Yellowstone Country Safety * The Bears are Awake *

Bears are responding to early warm temperatures by leaving their dens. Be cautious while hiking/snowshoeing and avoid leaving food sources outside of your cabin. 

The Snow is on its Way!

The last of our summer neighbors closed up their cabin and migrated south to their winter home. Winter cabin shutters seem to be appearing with more frequency with each passing day as the weather cools. It is the secluded calm before the storms.

Every conversation between residents seems to include the acknowledgement of winter preparations yet uncompleted. Some of the most common are:

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1.     I need to finish cutting firewood.       
2.     The propane tank needs to be filled.
3.          The truck needs new tires this winter.
4.        Time to put up the summer yard furniture.
5.      I need to make sure the snow blower starts.
6.      Where are my wool socks?
7.       It’s almost time to put up the 4 wheelers and check the sleds.
8.      I need to have someone blow out my sprinkler system.
9.     If I don’t organize the shed/garage, I won’t be able to find anything this winter.
10.         We are going to be in trouble if my husband doesn’t get the roof on our house this week.

Sheri and I took a drive up Sawtell Peak Road on Sunday and found that winter had arrived up high. The serenity of nature’s beauty was tempered by the realization that winter is on its way and there is still much to do.

Yellowstone Country Safety * No Ear-buds while Hiking *

When hiking in bear country, avoid the use of earbuds or headphones. Your hearing (along with sight and smell) is your danger detector. Don’t turn it off.

Yellowstone Country Safety * Spring Mountain Weather *

Ahhh, spring time in the mountains of Idaho. If you don’t like the weather, wait ten minutes and something else will come along!

The End

The End

If Jim Morrison of the Doors had lived and experienced living in Island Park, his song “The End” might have sounded something like this:

This is the end, beautiful friend

This is the end, of winter’s grip, the end.

Of nature’s cloak of white, the end

Of snow machines’ loud whine, the end

No safety or surprise, the end

I wait for warmer skies again

Can you picture what will be, so green and snow free?

Desperately in need of some stranger’s hand, in a muddy land

Stuck up to the axels in mud

This sight-seeing trip turned into a dud

I should have waited until the end of the flood

Now I have to call and wait for my bud

There is danger through the center of town

People drive too fast on highway 20, baby

Drivers swerve to avoid a moose

Slow down on highway 20, baby

Fish the Snake; fish the Snake,

Or the lake, Henry’s Lake, baby

The snake is long, many miles

Fish the snake, it’s clear and you may see some deer

The west is the best, the west is the best

Get here and you’ll get some rest

Spring bear season is calling us

Spring bear season is calling us

The first big game hunt is worth the fuss

The hunter awoke before dawn, he put his boots on

He took a bow from its rack and he walked on down the hall

He went into the room where his wife slept, kissed her

And then he gathered up his day pack

And then he walked on down the hall

He came to the door and he walked outside

Father, please bless me with a successful hunt

And protect my family while I am gone

Next time, come on a hunt with us,

Next time, come on a hunt with us

I’ll meet you back at the cabin tonight, baby

This is the end, beautiful friend

The end

Road Closure in Island Park Due to Snow!

A week after I wrote the article complaining about a lack of snow, we got a storm that closed Highway 20 both north and southbound out of Island Park.  This is the road to West Yellowstone and it was closed for more that 24 hours! Cool, huh?

Yellowstone Country Safety * False Snow Forecast *

My iPhone weather report indicated that were supposed to get snow every day last week. That was the most pitiful week of forecasted snow that I have seen!

Avoid Tragedy in Island Park

Last Saturday a snowmobiler crossed Highway 20 in front of a vehicle and died in the collision just north of Island Park Village. Norman Zullin of Long Island, New York was following a fellow rider in a dash across the highway and did not see the northbound vehicle. It was an immediate and tragic end to a vacation in one of the most beautiful places on earth.

The same afternoon as the collision, I was pulling into Elk Creek when three snowmobilers jetted across the parking lot entrance. The snow berms concealed them from view. They did not slow as they crossed in front of my suburban. Had I not caught a glimpse of a helmet and slowed, the results could have been as tragic as the collision on Highway 20. I recently saw a snowmobiler park behind a truck at Robin’s Roost. The driver began to back up when a pedestrian alerted him to the sled’s presence, averting a crisis.

