• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1984-01-26_Vol48_No18_03

3 Western Carolinian/January 26,1984 A Trip To Yellowstone National Jeff Francis Remember the Scouting trip you may have taken while you were in your early teens? The time when the leader sent you in the woods all alone, the strange sounds of awful creatures that loomed about, and those long but interesting hikes through the woods'.' lake those experiences, multiply them bv scores of numbers, add a lew hotels, lodges, and gcyscrs-and you have Yellowstone National Park! located in northwestern Wyoming and inching into corners of Idaho and Montana. Yellowstone National Park is the largest and the nation's best known national park. I he first National Park to be established bv the government in 1872. Yellowstone Park covers 3.472 square miles in area and borders the well-known Grand I'eton National Park in Wyoming. As the nation's largest national park. Yellowstone draws 2-million visitors annually who move around the park on a neatly organized system of roads and loot paths. I've hail the opportunity to visit Yellowstone Park twice. Once in IS)79 and the last time in I9S2. I thoroughly enjoyed both visits, and intend to revisit in the near future. I would like to point out some of the highlights that made my trips enjoyable and pass on some helpful hints for all first-timers as well as regular visitors. Yellowstone National Park has live entrances. three from Montana and two from Wyoming. lasilv accessed by major interstate highways leading onto federal roads to park entrances, it is simple to locate. There are no entrances from the Idaho state bonier. I he closest airport is located in Billings,,Montana which is 120 miles northeast of the Cooke City (northeast) entrance to the park. I've found there arc bargain flights from time to time that leave from points on the Last Coast for Yellowstone visitors. Another close air facility is in Butte. Montana which is I53 miles from the Gardiner (north) entrance to the park. Any travel agent can kindly give further information on flight schedules, fares, car rentals and bus services to the park. The 300 miles of roads give the motorist an ample opportunity to sec what the park has to offer. Over 1,000 miles of hiking trails and loot paths serve well for hikers and backpackers. One of the park's central lodging facilities, the Old Faithful Inn, rests at the loot of the world famous Old faithful Geyser between West Thumb and Madison junctions. Featuring 340 rooms, the Old Faithful Inn gives a true taste of Yellowstone Park in a very rustic setting. An interesting note, on one floor of the inn where there is one sit-down bath tub provided for everyone staying on that floor. Needless to say. waking up at an early hour, 1 prepared to stand quite a while waiting to use this tub, but to my surprise. I walked right in! There is a convenient (and good!) restaurant on the first floor as well as a late night bar with live entertainment by schedule. In addition to the Old Faithful Inn. the park offers accommodations at Mammoth Hot Springs. Yellowstone Lake, and Grant Village. The Lake Lodge and Lake Hotel at Yellowstone Lake are two superb places to spend a night. In any case, all arc- very nice, restful, and peaceful lodging facilities. For those who wish to rough it a little bit more, the park provides one and two bedroom cabins equipped with shower and bath at a very nominal cost. During the summer of 1979. I spent a lew days in one of these cabins and found it to be very 'woodslike'— especially the night when the temperature dropped below 30 degrees and there was no heat in the cabin! This brings up another point I will mention— the area of northwestern Wyoming is one of the coldest regions in the country (if not the coldest) and stays plenty cold in the summer. It is not uncommon for snow to fall in June, or even July and August. The average daily temperature in June is 54 degrees with lows reaching the upper 30's and highs going into the lower 60's. Sometimes the low temperature- will go below 25 degrees at extremes. Be prepared, aas the Boy Scouts would say; and be sure to bring warm winter clothing for your stay in Yellowstone- Park. The park is best-known for its abundance in thermal geysers and big black bears. Old Faithful Geyser, known more simply as Old Faithful, is something every visitor should set aside time to view. The geyser 'erupts' every 55 minutes and there is a handy bulletin board in front of the Old Faithful Inn that posts the next eruption time. If you arejust arriving as the geyser's on its last breath, add 55 minutes to the time already on the board, and sit tight for a show that you will never forget. 1 here are various other geysers lound throughout the park. J hey are located in the principal geyser basins of Norris, Midway, lower. Upper. West Thumb, and Heart Lake. For a complete listing, ask any park employee. I he 'Paint Pots' offer interesting and candid sights. They get their name because of the bright colors they portray similar to a watercolot paint set. These are usually small bodies of water no larger than ten or twelve feet in length and are very hot. I he temperature in these ponds far exceeds the boiling point ol water. For this reason. I recommend strongly that visitors stay directly on the marked paths and do not venture out into Unauthorized territory, the park has almost complete installation of wooden railings along the paths, but there are still plenty ol open spaces. Sadly to say. ;i teenager lost his life recently because he- slipped into one ol the boiling craters. Guided tours and maps of designated walkways are available at all lodges and tourist information centers throughout the park. Between the canyon and lake areas are located the mud volcanoes which prove to be very interesting. Again, these are very hot and should be viewed with caution. Mammoth Hot Springs, which is located by the north entrance provides for excellent views of unusual looking formations formed by deposits of limestone. Several lakes dot Yellowstone Park. Namely, Yellowstone. Shoshone. Lewis, and Heart Lakes. the largest is Yellowstone Lake which has 100 miles of shoreline. As I mentioned earlier, the Lake lodge and hotel offer excellent food and accomodations. For animal watching enthusiasts, there