, and make it as accessible as possible to the public. Designed for storage and research, this building houses the archives, museum collection, and library, as well as several labs. Plus, we have several million items in the collection, making it one of the largest in the National Park Service. What has the new HRC building meant for the collection?
Originally everything was housed in various spots in Mammoth, including the basement of the Albright Visitor Center, so when the public bathrooms overflowed so did some of our collection storage areas. We also had very limited security and no real environmental controls. When we moved here in 2004 we were not only able to install environmental and security controls but also improve the storage and management of the collections and begin to eliminate unrelated items, like stuff from Yosemite National Park. What’s your favorite or most interesting item in the collection?
I love the Thomas Moran field sketches from 1871 because, along with Jackson’s photos, they helped convince Congress to create the first national park. Also related to Moran is one of our coolest artifacts: his autobiography. With all he did and saw, it’s only four pages long, which is pretty crazy. How does YA help the HRC?
Without YA, the library and our two librarians probably wouldn’t be here. Our rare book collection started with YA back when they were the Yellowstone Library and Museum Association and collected the books of early
superintendents. YA continues to fund a lot of library projects, making ours one of the best collections of published material about the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Do you work with YA in other ways?
We love it when instructors bring their classes here for tours. It’s great when a history class can see Captain George Anderson’s sword before they go see the fort in Mammoth, or an art class can be inspired by Moran’s work before they try their own hand at painting in Yellowstone. And you’re helping YA make some of the artifacts available to the public?
Yes, I’ve assisted them in finding items in the collection that would make good educational products. For instance, they’re making a replica of wolf 194M’s skull, reproducing a set of watercolors by late 19th century topographer John Henry Renshawe, and designing small products featuring artwork from the Wonderland period of the 1880s–90s. With all this, what’s the most challenging part of your job?
I came from Washington, D.C., where I worked in historic houses, among other museums, so I was used to static collections that dealt mostly with cultural objects. Here not only do we have the added element of collecting natural history artifacts, but we’re also always receiving something new. That’s what makes it so fun to work here—you never know what is going to come in the door.
In the summer, the HRC runs tours on Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 10 a.m. Tours are usually limited to 15 people. Calling ahead (307.344.2662) to reserve a space is recommended. The HRC is open to the public and researchers Monday – Friday (except federal holidays) from 8 a.m.– 5 p.m. YA members have borrowing privileges at the library. Top: HRC; Bottom: In the 1880s, Ole Anderson set up wooden coating racks in the flowing water of Mammoth Hot Spring’s terraces where visitors could drop off or purchase an item to place on the racks. Visitors toured the park, and when they returned their items were coated with travertine from the run-off.
Yellowstone Quarterly 7
By Stephen Camelio
PICTURING
AUTUMN IN YELLOWSTONE
While tourist season may be wrapping up, the fall is actually a very active time in Yellowstone— with animals feverously preparing for a cold winter, and plants having their last hurrah before the first frost. Professional wildlife and nature photographer Meg Sommers, who teaches year-round photography classes for the Institute, gives you advice on how to capture the park’s trademark seasonal moments with your camera. MATING SEASON With the elk in rut, autumn is a great time to catch these majestic animals at their most lively. According to Sommers, the best places to photograph elk herds are either along the Madison River or at Swan Lake Flat. And while a shot of a bugling bull with a full rack is a definite keeper, Sommers warns that males are especially dangerous and crazed during this time of year. “I’ve had them charge the smoke-glass windows of my SUV just because they see the reflection of another bull in the window.”
