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About John
Expertise
My greatest passion in the natural world is Yellowstone National Park. I have been going there regularly since I was 2 (that was in 1953). I make a minimum of two trips a year there, and have visited in both the summer and winter. My area of real joy is studying and observing the geysers, primarily in the upper geyser basin near Old Faithful. I belong to a group called GOSA (the Geyser Observation and Study Association) which has around 300 members. I have also acquired a passion for park history, much of it`s geology, I marvel every year at the wonderful canyon and experience such peace on the shores of Lake Yellowstone. I do love this park and if I can help make a families time there more fun and a greater learning experience I would love to do that.

Experience
I am a founding member of both the Committee to Preserve Our Yellowstone Heritage, a group committed to preserving habitat and affordable accomodations, and I am a charter member of The Geyser Observation and Study Association (GOSA). This added to my years of study and enjoyment give me a valuable base from which to share what I have learned over the years.

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Yellowstone NP - hiking in Yellowstone

Expert: John - 10/17/2009

Question
QUESTION: We are planning to drive to Yellowstone from the midwest around June 12-14 and drive a manual transmission Toyota Corolla. Will driving to and in Yellowstone be difficult with a stick-shift regarding the inclines? Will we be likely to encounter icy roads that late in the year during the day?

ANSWER: Hi Lorri:

Sorry about the delayed response...I was in Yellowstone for the past week. Your car will easily handle the grades in Yellowstone. A manual transmission is actually an advantage. Weather wise you can encounter snow in any month in Yellowstone. Mid-June is late in the year to get a significant (more than 5 inches) snowfall, but not impossible. If it does snow, the Park Service is quick to close the roads for your safety and they will not reopen them until conditions are safe. Have a fun time.

John

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello John,

We will be in Yellowstone for six days and seven nights next June 14-20. We love to hike and see spectacular scenery. We are 67 and 70 years old and very physically active with lots of stamina and agility. We will be three days at the Canyon Lodge area and three at the Roosevelt Lodge area. We had no trouble with a three hour hike up and back on the Bright Angel trail at the Grand Canyon and a fairly strenuous three hour hike at Bryce Canyon last fall. Ordinarily, a six or even seven mile hike is no problem for us. Still, we are not as young as we once were. What would you consider some day or 1/2 day hikes not to be missed at Yellowstone?

Thank you,
Lorri

Answer
Hi Lorri (again):

I am not terribly familiar with hikes in Yellowstone as most of my time there is spent in the confines of the Old Faithful area. One nice 5 mile (round trip) is from Keppler Cascades to Lone Star Geyser...a very nice walk along the Firehole River. Also, the hike from Old Faithful to Fairy Falls (around 6 miles round trip) covers some interesting features. At Canyon I can strongly recommend Uncle Tom's Trail on the South Rim and the hike to the Brink of the Lower Falls. both are around 1.5 miles round trip but are steep and can be strenuous. I would get a copy of Yellowstone Treasures by Janet Chapple...it is a great guide book and will give you some other good recommendations.

Good Luck;
John

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