My only question is why the need for a massive bulky collar like that for tracking? Do we not have something small we can inject into them? I don't have any sort of animal background, but I would imagine something that large impacts the wolves in a way that is not consistent with their normal behavior or abilities.
The collars do not change the behavior. They do use injectable tags to ID animals, however not for GPS capabilities. The collars are designed to be light enough to not effect the animal, and generally don't.
I figured that they don't interfere much with the animal but definitely think they could be made smaller and just as effective. But what do I know
They are getting smaller as technology and costs allow. I've only worked with transmitters for birds, so I'm not an expert on the mammal trackers. Imagine part of the size would be the requirement to use solar power to keep it functioning.
Picked these two posts to discuss my impending yellowstone-Tetons trip. Mid June. Leave Tuesday. So I will have Wednesday thru Saturday/or/Sunday. My current thought is to camp in yellowstone. Spend 2-3 days exploring the park, spending a day on each region (west and north mainly). Then staying in Jackson friday and saturday night and hitting up the Tetons and doing more hiking than sightseeing. Figure Yellowstone will be less crowded during the week. And Tetons/Jackson will be worth it on a weekend night.
Ehh during tourist season it's going to be busy regardless of the day. Lots of RVs around. It'll be a good trip though. Depending on what you want to do, you might be able to rent a spotting scope in one of the towns around the northern part of the park. That's what I did - lots of wildlife to see at a distance.
It could still be fairly cold at night in mid-June, so pack accordingly. The area is surprisingly large and spread out, and it sounds like you'll be doing a fair amount of driving, so if I were you I'd solidify the areas you want to check out and kind of draw up a schedule. You can relatively easily spend half a day in a car getting from point A to point B.
that's what I have gathered from a few hours of research. Pretty overwhelming. I'd try to stay confined to a certain sector of the park to minimize driving all day.
It's been a few years since I've done it, but for reference I think it takes like 1.5-2+ hours just to get to the park entrance from Jackson. That's excluding delays caused by wild life being on the road.
that's why I am inclined to camp inside the park and stay in Jackson only when visiting the Tetons (NP)
You also have a danger of flooding in June, especially given the level of this year’s snow pack. We tried this same trip in 2015, second week of June. We entered Yellowstone from the east and camped without problems, but we could not use the south exit to get to Jackson because the road was washed out due to snow melt. We had to exit west and then follow the other side of the Tetons down before crossing back over near Jackson. With that said, the Tetons were amazing during the snow melt, waterfalls everywhere.
What do you mean by "Tetons"? GTNP? Bridger-Teton National Forest? Teton Village? The mountains in general? If you have some friends to go out with, I agree that Jackson for the weekend is probably the right call, but downtown Jackson isn't the closest to a bunch of the cool stuff around the parks.
GTNP. Figure Jackson is the best place to stay for quick access to GTNP outside of camping in the park
You're in Denver, right? You may be pressed for time, but taking the long way through Craig and then Oak Creek/Meeker is pretty tight.
Agreed if you're looking for civilization. Otherwise you may want to consider camping in the forest and hopping over to the park during the day.
yep, I'd be leaving Denver Tuesday evening, probably. want to maximize time in the parks during weekdays I think my g/f would appreciate some hotel stays mixed in with camping/hiking nonstop for 4 days.
We had planned on camping in the Tetons as well, but then I got a great deal from Snake River Lodge ski resort to stay there. The off season rate was less than $200 a night. Great place right at the base of the mountain and close enough to drive into Jackson for dinner without issue. The only grizzly we saw in five days between Yellow Stone and Teton was right outside that hotel/resort. Literally right as we pulled out of the parking lot.
Anyone have any suggested hikes in Acadia NP? Will be up there for a bachelor party and will have Wednesday afternoon, Thursday, Friday, and maybe Saturday morning for time in the park.
South ridge of Cadillac mountain, wonderland trail (not a long one and less crowded than the ocean trail), beehive, and Gorham mountain. Unless they redid the trail in the last year or two, the Acadia mountain trail was a little underwhelming.
Took a trip with my boy down to Big Bend last weekend. Bonnets are popping. Air smelled like a confectionery. Wouldn't have thought there could be something this impressive in West Texas.
REI Outlet has a deal that if you spend > $100 you get $20 off and you qualify for free shipping. That plus dividends and you can get good stuff cheap right meow. Went for an Osprey 50L pack (which they had) and left with a Gregory 50L pack. Cross posting with National Parks thread, should blend this thread into that one as it gets more traffic.
Dammit I spent over $100 at REI I’m Friday but that was in-store. It was under $100 after using my dividend though so I wonder if it would have counted
Heading to the San Juans in September for a week. I hate to do it but I'm getting older and need a chair. Looking at the Helinox chair zero and the REI Flexlite AIr. Each weighs a pound. Anybody have any recs?
Just decided I'm going to drive down to Great Sand Dunes tonight. Apparently this is the last good weekend before it gets shitty with tourists. Full moon this weekend so I guess I'll do a night hike. Don't really have any camping gear, so gonna try sleeping in my car or just going to the Hampton Inn down the road if it gets too uncomfortable. Anyone have anything I should know/do down there?