Upcoming Institute courses with Meg Sommers include “Autumn Wildlife Photography” (October 2 – 5, 2013) and “Winter Wildlife Photography” (January 17 – 20, 2014)
SAVING DAYLIGHT Though it happens a little earlier at lower elevations, Yellowstone still has its share of changing leaves that make great
fall images. “Fall colors will peak between about the third week of September and the second week in October,” Sommers advises. “It depends on elevation, so no matter when you come during that timeframe, you are bound to find some stunning landscape.” Like most of the year in the park, early morning and late evening hours are great times to shoot. “We seem to get some particularly beautiful golden evening light in the fall,” Sommers notes. “Early mornings, on the other hand, may have less wind, and aspen trees may therefore seem more cooperative.” BE PREPARED Whether hoping for an animal to show you its profile or waiting for the shadows to fall just right, we’ve all lost track of time and our surroundings in the park, but that can be a dangerous proposition this time of year. “Weather changes quickly in Yellowstone, particularly in the fall,” Sommers warns. “Photographers should be prepared for all types of weather, but particularly for precipitation.” She recommends not only having the right clothing for yourself, but to also carry something as simple as a garbage bag with a hole cut out to protect your camera equipment when it rains. SIZE DOESN’T MATTER “Every serious photographer experiences ‘lens envy’ at some point,” says Sommers. Maybe you won’t be able to
capture a tight portrait, but just because you have a point-and-shoot doesn’t mean you can’t get a great shot. “The object of really good wildlife photography is not to get the best close-up portrait, but to capture something interesting about the animal’s life,” says Sommers. “So back up and tell the story.” STARTER KIT If you are looking to make the jump from shooting with your smartphone to a quality, all-purpose camera, Sommers thinks
picking up a good SLR (single-lens reflex) that accepts interchangeable lenses is the way to go. “Once you have a basic set up, you can start investing in ‘glass,’ or lenses,” she says. And with lenses, in the long run, it might be best to spend a little more. “Buy good glass because you get what you pay for,” Sommers advises. “And look for USM (US manufactured) as the warranties are much better. Canon and Nikon both provide these even though they are Japanese companies.” KEEP YOUR DISTANCE As noted with the mating elk, wildlife safety is of paramount importance, and not just for us. The park rules
of maintaining 100 yards for bears and wolves and 25 yards for everything else are well-founded and will keep most people out of harm’s way. But Sommers advises photographers to be even more wary when approaching the park’s famous fauna. “We are literally in the animals’ living room and we should grant them the respect that we would want in ours,” she says. “Plus, animals have a sense of space, just like we do. When you breach it, they either flee or fight, and neither is a good outcome for a photographer.”
Stephen Camelio is a freelance writer who lives on the Montana / Wyoming border of Yellowstone National Park. 8
NEWS FROM YA
Teach For Yellowstone Take a closer look at the Yellowstone Association’s (YA) motto: Inspire. Educate. Preserve. It shows that education is the link between inspiration and preservation. To that end, teaching people about the park is what makes them love and want to protect it. The Yellowstone Association Institute offers certification training for naturalists and guides interested in teaching about the park as well as the outdoors as a whole. By “training the trainers” YA is able to exponentially extend its reach to countless students and visitors who may never even step into a YA Park Store or take a class with the Institute. “Once new guides complete these programs, there is a real positive multiplying effect,” Director of Education Ken Voorhis says. “We may be reaching people secondhand through these certified instructors, but that still meets our mission of connecting visitors to Yellowstone and the natural world.” The most in-depth of YA’s certification programs is the Naturalist Guide Certificate Program. Through hands-on opportunities in the field, classroom instruction, and expert presentations, students learn naturalist skills and how to share that knowledge with others. Just as important as studying the relationships among animals, geology, plants, and climates, guides also learn how to manage a group and create safe experiences for their students. Students who complete this three-week class become Certified Interpretive Guides (CIG) through the National Association for Interpretation and Leave No Trace (LNT) Trainers through Leave No Trace, Inc. They also receive a naturalist guide certificate through
the Yellowstone Association. Students working toward an undergraduate degree may also earn four credits through the University of Montana Western. For those looking for a shorter, yet still intensive professional certification course, YA also offers Become A Certified Interpretive Guide. This four-day class is presented in partnership with the National Association for Interpretation (NAI) and offers a diverse and in-depth study of the Yellowstone area. Participants receive expert instruction and practice their presentation and communication skills so that when they leave the class they are prepared to enter the field of outdoor education. Certification is predicated on a written outline and successful delivery of a 10-minute presentation, as well as the completion of an open-book exam. Since many outdoor organizations require their employees to be able to handle medical emergencies in the backcountry, YA continues to offer two other certification courses: Wilderness First Responder and Wilderness First Aid, both taught by the Wilderness Medicine Institute staff. Wilderness First Responder is an 80-hour course that combines classroom sessions and field exercises to teach how to prevent and respond to backcountry health issues and crises. Wilderness First Aid is a 16-hour certification course that instructs students on the basics of emergency care in remote settings, and can also be used to re-certify as a Wilderness First Responder. Yellowstone Quarterly 9
Naturalist Notes
An Autumn Symphony By Shauna Baron, Institute Resident Instructor/ Elk illustration by Tah Madsen
weighing about 30 pounds per set and reaching lengths of 50-60 inches. As autumn arrives, you will hear a unique sound as bulls begin to round up and defend a harem of females by making a series of long, high-pitched whistles and low, guttural roars, known as the infamous elk bugle.