The snow accumulation diminishes the low-slung snow machines’ visibility to motorists. It also inhibits the snowmobiler’s ability to get a clear vision of road traffic. It is essential that the snowmobiler’s approach to a roadway be cautious. It is understandable that after a carefree and wild snowmobile ride in the back country, the rider forgets that traffic exists when coming down off the mountains. Drive defensively. Snowmobilers that are accustomed to looking for boulders, stumps and other hazards in the back country may be less attentive in the populated areas of Island Park.

It is incumbent upon snowmobile operators to avoid collisions with cars and trucks. The sled will be on the short end of any encounter. Please be cautious while enjoying Island Park. The residents want you to have a memorable visit and return home safely to tell others of your adventure. 

A Road Less Traveled

Last week I took a snowmobile ride to Big Springs. As I passed the warming hut, I noticed that South Big Springs Loop had been posted “Snowmobiles Only”. Proceeding down the road, I noticed a deep set of fresh truck tire tracks continuing past the signs towards Big Springs. When I got to Moose Creek, I was surprised to find a Chevrolet Silverado towing a 30 foot travel trailer. It was sunk up to its axels in snow.

There were two men attempting to dig the vehicle out while a third was in the driver’s seat. Inquiring as to their predicament, they advised that the driver was a friend of theirs who had parked the trailer in the Moose Creek area this fall while trapping. He had enlisted them to extricate it. The trapper exited the truck to help and it was apparent that he had been consuming adult beverage. I assumed that he was warding off the cold and relieving stress.  I helped in an unsuccessful attempt to free the rig but as it was getting dark, I offered to go for help.

A Fremont County Sheriff’s deputy responded to my call, hopped on a snowmobile and met me at Moose Creek. Arriving at the truck we found the trapper passed out in the passenger seat.  His companions had unhitched the trailer and made an attempt to drive the pickup out. The truck made it 50 yards from the trailer before becoming hopelessly stuck. The two friends inquired if they could leave the trailer in the middle of Big Springs Loop until spring. After conducting a short but thorough investigation, the deputy located someone who could pull the rig out. Seeing that the men were safe and arrangements had been made for the rig, I headed home.

I have heard several stories of people recently getting themselves and their rigs stuck deep in places where trucks shouldn’t be this time of year. Rescuing these individuals can be dangerous for those who respond. A good rule of thumb is if the road looks impassible, don’t give it a try. Save everyone a lot of work and yourself significant coin.

Yellowstone Country Safety * Winter Survival *

Pack a small go-bag before snowmobiling away from the populated areas of Island Park.

Include: a knife, two types of fire starters (matches, a lighter or magnesium starter), dry newspaper in a Zip-Lock, a flashlight or lantern, a tarp, food, water, rope, a compass, cell phone and a gps.

Don’t get stuck in the back country without a survival kit.

The Storm

Greg and I had just finished hauling a load of road base for his driveway when we heard that a tornado had been spotted near Dubois and the storm that spawned it was headed our way.

Storm clouds were moving in from the southwest and progressively becoming more ominous. The front moved across the caldera towards Yellowstone and its dark lead edge of clouds was churning upward from the ground. We were viewing this example of nature’s power from my front yard, when we heard a single noise, wap!

We recognized that sound. Hail was on its way. A few hail stones hit the ground, a few more and then the floodgates opened as we ran for cover. This was my first encounter with horizontal hail. Nickel-sized ice balls were incoming from the west and shattering with a loud crack on everything they hit. My attention turned to the windows on the west side of the cabin. I was afraid that they would sustain a direct hit and shatter. After ten minutes of intense fury, the hail stopped as quickly as it began. With no visible damage, I was able to savor the power and beauty of the storm. I had dodged a bullet; actually thousands of frozen ones! 

The next day I dropped into the bank and discovered that the Elk Creek area had not been so lucky. The break room freezer had been converted into an evidence locker. Alicia and Kari produced a handful of golf ball-sized hail and recounted how, despite their attempt to move their cars to shelter, the vehicles were left with a dimpled texture reminiscent of golf balls. They took the damage in stride, as seasoned residents of Island Park.

