I'm taking my family to Yellowstone... Tell me everything.

[Ernesto]

[underpants]

1. Dooooooon't forget your pic-a-nic basket

[HEyHEY]

14. hehehe--ahhhhhh

:-)

[candy]

2. I can't tell you a thing,but I'm jealous. have fun!

[Zomby Woof]

3. Hike the geyser basin

There are several sites with geysers, but the best trail is right behind Old Faithful, about a half-mile loop on a boardwalk (for safety, the ground is hot and soft in some places). There are an amazing variety of hot springs and geysers.

The altitude is about 8,000 feet on average, so if you live at sea level or a very low altitude, be sure to keep plenty of water on hand. The weather can change quite drastically too. I have experienced snowfall and 60 degree warmth on the SAME DAY. So bring layers and clothes changes.

Also, SEE the falls! The Lower Yellowstone Falls are in what is called "the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone", with a kaleidoscopic array of colors on the canyon walls.

You may likely see bison up close and personal. You will be issued warnings on safety regarding contact, HEED THEM. They are quite majestic and worth the sightings.

Be sure also to check out Yellowstone Lake. On a clear day you can see the Grand Tetons (another great national park to the immediate south).

Just have fun, and enjoy! :hi:

[htuttle]

4. If you do hike the geyser basin

Do not, DO NOT, leave the boardwalk!!!

A surprising number of people get scalded to death in Yellowstone when they try to get up close to a geyser and end up falling through the thin crust of earth into the boiling water below. Seriously.

[Zomby Woof]

5. you are absolutely correct!

But I trust Ernesto and his family are not candidates for the Darwin Awards, as are those who stray from the warnings and safety features.

[htuttle]

9. True, but...

...the first time I was there, and I was told about the danger of falling through the earth's crust into boiling water, I thought, "No way! That can't be!" It seemed too far out for this midwesterner -- we don't have underground boiling cauldrons to fall into around here. Then I read about all the people who got boiled, and believed it.

That was many years ago, however, and I think the warning signs have become a bit more illustrative of the risk than they were back then. They used to just say something fairly tame like 'Stay on the Boardwalk'. The last time I went there in the early 90's, they said something like 'WARNING: YOU COULD BE BOILED ALIVE', so it's a bit more clear.

[HawkerHurricane]

6. At the Geyser Basin...

Keep an eye open for my Dear ol' Dad. He works there as a Ranger/Naturalist.

And yes, stay on the trails.

Stay away from the buffalo (bison). Every year, tourists get killed by bison. Just because they don't like to move much doesn't mean they can't. Big, dangerous animals.

Stay clear of the bears, too. Bison may kill more people, but bears are aggressive. If you are eating something, and a bear sees/smells it, he'll come after you. Drop your food, back off. It's his lunch now. Don't try to hand the bear your food, they're near sighted and take part of your arm with it.

[emulatorloo]

7. If you are camping, camp in nearby Shohone National Forest

Near Duboise, Wyoming. . .it is beautiful there, and you won't have to deal w the crowds in Yellowstone. Cute cheap motels too. Driving distance of yellowstone.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/shoshone/

Also, DO NOT SKIP the Grand Tetons. You won't regret spending a day there:

http://www.nps.gov/grte/

[Rainbowreflect]

8. Have a wonderful time.

We camped there for a week a couple years ago. It is amazingly beautiful. Two morning we had a family of deer hang out in our camp site for a bit. We saw wolves, a bear, bison, elk, moose, a zillion type of deer, birds, etc.
Spend at least a week exploring if at all possible.

[qb]

10. I hope they still have the boardwalk that winds through the deep, boiling

hot pools. I haven't been there since the 70's, but it's thrilling and scary for a kid.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

11. .

[radwriter0555]

12. Look out for BUFFALO! One head butted my friend's mini-van the last time

they went.

[Ernesto]

13. Thanks Dems.....

Being a Culeeforneeya (UNION) construction guy, I've always had a project dominating my life in the summer months. But now I'm retired & I plan to make up for lost summers! ...... PS. send JK $$$$! He can use it in the battleground states.

[rumguy]

15. check out the beartooth highway

the highway literally goes over the beartooth mountains

it goes above treeline

the views are simply stunning

then on the other side is a neat little town, a very hip little town: Red Lodge....