“Listen! The wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves, we have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!”— Humbert Wolfe The arrival of each season is often announced by a unique sound in Yellowstone. Winter delivers the magical melodies of howling wolf packs; springtime has the glorious sounds of sandhill cranes; summer offers us an evening invitation from owls; and the messenger of autumn is always the eerie, yet majestic, mating calls of bull elk. The elk mating season (or rut) runs from late August through mid-October. Preparation begins in the spring as the bulls (males) shed their antlers and begin growing a new set. At times, growing two-thirds of an inch a day, antlers are fully grown by late August,
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Yellowstone offers many places where you can witness the unique sights and splendid sounds of the elk rut. The Mammoth Hot Springs area has a large elk herd which gathers to take advantage of the manicured lawns, performing quite the spectacle for tourists. For somewhere a bit more remote, take a morning or evening drive up the Tower to Canyon Road, and enjoy the autumn symphony, as bugles echo across the landscape. Always remember that elk are particularly dangerous this time of year. Maintain at least 25 yards at all times, and adhere to the directions of park rangers and volunteers who are working hard to keep visitors, elk, and vehicles safe from harm.
RSVP Please contact Director of Development Stacey Orsted at 406.848.285 5 or sorsted@yell owstoneasso ciation.org
YA Family
Immerse yourself in the wolf’s world this winter…
YA Volunteers Dee and Jay Welch It was December 2002 when Dee Welch, on her first visit to the park, noticed the buildings with the commanding view of Yellowstone’s northern entrance and thought, “Who are the lucky people that get to live there?” Little did she know that one day, it would be her and her husband Jay. As much as she was taken by the four structures on top of the hill in Jardine, she was completely captivated by the world’s first national park. After that first trip, during which she joined the Yellowstone Association, Dee returned again in 2004 and 2007. On the 2007 visit, after she and Jay both retired, she brought him and their granddaughter Maddison, creating a family-wide love affair with Yellowstone. It seemed like the trips from their home in Florida to Yellowstone would just remain vacations until Dee saw a YA newsletter posting for seasonal volunteers. “It was 107°, 94% humidity, and the yellow flies were biting,” Dee remembers. “At that point, winter in Yellowstone sounded great.” It helped that the volunteer position was for caretakers of the new Yellowstone Overlook Campus, which Dee noticed right away included the same buildings she noted on her first trip all those years before. That first winter they spent three months living and working at the Overlook, and as Jay says, “We just fell in love.” The next winter they spent two months volunteering at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch and three months again at the Overlook. With Jay’s ability to fix just about anything and Dee’s skills for organization and taking charge, they make a great team. And given that Jay was a state prosecutor who tried cases on which Dee, a sergeant on the police force, was the arresting officer, they are no strangers to working together. Now fixtures in the YA community, Dee and Jay continue to support the Association for one simple reason: education. “I love to learn,” Dee says. “Seeing the groups that come through the Overlook and the Buffalo Ranch, we’ve seen firsthand how important teaching people about the park can be.”
Lamar Valley Wolf Week Based at the historic Lamar Buffalo Ranch, you’ll learn about wolf behavior, history, habitat and management. $650—includes catered meals! 4-day programs offered December 9, March 4, or 10. Minimum age: 12
Winter Wolf Discovery Search for wolves and enjoy snowshoeing on the park’s northern range. This package includes lodging at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, in-park transportation, and most meals. $719 double occupancy, $899 single occupancy. Rates don’t include taxes or utility fees and are higher for holiday sessions. 3-day programs offered December 22 – February 23. Minimum age: 12
To register, call 406.848.2400 or visit YellowstoneAssociation.org
Jay agrees, though as a former army ranger he sees YA’s mission just a little differently: “Going into the field is always an adventure, but YA makes that adventure fun.” Yellowstone Quarterly 11
THE PARK SIDE
George Bumann, M.S., has a degree in wildlife ecology and works as a professional artist and educator.
Send us a photo of yourself or a fellow member holding a copy of Yellowstone Quarterly and you could be featured in an upcoming issue!
Submission Guidelines
• Submit photo(s) to members@yellowstoneassociation.org • Photos should be digital, high resolution, and at least 300 dpi at roughly 5”x7.” JPEG or TIFF files only, please. We are not able to accept mailed submissions. • Please include your name, address and phone number, names of participants in photo, and location description.
“Seriously Richard! How long did the GPS really say
it would take to get to How Jackson?” “Seriously Richard! long did the GPS really say it would take to get to Jackson?”
• Submission of photo(s) includes permission for Yellowstone Association to use the images in Yellowstone Quarterly, on the YA website, or on our Facebook page.
Thank You John Michael Wheeler, member of 6 years, of Overland Park, KS, shows off the first edition of the revised Yellowstone Quarterly in Kodiak, AK—a mere 3,155 miles from Yellowstone!
Without the support of members like you we would not be able to help preserve Yellowstone for future generations. The benefits of your membership help you stay connected to the park you love, even from your home.
Member benefits include: Annual subscription to Yellowstone Quarterly A free thank you gift (redeemable in-store only) Early registration on Institute programs Discounts at our Park Stores (including web), Yellowstone General Stores, and Yellowstone National Park Lodges gift shops * Discounts from cooperating associations at other national parks (proof of membership required)* Society members from Michigan and Colorado, as well as members that work at the Grand Canyon Association and Grand Canyon National Park, enjoying Yellowstone Quarterly on the South Rim.
