Mark Your Calendar

 BIG DOIN'S COMIN'

A Death In The Family ?

some new data revealed

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.. Future tourists to Yellowstone National Park may find a forest where Old Faithful is now. Recent data collected by the U.S.G.S. combined with previous data suggests a timeline for the cessation of eruptions in the Upper Geyser Basin, (yes even Old Faithful.)

.. Radiocarbon dates on wood from the geyser mound combined with lengthening eruption intervals point to a cessation of eruptions in the near, (geological,) future. Our current, (and trending climate regime,) is most like the Medieval Climate Anomaly [LINK.] That was a time, about 800 years ago, when the North Atlantic Ocean was warmer than it is now.

All manner of human historic events occurred during that time: Norse discovered Greenland, Norse discovered North America, prolonged droughts affected the Great Basin and the Native Americans living there, Chico Canyon and Pueblo Bonito in the southwest were abandoned, etc.

RESOURCES

>> Live Science,

>> Fox News,

>> Wikipedia,

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WORKS GUUD

.. Very Big fish this year in the Lower Madison River. Avoid the Conga Lines. Cover lots of water. Bundle up. Bring warming libations. Mash a sandwich or two. Don't give up. Use big flies.

.. The dense run of big fish seems to be a bit later this year. Global warming or reduced pressure or just plain magic? Get out there now!

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WALLPAPER:  FOR THE KIDS

.

Blow Up

 LONE STAR FIRE

Gets Bigger

periodic road closures

Lone Star Fire = Fir & Pine = 3 Miles South Of Old Faithful

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.. The lightning caused fire south of the Old Faithful developed area has rapidly grown to over 3,000 acres. This growth is by a factor of 10 in three days. Increased temperatures and brisk winds will continue to accelerate the growth of the fire.

RESOURCES: 

>> InciWeb,

>> YNP Information,

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THE MUSTARD BUGGER

.. Catching continues to be very good on the Gallatin River, Duck Creek, Yellowstone River, Slough Creek.

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.. It's a bit early - BUT -  there are reports of large and very colorful fish in the Madison Arm of Hebgen Reservoir.

.. Small streamers and red worms on most rivers and streams. Ants on the Gallatin River. Large streamers in the reservoir weeds.

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WALLPAPER:  THE BEST "BLT"

Finally Happened

THE FRUIT OF STUPID

Alcohol Involved ?

blood on boardwalk

DON'T DO IT

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.. Late Sunday night a visitor to Yellowstone National Park suffered severe burns to a significant portion of his body after falling into thermal water near the cone of Old Faithful Geyser.
..  We've noted the recent trend of ignoring safety concerns and people leaving the boardwalk in thermal areas [LINK]. There are no fish in the thermal springs of the park.
.. Read about it:
NPS News Release,
FOX News Report,
CNN News Report.

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.. The dusting of snow has melted and there may be a bit of warm in the forecast. May even see 60° by Monday next. Standard Fall mix of rain, snow, sleet, graupel, until then.

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WALLPAPER:   SESAME WHITE BREAD

Death Defiance

SIGN OF THE TIMES ?

Just Ignorant ?

plain stupid ?

BEEN THERE - HAVE NOT DONE THAT

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.. There is a movement afoot that gives visitors the courage to defy safe viewing of thermal features in Yellowstone National Park.
.. Wandering off the boardwalks and onto the thin crust of thermal features is dangerous and can be the cause of serious injury or even death.
.. Just yesterday the latest example of this behavior was recorded on video at Old Faithful. The offender was booed by the law abiding visitors and then flipped them off as he left the vent of the geyser.
.. Other incidents include actions at Grand Prismatic Spring , (sentence = four days in jail and a $1,040 fine,) and West Thumb Geyser Basin.
.. Multiple citations have been issued in the last few days. The park has not yet issued a statement and court records are not available for public viewing.

