Old and Faithful Debate
Yellowstone Opens for Winter Season
By David Nolt, 12-19-07
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| The Yellowstone River winding through Hayden Valley. photo by Jim Peaco, courtesy of Yellowstone National Park | |
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The interior of Yellowstone National Park opens for the winter season today amid--surprise--much controversy surrounding the limits on snowmobiles allowed in the park per day. On December 13th the Park Service published the Final Rule implementing a long-term winter use plan for Yellowstone, which will allow up to 540 commercially guided Best Available Technology (BAT) snowmobiles a day--a last-minute change from 720. The very same day, the Wyoming attorney general office filed a petition for review of the winter-use plan.
Wyoming officials are saying, even though the average number of snowmobiles in Yellowstone per day averaged 250 for the last three years, 540 is still too low a cap. Environmentalists say the number should be reduced even further. Yellowstone’s wildlife denizens are largely silent on the issue.
In their petition, Wyoming officials decried requiring commercial guides for all snowmobile trips and also requested a “reasoned analysis” for changes made to management of avalanche-prone Sylvan Pass, which--thanks to helicopters and howitzers--will remain open to motorized oversnow travel this winter, presumably to the delight of Wyoming residents.
As always, the northern entrance at Gardiner is open year-round, as is the road from Gardiner to Cooke City.
Xanterra Parks and Resorts provides lodging, food service, cross-country ski rentals and lessons, snowmobile rentals and snowcoach tours of the
park. Details are available online at www.travelyellowstone.com or by calling 866-GEYSERLAND.
There are many free opportunities for cross-country skiing throughout the park as well. Check with the Park Service for trail maps.
Information on other authorized winter operations providing snowmobile and snowcoach trips into the park is available on the web at the National Park Service website or by calling the park’s Concessions Management Office at (307) 344-2271.
Visitor centers will be open at West Yellowstone, Old Faithful and Mammoth. Ranger-led activities and evening programs will be available throughout the winter. Information on programs is available in the winter edition of the park newspaper, by calling (307) 344-2251, or on the winter service provider section of the park’s website.
Current snow depths range from 4 inches in Hayden Valley to 23 inches at Grant Village. The National Weather Service is expecting a 40 percent chance of snow in the park on Wednesday and a 70 percent chance for Wednesday night and Thursday with daytime temperatures in the mid-30s. Winter in Yellowstone can be unpredictable and colder than a den-digger’s ass. Check the weather, check in with the Park Service, bring plenty of proper clothing and have fun.
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