Weather is like food and variety is good. The warm and dry summer of Island Park is like a great burger. No matter how much you love it, a steady diet of the same thing gets old. The other nine months of the year provides a variety that is hard to beat!

Yellowstone Country Safety * Fall Bears *

With the conclusion of summer, bears are going to be aggressive as they search for food before they den up for the winter. Do not store food or garbage outside.

Things Are About to Change

The final holiday weekend of the summer has arrived. Vacations are concluding, kids are going back to school and many are storing their camping equipment until next year.

The activities of those who live in the mountains are changing as well. Businesses will begin winding down next week. Summer cabins will be shuttered for the winter. Residents will prepare for the snow to come; urgently completing repairs to their cabins that were postponed during the busy summer season. Firewood will be cut and stored and hunting season will begin this week with the bow hunt.

It is time to break out the camouflage, check gear and search for that once-a-year successful encounter with an elk. Anticipating the hunt with the hopes and dreams of a child’s Christmas, the mind sorts through the scenarios and reactions that may be experienced in the forest.

The cow calls and bugles are rehearsed. The bow string is waxed and the arrows are fitted with broadheads. The camo is laundered in scent-free soap and hung on a line to air dry. The bathroom is stocked with scent-free shower soap and deodorant.

The day pack is stocked with the essential items that have not congregated together for the past year. A compass, water bottles, GPS, knives, rope, bear spray, pistol, ammo, light, matches, Allen wrenches, Leatherman, folding saw, binoculars and a camera are all packed in anticipation the adventure to come.

Optimism is high for a successful hunt but fall in Yellowstone country brings its own anticipation. September is the most beautiful month in mountain country. The leaves change to their brilliant colors; the aspen are shrouded in bright yellow and the scrub maple in orange and red. As the temperature cools, the animals prepare for the coming winter with their own sense of urgency. The stillness of the forest will be interrupted by the constant thud of pine cones on the forest floor as the squirrels release them from pine boughs, soon to be stockpiled.  The bull elk will bugle, their primeval cry for a mate echoing through the pines.

It is an exciting time to be in the forest as a participant and an observer. Things are about to change. 

Yellowstone Country Safety * hearing is a danger detector *

When traveling on foot in bear country, avoid the use of earbuds or headphones. Hearing is your danger detector. Don’t turn it off.

Connie and the Bear

Last Tuesday afternoon, Island Park resident, Connie Funkhauser set out for a run to Sawtell Mountain. She outfitted her two German shepherds, Max and Shelby, with bells on their collars. Strapping on her fanny pack with bear spray and a cell phone, she put her whistle lanyard around her neck and loaded her handgun. Connie was off and running.

As she neared the base of Sawtell and the forest thickened, she noticed that Max suddenly showed an alert. Connie scanned the forest where her dog was focusing his attention and saw what initially looked to be a bedded elk at the timber’s edge. Stopping to better assess the situation, she saw the shimmer of a golden fur coat, the movement of legs and realized that she was fifteen yards from a bear. Suddenly, the bear turned his head towards her and her worst fear was confirmed, it was a large grizzly.

The bear took an aggressive step towards her, a mock charge to test her response. Max reciprocated with the same move towards the bear. Connie raised her pistol and shot a round above the animal. The combined responses stopped the bear’s attack and gave Connie time to draw her spray. She began blowing her whistle as her growling dogs held their ground between her and the bear.  The grizzly apparently decided that this well-armed, loud woman and her two devoted dogs were more trouble than they were worth. Yelling in a loud and firm voice at the bear, Connie slowly backed away. The encounter culminated in an acknowledgement of one another as the grizzly retreated.

Connie explained that each day before she runs, she mentally rehearses what she will do in the event of a bear encounter. She was emphatic that one should never run with earbuds because unobstructed hearing is necessary to perceive any danger.  She attributes her survival to her preparation and a hand from the man-upstairs.

A successful bear encounter is one that allows both the bear and the individual to continue on without injury. Connie’s experience is a textbook example of how to behave in bear country.