SEE THE VIDEOS

KULR_1 >> HERE
USA Today  >> HERE
KULR_2 >> HERE

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WALLPAPER: PRIMITIVE QUESADILLA

Ye Olde Faithful

LIVE NOW

PREDICTION

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WALLPAPER:  S.O.S. / 1940 ARMY RECIPE

Minutia

COMING ATTRACTIONS

Current Visitation

just winter fiddling

GOOD PLACE TO FISH ON THE GIBBON RIVER

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.. In the winter, even when we don't fish there are just so many thrilling things to do in our neighborhood.

RIDE A BOMB

.. We have some neighbors that take visitors on little rides in the park.
.. On occasion we tag along to make sure that Yellowstone National Park is still there: you never know.
.. There is also the exciting adventure of walking along the shopping streets to see just which shops are open: some are.
.. Pubs do a brisk business during the mid day break from  the kidney bruising adventures on the rocket sleds.
.. We can get in our aerobic licks and fresh air by shoveling the white stuff: one of the gentle nuisances of winter.

GOOD PLACE TO FISH THE FIREHOLE

.. Then, there are the chores around the house.
.. We're getting a head start on our spring cleaning. We do, however, get some minor pulmonary distress with vacuuming and dusting.
.. For some unexplained reason the winter is just as dusty as the summer around here.
.. Such a busy place in the winter and we don't ski, or ride sleds, or use the snowshoes, or clean roofs anymore.

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..The neighbors are clamoring for more. Here's a small preview of coming attractions:

..There are also  some nifty names of the Coachman variants.
.. How about a Coachman Royal Ginger? How about a Coachman New Zealand?
.. Do you need a Coachman Royal Black or a Coachman Red?
.. Would you ever fish with a Coachman Bucktail or with a Coachman Royal (Bivisible?)

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.. Well, as our linguistic relatives across the pond say: "THE HOOVER IS CALLING."
..There are also melodic whimperings from the hobby table hobby room.
.. Out in the kitchen the pleasant aromas emanating from crinkled beer cans and small scraps of steak and potatoes seem to need some attending to.
.. Of course we could change the bulb in the front porch light. We could also restring a couple of sadly neglected instruments or patch the bellows on the old Linhoff and Graflex cameras.
.. Maybe we should jettison the sweats and don the civilized attire with matching socks and mittens. 
.. The head spins with possibilities for very diverse and rewarding recreation. Apoplexy is distinctly possible. Or not!

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WALLPAPER:   YELLOWSTONE WINTER SOLITUDE

Shrink Them Thar Hills

MIXED BLESSINGS

Give A Little

Take A Lot

secretary on a rampage

A VISION FOR THE NEXT 100 YEARS?

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..With the shrinking of Bears Ears National Monument the Interior Department has ceded 250,000 acres back to the Agriculture Department.
.. This reversion removes resource  protection and allows mining, oil and gas exploration, timber production and, grazing on that chunk of land.

SMOKE 'EM

.. Last night, (at the Western Hunting & Conservation Expo,) Ryan Zinke signed an order that requires the federal government to closely coordinate its plans with state agencies and private landowners to ensure the vitality of wildlife corridors.
..  We do need the corridors to insure continued genetic health in terra-migrating species like the pronghorn on Yellowstone's northern range and the Northern Rocky Mountain Grizzly Bears.
.. Coordination is good. We'll see how this works out in the face of protestations from environmental groups and the states affected.
.. Zinke's plan would divide the U.S. into 13 geographic regions, (or maybe 11 or 10 ??)
.. This administrative change would reduce staff and is supposed to change the management focus to perceived unique environmental factors in place of the current state-based system. [[We suspect that there is very little in common between Corpus Christi, Texas and Winfield, Kansas.  How about Omaha, Nebraska and Libby, Montana?]]

THE PREVIOUS SUGGESTION

.. The new management zones ignore state boundaries and are supposedly designed to more closely match geographic areas with similar characteristics and management needs. [[MANAGEMENT NEEDS ??]]
..The governors of 19 western states are miffed. The bipartisan Western Governors Association sent a letter to Zinke on Feb. 1 asking for a delay on the plan.