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Seasonal discounts from Yellowstone National Park Lodges * Additional benefits exist for Lewis level (or higher) memberships *Exclusions apply
MEMBERSHIP
Thank you to all of 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 higher through memberships and philanthropic contributions. Thank you to the following donors who joined or renewed their membership in the Yellowstone Society between April 1, 2013, and June 30, 2013. Your annual support plays a critical role in the Association’s mission to connect people to Yellowstone through education. Bechler $5,000 – $9,999
Jo Ann and Bert Eder Margie and Earl Holland Gallatin $2,500 – $4,999
Ellen Beauchamp and Michael Mustafaga Sandy and David Burner Claire Campbell and Brian Makare Sandra and Jeffrey Dunning Linda Forshee William Freund Betty and Barry Hunlock Barb and Lou Lanwermeyer Catherine and Robert Shopneck Patty and Phil Washburn L amar $1,000 – $2,499
Cheryl Baber Janis Stroud-Bickes and Charles Bickes Karen and Kenneth Buchi Chris and John Cavanaugh Susan and David Covey Catherine and Brooks Darby Bari and Peter Dreissigacker Mary Kay Eberle Janet and Charles Haas Mr. Olen E. Kitchings June and Tom Lowery Nancy and Dan Maloney Mason Myers Shery and Jan Packwood Sondra Perry Judith and Thomas Reid Carolyn K. Rosin Kathleen and Douglas Spencer Anne and Andrew Suk Barbara Trueman
Kathryn Usiak Wouter K. Vanderwal Sandra and Roy Walters Ruth and Richard Waltman Page and Pearre Williams Barbara and Donald Zucker
Wayne Parsons Jayne and Dennis Poydence William Ryerson Catherine and Robert Shopneck Anonymous (6)
HONORARY YELLOWSTONE SOCIETY
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, 2013, and June 30, 2013.
Special thanks to the following members who made cash or in-kind contributions of $1,000 or greater between April 1, 2013, and June 30, 2013. Joellyn and Jim Barton John Harvey Janne and Bill Hayward Pollard Design Black Mountain Press BUSINESS MEMBERS
Special thanks to the following business members who supported the Association at $1,000 or higher between April 1, 2013, and June 30, 2013. Platinum $2,500 – $4,999
TransFirm Consulting MicroRidge Systems Inc. Printing For Less
SPECIAL TRIBUTE DONORS
In honor of Gene Ball
Deirdre Sevier In honor of George Bumann
Deirdre Sevier In honor of DJ Phimister and Kathie Ramazzotti
Sally and David Long In honor of Louis Spencer
Deirdre Sevier In memory of Susie Apflebaum
Beverly and Michael Fusfield In memory of Michael Empson
Lydia Harvey
Gold $1,000 – $2,499
In memory of Sharon Glynn
Montana State University Thermal Biology Institute
Christine Brocato
SUMMIT SOCIETY The Summit Society recognizes those individuals or families that have included the Yellowstone Association in their estate planning to ensure the preservation of Yellowstone for future generations. To learn more about ways to give, including planned giving, please contact Stacey Orsted at 406.848.2855.
Rebecca Berryhill
Lynn Bart Natalie and Aaron Bissonette Jeane Burlein Claire Campbell & Brian Makare Chris and John Cavanaugh Lara and Stephen Compton Shirley and Jerry Cormier Janice and Ernie Glessner Kathleen Haines Frank Hensing Heidi and Mark Ingenito
In memory of Kara Hathcox
In memory of Richard Janecky
Lois and David Janecky In memory of Lee Johnson
Mr. and Mrs. David Wood In memory of David Loop
Elmarie Blake In memory of Genevieve Mellman
Kathy and Ed Fronheiser In memory of Rosie Patianella
Rebecca Berryhill In memory of George Sekan
Harry Dunn and Jean Burkheiser In memory of Frances Smith
Beverly and Michael Fusfield
PHOTO CREDITS: JOHN TANGNEY/YA: PG 1; MONTANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND RESEARCH CENTER: PG 4; DENNIS MCINTOSH/YA: PG 5; MARIA BISSO/YA: PGS. 6-9, 11; PETER MURRY/YA: PG 11; SHIRLEY COPE/YA: BACK COVER
Yellowstone Quarterly 13
406.848.2400
Stay Connected — Join the Community! Whether you are in the park or at home, we can help you stay connected to Yellowstone. Visit our website for current reports from the field or a live view from our Roosevelt Arch webcam. Subscribe to our monthly E-Newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for daily park updates.