Yellowstone Country Safety * Beware of Passing Motorists *

Stay in the right lane as much a possible when driving on Highway 20 through the caldera. The number of motorists driving left of the center line while passing slower vehicles is scary and dangerous!  

Winter Driving in Island Park

Last Friday night Sheri and I were driving up Ashton hill from the flat. Our vehicle was sandwiched between a parade of out-of-state pickups and toy haulers, northbound towards Island Park. There was no doubt that the mountain snow’s siren song was seductive and inescapable to those who enjoy riding sleds.

As we made our way up the mountain to the caldera, the convoy slowed more than once. The centerpiece of each delay was people trying to extricate a vehicle from a snowbank. Apparently while anticipating a glorious weekend in the snow of Yellowstone country, the drivers’ attention wandered from the immediate task of getting to their destination.

While the roads of Island Park are well maintained by the State of Idaho and Fremont County, they still present their own challenges. Here are a couple of tips for those who are visiting.

Brakes can be your enemy. Once you lock up your wheels you are at the mercy of momentum and gravity. Pump your brakes lightly. To change your direction, slightly accelerate while turning.

Tire tread makes a big difference. More aggressive tread designs are preferable to normal all-weather designs. If you have been considering new tires because yours are worn out, replace them before you drive in the mountains. Worn tires almost guarantee that you will find yourself in a snowbank or worse.

Avoid driving too near the shoulder of the road. The snow banks that boarder the roads are soft and deep. If you catch your right tire in the bank, it will suck you in. The next thing that you know, your vehicle will be buried up to the roof in snow.

Slow down. Speed is the largest contributor to driving mishaps.  Speed limits are designed around optimum road conditions. Winter mountain roads are hardly optimum. Slow down and if you feel that you are barely in control of your vehicle, slow down a little more. You will get to your destination faster if you don’t have to spend 2 hours digging you vehicle out of a drift.

Beware of ancillary roads. All roads in Island Park are not equal. Some roads are plowed and some are only used by snowmobiles. If a road does not look plowed, take a different route. Otherwise, you may suddenly find your vehicle buried up to the axels.

Drive safely and enjoy your stay in Island Park.  

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 * Sledding While Intoxicated *

Driving intoxicated on a snow machine is dangerous and unlawful. If you straighten out a corner and take out a tree, the tree will win!

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 * Defensive Driving in Snow

Drive defensively. Some drivers are not yet accustomed to the snow-covered roads.

Yellowstone Country Safety * Dusty Roads *

Slow down when approaching vehicles on the dirt roads. The roads are dry and dusty, reducing visibility as you pass each other.

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. 

Yellowstone Country Safety * Patience *

Be patient with each other. A lot of people are vacationing this time of year in Yellowstone country.  It is hot. Wait for traffic to clear before pulling out and drive slowly in residential areas. Be kind to the clerks and waitresses while they contend with the increase in customers. You will have a great Island park experience if you take life slowly.

Yellowstone Country Safety * ATV Safety *

Please drive your car/truck cautiously on Island Park’s roads. ATV operators may be inexperienced and unpredictable. And to ATV drivers, you will be on the short end of the stick in any collision with a car or truck, regardless of fault.

Watch Out for the Wildlife!

Two weeks ago, my Yellowstone Country Safety tip was “Drive cautiously through the forest. Wildlife can quickly emerge from the trees to cross the highway. A moose hit by a vehicle can crash through the windshield and end up in your lap!”

The same day the paper was distributed containing that tip, a Nissan Rogue compact SUV hit a moose on Hwy 20 at Chick Creek. Four foreign tourists were southbound when a bull moose crossed the highway in front of them. The brakes were not applied as they struck the moose at approximately 65 miles per hour. Part of the moose entered the vehicle through the windshield, striking all occupants. The vehicle continued for about 200 yards sheering off trees, before coming to rest in an aspen grove. All four occupants were hospitalized and the vehicle was totaled.

Driving through the forest requires caution. Large game animals are designed by nature to blend into the trees. The dark brown moose disappears in the timber and cannot be seen until it has emerged. At 65 miles per hour, there may not be enough time to avoid the collision. Dusk through dark is the most difficult time to spot an animal but daylight will not guarantee your safety if the animal makes a dash for the other side of the road.

Those who are vacationing or passing through Island Park should be vigilant. 

Highway 20 bisects a forest with a healthy population of large wildlife. Drive cautiously through the trees and slow down. Dropping your speed by 10 mph will increase your ability to avoid animals and help you arrive at your destination safely.        

Yellowstone Country Safety * Cautious Driving *

Drive cautiously through the forest. Wildlife can quickly emerge from the trees to cross the highway. A moose hit by a vehicle can crash through the windshield and end up in your lap!