TAILING LOOP PERFECTION

.. In the letter, the governors said that the association asked Zinke, in recent months, to consult them if he planned to reshuffle the regional management structure.
.. The governors said that Zinke had not consulted them on the proposed changes.  [[ Is this the kind of consultation specified in the order? ]]
.. The proposed plan is based on perceived geographic and environmental similarities.
.. Save for the greater Columbia River system and the Mississippi River mainstem there does not seem to be any concerns over riverine ecosystems or piscatorial sensitivity.
.. Most of this is grab bag shuffling and is part of the "Plan For The Next 100 Years" that Zinke is pursuing.
.. Most of this shakeup at Interior is flying under the radar due to the other higher profile shenanigans that are being displayed by both the Legislative and Administrative branches of our elected government. Did we really do this to ourselves?
.. We will have to pay close attention to this stuff. It seems half baked to us.

RESOURCES

>> Courthouse News Service
>> Associated Press
>> Washington Examiner
>> Federal News Radio
>> E & E  News
>> The Hill (1)
>> The Hill (2)
>> The Washington Post
>> Moldy Chum

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BISCUIT BASIN AT DUSK

.. Rode over to Old Faithful yesterday after rush hour. Pleasant journey with some of the neighbors.
.. No crowds. Traffic going the other way. Wildlife smiling for portraits. Clouds colored up for dusk.
.. Free cookies and apple cider at Snow Lodge. Observing the "Do Me" crowd with winter finery and furs. Didn't fish much. Oh well!
.. The warm continues. 'Twas 50°F in Bozeman and 35°F up here.
.. The pavement is creeping up through the snow and sledheads are using the alleys.
.. Skiers have taken to shanks' mare in town and, the sidewalks are nicely shoveled in front of the trinket stores and feather merchants.
..  The first pot of coffee smells inviting as does the air creeping in the open kitchen window. It's not yet Spring but the pretense is truly convincing.

THE FUZZY JOHN

.. We're currently in the midst of our winter gear maintenance rituals but, there is a rod and reel ready to go in our trusty horse.
.. The roads are clear, the clouds are scudding into view, the breeze is light and the fish are calling.
.. We hear them!

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WALLPAPER:   LEFTOVERS

Road Work

WINTER SEASON OPEN

Elite Visitors Arriving

bunches of $ to visit

WINTER ROAD IMPROVEMENTS

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.. Soon, (tomorrow or the next day depending on Federal funding bills,) the West Entrance Station of Yellowstone National Park will accept affluent guests to the winter wonderland for the wealthy.
.. The joys of Yellowstone, (two days: Upper Loop and Lower loop tours,) for an average family of four can cost a couple of week's wages - or more:
>> Travel, to West Yellowstone = variable,
>> Lodging = $300.00 / night x 2,
>> Eating =  $250.00 / day x 2,
>> Entrance Fees = $40.00,
>> Snowmobile Guided Tour = $400.00 day x 2,
>> Snow Bus Guided Tour = $300.00 - $450.00 day x 2,
>> Postcards, trinkets, etc. = $0.00 - thousands,
>> Travel from West Yellowstone - variable,
>> Total = at least $1,740.00 (plus travel.)
.. All visitors are required to take guided tours, (save for a select group of individuals that are drawn by lottery and must have best available technology snowmobiles.)
.. Entrance on skis is available for $40.00. Old Faithful is 30 miles from the West Entrance Station - should you care to try:  + lodging at each end.
.. Y'all come.

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WINTER WONDERLAND

Soon

BANK FULL COMING

Cool Rains Cause Blips

grass gaining color and length

WALLPAPER:  NEZ PERCE CREEK AT THE BRIDGE

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.. A brief spate of cool rains and high altitude snows has slowed discharge just a small amount in the west side rivers of Yellowstone National Park.
.. The ameliorating effect of cold water from Nez Perce Creek has not yet made it's presence known in the Firehole River.

