Buffalo Bill's Blog

Believe it or not, fires in Yellowstone National Park are considered a vital part of the park’s ecosystem. While living its life typecast as earth’s ultimate natural enemy, fires ironically do help in developing the park’s flora and sustaining a healthy habitat environment. How is this fact and not fiction? Here are some of Yellowstone Fire Facts:

• By removing some of the forest surplus, room becomes available for other plant-life.
• Minerals that are otherwise trapped in wood are released in the soil during a fire.
• Fires are rarely suppressed, since doing so diminishes plant diversity and minerals remain locked up or released more slowly.
• Various plants in Yellowstone, such as lodgepole pine and aspen are adapted to fire.
• Burned pine bark provides nutritious food for elk

Most of all fires, 80% to be exact, are naturally started. Since many of them are started by the natural cause of lightning, we suggest not testing the “lighting never strikes the same place twice” theory. The dry seasons also affect considerably the amount of fires spread throughout the park. The summer of 1988, labelled the Summer of Fire was the park’s driest season ever recorded. It also brought the largest fire-fighting effort in the United States at the time:

• The first fire, Storm Creek Fire, began June 14 1988
• Over 793,000 acres of the park were affected by fire.
• 9 fires were caused by humans, 42 fires were caused by lightning.
• 250,000 people participated in the fire-fighting effort
• 300 large mammals perished during the fires

As mentioned, fires are rarely suppressed in order to maintain a balance in structure and composition. Extinguishing fires are called for when becoming a threat to the park’s structures and communities. After mid-July, an order was issued to ensure that all natural fires be suppressed. In a twist of events, the 1988 fires brought new opportunities to research the fires’ significant impact on the park’s natural environment. With the changing of the weather and the increase in lightning strikes, there will always be a job for Smokey the Bear at Yellowstone National Park.

Visit the Yellowstone Center for Resources for Mary Anne Franke’s Yellowstone in the Afterglow: Lessons from the Fires

Human nature finds us in the constant hunt for new and exciting ways to enjoy life’s little gifts and wonders. Try to stay away from investing in that ultra-sleek-cool-modern flat screen TV or the attention-grabbing mustang convertible. Consider a trip to Yellowstone National Park instead. As the natural epitome of bigger and better, explore nature’s wonders on a grander scale.

Big Facts on Yellowstone National Park
• Yellowstone National Park is the first national park, and the second largest national park in the United States.
• Yellowstone National Park measures 2,221,773 acres.
• Yellowstone Volcano is one of the largest active volcanoes in the world.
• The highest point in the park is Eagle Peek at 11,358 feet.
• With approximately 300 geysers, the park holds the largest concentration of geysers on earth.
• Largest protected population of wild mammals in the United States.
• Shoshore Lake is the largest backcountry lake in the park.
• At 7,733ft above sea level, Yellowstone Lake is the largest high elevation river in North America.
• Old Faithful eruptions can blow steam up to 184ft vertically.
• The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is approximately 10,000 years old, 20 miles long, 1,200ft deep and approx. 2,500 ft wide.
• The lodgepole pine tree can reach heights up to 75ft.

Follow up with information on things to do in the Yellowstone Park and you’re set to go. Perhaps you’ll reconsider your extravagant purchases and look for solace and a one of a kind experience in the park’s wondrous landscapes. Remember, bigger and better!

When thinking of the Old West, various scenes start to play; a bar brawl between two cowboys driven by one too many shots of whisky; the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral; Will Smith and Kevin Kline battling a spider-like machine; Clint Eastwood’s rugged features in spaghetti western flicks. Whatever thoughts come to mind, there will always be a looming figure in the background, guns loaded, ready to cause trouble. Yes, indeed, these Western outlaws (or cowboy bandits) truly ran the American frontier… or did they?

Billy the Kid
Born Henry McCarty and sometimes referred to as William H. Bonney, our famed “gunslinger” was often described as charismatic and well-spoken but with a violent attitude. But with the help of dime novels over exaggerating his exploits, Billy was accredited with nearly 21 killings when in fact, it was only four. As they say in the modern world of print media, don’t believe everything you read!

Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid
Notorious bank and train robbers and ring leaders of the Wild Bunch outlaw gang, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid led a per se successful criminal life, becoming America’s most wanted criminals. After establishing their fame in the Old West, the outlaw duo set their sights on Argentina and fled the country. A few bank hits later and Lady Luck’s flame began to burn out. They became western desperados and, according to one theory, perished at the hands of the Bolivian police. Oh how the mighty have fallen!

Jesse & Frank James
Jesse and Frank James are likely to be the most widely celebrated Western bandits in American history, though much of the attention was focused on young Jesse James ( just ask Cher). Beginning their aspiring career as murderers and robbers as a pair, their lives eventually went separate directions. Jesse James was shot from behind by Robert Ford as he turned to straighten a picture frame. Frank surrendered to the authorities but was never convicted so he led a happy life as a happy farmer. The moral of the story? Don’t turn your back on people.

Black Bart
Charles E. Boles, dubbed the Black Bart by local newspapers, was the fearsome robber of the Wells Fargo stagecoach who demanded the loot in such a courteous manner and occasionally left a poetry verse behind. His years of crime finally came to an end when Wells Fargo pressed charges after, what would be Black Bart’s final robbery and was sentenced to 6 years in jail. When his sentence was served, his health had deteriorated, ultimately ending his passion for crime. And that’s what I call poetic justice.

Before name-brand products like Tide and floor wax painted the ideal picture of the happy housewife of the early 1900’s, women saddled their horses or loaded their guns and left their mark in Western history. From Belle Starr ‘Queen of the Bandits’ to renegades and loyal lovers, these lovely ladies of the West embraced the wild side whole heartedly. Stay at home, feed the kids and tend to household chores? I think not!

BELLE STARR
To Western history, Belle Starr is synonymous with women outlaws. She always carried two guns, was certainly rough around the edges and definitely had her share of bad company. However horse theft and harbouring other fellow outlaws hardly seems to fit the job description as Queen of the Bandits. To each their own!

THE #1 WOMEN IN THE WEST
Notoriety comes with a price and these ladies show us that coming first isn’t always something to brag about.

Leading a life of poverty, Pearl Hart robbed a stagecoach, becoming the first woman to do so. She also got caught, which meant she became the first female prisoner. Desperate situations call for desperate measures.

Cattle Kate was the first woman to be hung in the state of Wyoming. Unfortunately the only crime she ever committed was not fulfilling the ideal image of feminine Victorian grace.

The story of Cattle Annie & Little Britches shows us that the influence of the opposite sex isn’t something new. Meeting members of an outlaw gang only fuelled and ignited a love for the outlaw lifestyle. Passion for crime or a crime of passion? » Read More

You can almost feel it and soon, you’ll be able to see the difference. The sun will rise a little later and will set a little earlier. The carefree days of summer will make one final curtain call and bow out graciously, making way for the fall season. Before you breathe a sigh of despair, try seeing things differently through the eyes of Yellowstone National Park.

It’s just you and a world of opportunities.
In the early days of autumn, the flocks of summer tourists have packed up left, leaving you with the undisturbed quietness of the Grand Canyon, the trickling sounds of the Upper and Lower Falls and the wind rustling through the leaves of golden aspen groves. Paints a pretty picture doesn’t it?

Beauty knows no rest.
Old Faithful, Mammoth Hot Springs, over 300 geysers, hot springs, rock caves and rushing waterfalls will still be around when the temperature drops. When you start layering up, Yellowstone sheds its summer coat and radiates in hues of reds, yellows and oranges.

Wildlife ‘round the clock.
Rain or shine, Yellowstone will always be in touch with its wild side. Mid- to late September sees an increase in wildlife activity, where you’ll see various mammals begin to sport trendy winter coats and bears get a little rounder as they get ready for hibernation.

Photo ops galore!
With the added flurry of wildlife action, the golden hues of aspen groves and the characteristic natural beauty of the park, you can understand how Yellowstone National Park becomes a photographic paradise when the fall season announces its arrival. Disposable or digital, Yellowstone is ready to pose for all types of cameras.

When we stop tripping over thoughts of days spent raking leaves or shovelling snow is when we truly appreciate the beauty of autumn. There are plenty more perks to visiting Yellowstone National Park during the changing of the season. Take the time to discover them. Remember, the only difference is a few extra layers of clothing!