are a large number of elk. cougars, moose, grizzly and black bears, anil bison (American buffalo) that roam the park freely. Yellowstone Lake is one of the best spots for bird watching as over 200 species of birds stay close to the lake, including the American bald eagle. There are hundreds of guided tours, slide presentations. and talks thai are given on various aspects of the park. And don't forget to take a horseback tour! There are plenty of park personnel that will be more than happy to assist, explain, or answer any questions you may have on the park. Yellowstone National Park is an unending web of adventure. I've touched on some of the more popular points but leave it to you to begin your own adventure in Yellowstone Park. Try it sometime— you may never come back home! Yellowstone Park also offers summer employment to college students as tour guides, cashiers, and various forestry jobs. To find out more about this attractive package, you may write the National Park Service Headquarters or Yellowstone Park directly. YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK Driving routes from selected cities and general regulations. Park open—May 31 to October I, may vary slightly depending on seasonal conditions at beginning ami end of season. Driving rules—speed limit generally 25 miles per hour. Be sure to watch for animals darting onto roadways and parked ears as visitors stop to observe wildlife. Driving routes—FROM: Casper. Wyoming: Take U.S. 20, 26, 287 west to Jackson, then through Grand Teton Park to south entrance, approximately 300 miles. Cody. Wyoming: U.S. 14. 16. 20 west to east entrance, approx. 53 miles. Pocatello, Idaho: Interstate 15 north to exit I 19. U.S. 20 east to West Yellowstone, Montana, then to west entrance, approx. 160 miles. Idaho Falls, Idaho: Interstate 15 north to exit 119, U.S. 20 east to West Yellowstone. Montana, then to west entrance, approx. 105 miles. Billings. Montana: Interstate 90 west to U.S. 212 west to Cooke City, Montana then to northeast entrance, approx. 120 miles. Butte, Montana: Interstate 90 east to U.S. 89 south at Livingston, Montana to Gardiner. Montana then to north entrance, approx. 153 miles. Photo By Danny Batten Almost every day birds fly into the glass windows at Belk Building, breaking their necks. The problem is a serious one. and as yet no solution has been found. Jackson County Films I 19 84 CRY. THE BELOVED COUNTRY: 105 min. b&w - Based on the novel by Alan Paton. Produced and directed bv /oltan Korda. Cast: Canada Lee.Sidney Poiticr. Charles Carson. Geoffrey Keen. Michael Goodliffe. film focuses on the native minister. Stephen Kumalo. a simple man of God. whose journey in search of a wayward son re-creates the tragic South African experience of transition from primitive village to modern metropolis. Kumalo discovers that he has lost his son as a result of the injustices of an aparthied society but he retains his faith in humanity, lie is encouraged by the aid received from both a black city minister and a white country land holder. , . r_vW t 2 84 DINNER AT EIGHT; I 13 min. b&w-Based. on the play by George s. Kaufman and Edna Jerbcr. Directed bv George Cukor. Cast: John Barrymore. Jean Harlow. Marie Dressier. Wallace Beery. Lionel Barrymore. Lee Tracy. Edmund Lowe. Billic Burke..lean llarshott. Twenty-five leading actors and actresses of the (930's appear in tins film version of the stage play which is a series of vignettes in which the characters portray the problems, the restlessness and underlying urban life in the 3()'s. 2 9 84 BORN YESTERDAY: 103 min. b&w - Director: George Cukor. Cast: Broderick Crawford, William Holden. Judy Holliday. Screenplay by Albert Mannheimer based on the play by Garson Kanin. A crooked millionaire junk dealer hires a young journalist to educate his ignorant ex-chorus girl mistress. She falls for her tutor, and politically outmaneuvers her bewildered lover. 2 16 84 A DOLL'S HOUSE: 108 min. color -Based on the drama b\ llenrik Ibsen. Cast: .lane Londa.Trevor Howard. Delphine Seyrig. Filmed in Norway, depicts Ibsen's classic drama of a young woman who finds that she can no longer accept the conventional role of wife in a restrictive 19th Century society and how she goes about becoming an independent individual. 2; 23/84 GREAT EXPECTATIONS: 115 min. b&w - Based on the novel of the same title b\ Charles Dickens. Directed by David lean. Cast: John Mills, Jean Simmons. Francis X. Sullivan. */ lowers from around, the world * ■ ^ e 5 Don't be left in the dark about the best available in quality florals...for the best price...Come & see us & We 'II show you the light! 352 E. Main-Hwy lOT-Sylva © © a * s*l Oc ©V I ©V s*l s*l s& Catsfkcllet All your favorite drinks, sandwiches and snacks Free Ice Tea with meal purchase check our daily dollar specials 2nd floor - Hinds Univ. Center Monday - Friday 7:00a.m. -11:00p.m. 1 CO-OP SPOTLIGHT The Cooperative Education Office is proud to focus the January spotlight on Mr. Dick Craddock. Dick is a Computer Science major from Cullowhee. Dick's Co-op experience has been with Duke Power Company in Charlotte, North Carolina. At Duke Power Dick worked in the systems support group as a computer programmer dealing with computer software development and maintenance. Duke Power consistently rated Dick's performance as outstanding. We salute Dick for a job well done on his accomplishments at Duke Power Company. ******

The Western Carolinian is Western Carolina University's student-run newspaper. The paper was published as the Cullowhee Yodel from 1924 to 1931 before changing its name to The Western Carolinian in 1933.

• Creator
  • Western Carolina University
• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Date
  • Date original: 1984-01-26
  • Date digitized: 2019-02-19
• Extent
  • Dimension: 22.75" x 15"
  • Pages: 12 pages
• Subject - Topic
  • College student newspapers and periodicals
  • Cullowhee (N.C.) -- Newspapers
  • Universities and colleges -- North Carolina -- Cullowhee -- Newspapers
• Location
  • Jackson County (N.C.)
  • Cullowhee (N.C.)
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Source Collection
  • WCU Students Newspapers Collection
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1984-01-26_Vol48_No18
• Repository
  • Western Carolina University Hunter Library