Anyone been to Mammoth Cave? Visiting my brother in #Nashville in July and thinking we'll drive up at the end of the visit to spend a few days. Hoping to not be in the midst of a swarm of visitors, but then again National Parks in the summertime are what they are. Looks like all of the cave tours are guided - is it worth it to do more than one? Thinking about reserving the Grand Avenue tour since it's the longest and most strenuous. Any decent hiking above the surface? thanks
'Major icon,' historic area of Big Bend National Park destroyed by wildfire, officials say By Caleb Downs Updated 2:01 pm CDT, Thursday, May 23, 2019 An historic area of Big Bend National Park was destroyed Wednesday by a wildfire, according to park officials. Smoke from the wildfire was first spotted on Tuesday on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande River, but by 6 p.m. Wednesday park staff saw embers crossing over and causing flare ups in the park. The fire rapidly spread, and embers landed on the barracks building at the Castolon Historic Area, which housed the La Harmonia Store and Castolon Visitor Center. According to park officials, the fire destroyed the building and the nearby Officer's Quarters suffered slight damage. No one was injured in the blaze. "It is heartbreaking to have lost La Harmonia, a major icon of Big Bend's history," said Acting Superintendent Tom VandenBerg. "High temperatures, extremely dry conditions, and strong winds have made this fire particularly challenging. The entire staff extends our deep appreciation to all of the fire crews who are working hard to contain this fire." According to a statement from Big Bend officials, the Castolon Historic Area was built about 100 years ago and housed units of the U.S. Cavalry during the Mexican Revolution. The wildfire has yet to be fully contained, but firefighters from Terlingua and Fort Stockton, as well as park crews, are working to extinguish the blaze. Due to the ongoing fire, certain areas of the park have been closed, including the Santa Elena Canyon and Cottonwood Campground areas, Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, Old Maverick Road and River Road West from Buenos Aires to Castolon.
Looking to spend a week at either Glacier or Yellowstone/Grand Teton in early October. Any opinions on which is better.
Haven't done Yellowstone/Grand Teton but Glacier was absolutely amazing. We stayed in Whitefish in a nice AirBnb (5 couples) and the only frustration we had was the Going to the Sun Road was closed on the west side of the park (where Whitefish is located) so in order to get to the east side of the park we had to drive all the way around (3 hr drive). Visit Polebridge on the east side for some fantastic views and some amazing pastries.
I have never been to Glacier. To me, one thing that makes Yellowstone/Tetons so beautiful are the waterfalls. There are many things awesome about those parks, but catching the snow melt in June is fantastic. Not sure how that translates in October, but I have to think that is a dry time of year when you will see snow pack building st higher elevations.
How strenuous of hikes did you do? Wife and I are cancelling a 3 week Europe Trip because we recently found out she's pregnant. We were supposed to go hike the Dolomites in Italy and the Alps in Austria but she doesn't want to go international while pregnant. Glacier looks awesome but is it worth it if we can't do more than day hikes?
From my GF: "I think it depends on what you're looking for/prefer. Much of glacier feels like true wilderness--I went days on days without seeing any humans and it's beautiful. Though, october might be cold/difficult in glacier (it snowed in july while I was there). Yellowstone/Teton are both closer to civilization. Yellowstone has parts that feel like Disneyland (old geyser and prismatic springs), but the park is huge and you can definitely get away from the crowds. Hiking is good in both. Glacier is my favorite from the three."
I'm a mountain guy entirely. This trip is in place of a Dolomites/Alps trip the wife and I were supposed to be doing. But recently found out she's pregnant and she wants to stay domestic. So I'd naturally lean towards Glacier but I want to make sure there's enough she can do. She'll be early second trimester so she'll still be able to hike some but we won't be able to do any overnight camping.
I added more to my post, but it sounds like Yellowstone is the safe play as you are close to civilization in case you need to get to a doctor if you need it.
If you want an abundance wildlife, crazy geological events, and just a diverse area unlike any other in the world, go to Teton/Yellowstone. Tetons can provide you with the hiking and mountains if the latter is more important. If you just want to be in the most beautiful place in the continental US, go to Glacier. The only other places that deserve mention in terms of its raw beauty in North America are Yosemite, Banff, and Jasper imo. If you want mountains and waterfalls, do Glacier, without hesitation.
None of the hikes we did were too difficult. I think the most difficult was the Grinnell Glacier hike and I imagine if your wife has done some hiking then she would manage fine with some rests along the way. Glacier Natl Park is pretty massive so I would guess you could find plenty of hikes that suit both of you.
I would check the travel ability on the Road to the Sun in Glacier that time of year. Not sure how snowfall impacts it.
July 4th is a good barometer for when the Road to the Sun should be open. I also recommend spending more hiking time in the Many Glacier area. I thought the flat trails there are better there than other spots in the park.
does anyone have recs for companies that do rafting in/around Yellowstone? Saw them for Tetons/Jackson itt, so siap for Yellowstone.
Just left Acadia a few days ago. Holy shit it was the most crowded Ive ever seen a NP. It was actually hard to enjoy it, but still a beautiful place. Drove to White Mountains and love it 100x more than the coast. So amazing. I've had a few friends through hike the AT who said the Whites and 100 mile wilderness/Baxter blow away the Smokies/CherokeeNF/RoanMtn and anything in the south and I believe them now.
I did Baxter and while it was amazing it's really hard to compare to the southern Appalachians because it's just so different. Giant mounds of granite shooting up out of bogs in Maine compared to the highlands leading up to peaks in the south.
The Whites reminded me a lot of southern Appalachians. I'd love to check out Baxter and central/northern Maine one day.