Uncategorized
Inside Yellowstone
Published
8 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersHelp from above
Fire lookouts in Yellowstone
YELLOWSTONE PARK FOUNDATION
At one time there were as many as 10 fire lookout stations staffed each summer in Yellowstone National Park.
Strategically placed on the highest mountaintops throughout the park, they served as the primary method to detect and monitor wildfires. Over the years, that number has been greatly reduced, but the stations—and the people who staff them—still have a critical role to play.
Currently, there are four fire lookouts in the park: Mount Washburn, Mount Sheridan, Pelican Cone and Mount Holmes. Washburn is the only one inhabited for the full summer season, and the others are used only if there is an active fire in the vicinity to monitor. In an average year, lightning ignites approximately 25 fires and an additional six to 10 are caused by humans.
Yellowstone Fire and Aviation Management Officer John Cataldo explains that it is both a large expense and a potential risk to keep a fire lookout stationed in a remote location, since pack animals and helicopters are needed to drop off supplies.
This expense and risk led to the elimination of some of the park’s lookout stations—such as Purple Mountain and Divide Mountain—and to cease full-time staffing of the others except Washburn. While visitors must hike to reach the summit of Mount Washburn and its 360-degree views of Yellowstone, the peak can be accessed by administrative vehicles.
Aerial monitoring and, more recently, technology like webcams and cell phones, have reduced the need for multiple full-time lookouts. Though aerial monitoring is expensive, the large number of wildlife research-related flights in Yellowstone—such as wolf pack observation flights—serve double duty by helping detect and monitor fires.
Yet Cataldo is quick to point out that fire lookouts still play an important role in wildland fire management.
“Humans observing a fire for an extended period of time can offer more information on the character and behavior of a fire than a webcam or quick flight,” Cataldo said. “They can often see smaller fires or night-time fires first, before a camera would pick them up.”
Lookouts can also help fire personnel quickly investigate a fire that has been called in by a visitor. In many of these cases, the reported fire is actually a “water dog,” a columnar cloud of vapor indicating recent rain that appears above the treetops. In such cases, the fire lookout helps conserve resources by reducing the need for ground response.
Not that the reports by visitors aren’t appreciated.
“We have 3.5 million amateur fire lookouts helping us, and they do a pretty good job. It is rare to have a fire in Yellowstone that isn’t reported immediately,” Cataldo said.
Aerial photos aid park biologists
YELLOWSTONE PARK FOUNDATION
Digital photography has changed the way most of us take pictures when we’re on vacation, and today it is also revolutionizing wildlife research.
Observing wolves, bears and other animals can be challenging because researchers don’t want to get so close that they alter the animals’ natural behavior, and details are difficult to capture with the naked eye. But now Yellowstone is eliminating those challenges with a powerful data collection method.
For the past few years, Yellowstone biologists have been capturing close-up digital photographs of wildlife from an aircraft several hundred feet above the ground. They use high-powered zoom lenses with image stabilizing capabilities, which produce startlingly clear images. Canon U.S.A. helps make these images possible with their Eyes on Yellowstone program.
Aerial images have enabled researchers to identify individual wolves in a pack, determine the presence and number of pups in a litter, and observe strategies packs use to surround and kill prey. This technique has even identified mange affliction in a Yellowstone wolf.
In the process of photographing wildlife, researchers have also taken some pretty stunning images of Yellowstone’s landscape, from an unusual perspective.
Below are a few images park biologists have taken over the years.
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
Upcoming Events
october, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Bike Big Sky is a FREE community mountain biking group with BSCO and Gallatin Alpine Sports. Meet at posted locations at 6 p.m. Monday evenings. Visit BSCO.org or swing by
Event Details
Bike Big Sky is a FREE community mountain biking group with BSCO and Gallatin Alpine Sports. Meet at posted locations at 6 p.m. Monday evenings. Visit BSCO.org or swing by GAS for ride information.
Time
August 12 (Monday) 6:00 pm - October 21 (Monday) 6:00 pm
Event Details
Hike Big Sky is a FREE guided hike for our community and visitors alike. A different trail will be featured each Monday at 9 a.m. Visit BSCO.org for trail description
Event Details
Hike Big Sky is a FREE guided hike for our community and visitors alike. A different trail will be featured each Monday at 9 a.m. Visit BSCO.org for trail description information. Please wear layers, bring water and snacks. Bear spray recommended.
Time
August 19 (Monday) 9:00 am - October 21 (Monday) 12:00 pm
Event Details
Bike Big Sky is a FREE community mountain biking group with BSCO and Gallatin Alpine Sports. Meet at posted locations at 6 p.m. Monday evenings. Visit BSCO.org or swing by
Event Details
Bike Big Sky is a FREE community mountain biking group with BSCO and Gallatin Alpine Sports. Meet at posted locations at 6 p.m. Monday evenings. Visit BSCO.org or swing by GAS for ride information.
Time
August 19 (Monday) 6:00 pm - October 28 (Monday) 6:00 pm
Event Details
Join Santosha, BASE and Gourmet Gals to bring you a donation based all levels community yoga lunch break class every Wednesday throughout the summer. It will be
more
Event Details
Join Santosha, BASE and Gourmet Gals to bring you a donation based all levels community yoga lunch break class every Wednesday throughout the summer. It will be taught by a variety of teachers from Santosha and BASE. This summer all proceeds will go to Big Sky Band-Aid, aside from the first one on the 26th that is happening during Pride week- all funds donated for that class will go to Big Sky OUT. A delicious lunch will also be served by Gourmet Gals following our practice each Wednesday (included in donation). You are welcome to donate with cash at the event or you can Venmo @Santoshabigsky and make a note for Community Yoga. Hope to see you in the Park!
Time
August 21 (Wednesday) 12:00 pm - October 21 (Monday) 1:00 pm
Location
Len Hill Park