GRIZZLY ATTACKS

The early explorers of the Rocky Mountains were familiar with grizzly bear attacks. Some famous mountain men of the early 1800’s were mauled by grizzlies. In 1822, Hugh Glass, Jedediah Smith and Jim Bridger were among a group of trappers traveling to the Yellowstone when Glass surprised a mother grizzly and her cubs. The sow set upon Glass before he could get off a shot. Hugh found himself in the grip of the bear. Drawing his knife, he repeatedly stabbed the animal as it continually raked him with her claws. He managed to kill the bear with the help of other trappers but the injuries to him were severe. He was left for dead by Jim Bridger and John Fitzgerald after Indians arrived at the scene. Glass set his own leg, bandaged himself as best he could and crawled and walked 200 miles to Fort Kiowa. The incident was the inspiration for the 1971 movie “Man in the Wilderness”.

Two years later, Jedediah Smith was leading a trapping party to the Yellowstone valley when he was surprised and attacked by a large grizzly bear along the Cheyenne River (eastern Wyoming).  He suffered broken ribs and his side was torn open. The bear took Smith’s head in its mouth and his scalp (including one ear) was nearly torn from his skull before the grizzly retreated. His companions cleaned and stitched up his ear, scalp and side. He recovered from his injuries but grew his hair long to cover the large scar and deformed ear.

Last week, Brett Panting was conducting a survey on grizzly habitat when he surprised a bear in the Davis Lake area near Big Bend Ridge. Brett was unable to deploy his bear spray before being attacked. The bear ran off after biting him. He was treated at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center for puncture wounds and lacerations. He is reported to be home and doing well.

Attacks by startled grizzlies are meant to show domination over their environment.  Due to the increasing number of grizzlies in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem, the danger of a bear attack is as great as it was during the time of Glass and Smith.

Berry picking and bow hunting seasons entice us deeper into the grizzly’s realm, increasing the odds of an encounter. Here are a few of my rules for operating in grizzly country:

1.   Avoid thick vegetation, especially willows.

2.   If not scouting or hunting, take a dog with you. They make great bear alarms.

3.   Carry bear spray and replace it every two years to ensure its potency.

4.   When walking through the woods, move slowly; look (for fresh scat, tracks and the bear itself), listen (for movement) and smell for bears (they stink).

5.   If you come upon a bear, do not turn and run. They will chase you. Freeze and assess the situation. Do not give away your position with any sudden movements. Back away very slowly and look for a tree you can climb (grizzlies don’t climb) if the bear advances on you.

6.   If the bear charges, act BIG! Take a step forward, raise your hand high above you head and yell. It may stop the charge while he reconsiders his response. It may buy you the time to get out your spray and/or weapon or he may wander off.

7.   In the event of a surprise attack, you may have to become submissive. Drop to the ground, curl into a ball and cover your neck. Going toe-to-toe with a Grizzly will not end well!

Even with the best outdoor skills, grizzly attacks are inevitable when sharing the forest with the top of nature’s food chain. Be cautious and stay safe.

Yellowstone Country Safety * mufflers can cause fires *

 The vegetation is drying out as the summer progresses. Hot vehicle mufflers can start forest fires. Avoid driving trucks and cars through tall grass. 

Add a Tomahawk to your gear

I have been studying the equipment used by backcountry campers and one piece that has been discussed is the tomahawk. I have never carried a hatchet in the field because of the weight and the short handles that reduce the effective power of a strike. The tomahawk has a large blade but a light head and a longer handle. It makes sense that the frontier men regularly carried them. The tomahawk would be useful as a hammer in pounding stakes while setting up a spike camp. It could be used for clearing limbs for a tree stand, chopping firewood, splitting bone when field dressing game and as an additional weapon for any nasties that may jump out of the brush. The Cold Steel Trail Hawk is only 27 oz and relatively inexpensive.
I have also noticed that outdoorsmen have a habit of removing the entire finish from both the head and the handle. They then give the tomahawk a handrubbed finish making them reminiscent of an 18th century mountain man tool. I believe that I am going to try one in the field this year. It just might be a welcome addition to my equipment!