OLD FAITHFUL WATER HOUSE

.. Nez Perce Creek is inching up on bank full status. The grass is finally starting to take on the colors of Summer. The little river is not colored at all and is cold and slow.
.. Above Old Faithful the Firehole River is running clear and cold at it's seasonal norms and the temperature is in the "perfect" range: 46°F - 54°F.
.. Below Old Faithful near West Yellowstone the Firehole River is still in it's pre runoff warm phase. Temperatures have already spiked to 70°F. Currently it is spiking to 68°F and discharge is about 50cfs below seasonal norm.
.. The near term weather forecast is calling for continued unseasonable warming with only scattered cool rains. Spring snows have been light and fleeting. We're keeping an eye out.
.. There have been both mayfly and caddis sightings on the Firehole River. This year Spring was early, Winter was gentle, and Summer is racing to meet us.
.. Stay out of the water between the lakes.

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WALLPAPER:  FIREHOLE CATTAILS AT OLD FAITHFUL

Conscensus

WHAT THE NEIGHBORS THINK

Not The Counter Help

nor the feather merchants

SMOKE 'EM IF YOU GOT 'EM

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.. In the dark and musty corners of well established watering holes there is an undercurrent of concern. It's heard between the belches and growlings of inner distress.
.. It is a growing awareness that there is something amiss. There is speculation. There is wild ass guessing. There is reasoned argumentation. There is heated argument and occasional agreement. It's hard to discern the exact topics being discussed but there seems to be some consensus that flows from the cacophony:

A Fine Mess O' Fish

1.] The Whitefish are bigger than usual and they are much sweeter than recent memory would allow.
2.] The runners in the Madison River are taking smaller flies than in the recent past and are even chasing and eating nymphs and wet flies.
3.] The west side rivers are particularly low for this time of year. The fish are easier to catch and the use of stealth techniques is seldom needed with the eager fish.
4.] There are fewer runners in the Madison River this year and over the last few years than in the years of the last decade - OR - other decades further away from the present.
5.] The perfect jalapeño cheese bread recipe is near at hand and being baked right here in West Yellowstone, Montana.

What's This ?

6.] The best way to enjoy jalapeño cheese bread is in a hot tub with a cold beer and a warm blond woman. Girls are for wimps.
7.] If you can't catch a fish on the Firehole River with a soft hackle you should take up golf or darts or shuffleboard or beer pong.
8.] There are very small fish on the Firehole River being photographed as trophy catches. It's an indication of the paucity of fishing expertise or the love of cell phones.
9.] It's becoming sinful to walk more than 100 yards to a place for catching giant fish. "Giant" is being redefined as "over 10 inches."
10.] In their search for big tips a few itinerant guides have taken to saying "GOOD FISH" every other sentence. They apply this to the servers at newly opened bars that they frequent as well.

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.. The weather continues to be very gentle for this time of year. No break is in sight. This tends to make stories less believable than if it was nasty and little bits of hail or snow were clogging your nostrils.

Two Of Three Perfect Companions

.. Imagine returning home and explaining to the gathered throngs at your local feather merchant that the warm sun caused you to remove your Panagucci fleece and that the 26" Brown Trout in the picture dried out and didn't show it's true colors.
.. It's just not near as much fun to catch a submarine in the sun as it is in a blinding snow storm. This also seems to be a consensus among the neighbors.
.. We're headed to the hot tub. There is a fresh loaf of jalapeño cheese bread waiting. It's slices are slathered with fresh unsalted butter and it's ready to eat. It's a meal in itself.
.. After that we're going to take our second nap of the day and decide where to go tease some fish. Since Yellowstone National Park is now open for another few days we may just slide in there.
.. Parking will be fearsome. Elbows will be flailing. Cell phones will be waving. Jocular fishers will be extolling the virtues of knowing how to torture fish. And there may just be a submarine on the Firehole River in the canyon below the bridge - above Old Faithful and below the cascades. No one bothers to tickle those runners.

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WALLPAPER:  The Perfect Third Companion