by yellvet on Sat May 05, 2012 1:38 pm

For Yellowstone wildflower enthusiasts, I thought I’d let you know that I now have over 200 wildflowers posted in my Flickr photostream that are sorted by color and labeled with the common and scientific names. Most of the images also have the photo location and date in the image description. Just go my Flickr link shown below and then click on the “Wildflower Collection” (third folder down in the right-hand directory). Inside that folder, you’ll find the flowers in different color folders. I spent most of the winter adding/reorganizing the flowers by color hoping that this would make wildflower identification easier for those who live in a “dead zone” and don’t have cell phone coverage or the flower apps (like me… ) Hope you’ll find the wildflower database helpful. Here’s the link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigskywild

FYI, because of the warmer winter weather, wildflowers in the Yellowstone Greater Ecosystem are running about 3-4 weeks ahead of last year so keep your eyes peeled for the spring bloomers.

The South Entrance to Yellowstone National Park opens for automobile travel at 8:00 a.m. Friday, May 11, allowing spring visitors from the Jackson, Wyoming, area access to Lake and Old Faithful. The roads from the park’s North and West Entrances opened as scheduled on April 20, and the East Entrance opened May 4.

Visitors should be aware that spring in Yellowstone is very unpredictable and can still bring cold temperatures, high winds and falling snow. Even cleared sections of roads can be narrow and covered with a layer of snow, ice and debris. Drivers should use extreme caution as road clearing operations can be ongoing at any time throughout the park. Read the rest of this entry →

The East Entrance to Yellowstone National Park opens to automobile travel for the season at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, May 4.

With repairs completed on a section of road temporarily closed south of Canyon Junction, this allows all park visitors early spring access between the East Entrance, Fishing Bridge, and Canyon.

The road from the park’s North and West Entrances to Madison, Canyon and Old Faithful opened as scheduled on April 20.  Read the rest of this entry →

A long-term plan for limited development in the Lake area of Yellowstone National Park has been approved.

A Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for a plan placing limits on future development at Lake Village, Fishing Bridge, and Bridge Bay was signed by the National Park Service Intermountain Region Director on April 17, 2012. An Environmental Assessment (EA) that analyzed three alternatives was released for public review and comment in February 2012. Read the rest of this entry →

by YSNUT on Mon Apr 23, 2012 8:30 pm

by YSNUT on Sun Apr 22, 2012 10:39 pm

Just hours after opening for auto travel for the summer season, a section of road in Yellowstone National Park has been temporarily closed because the roadbed has given way.

A basketball-sized hole was discovered Friday afternoon in a section of Yellowstone’s Grand Loop road south of Canyon Junction. Upon further inspection, park staff members discovered a large section of the roadbed beneath the pavement has washed out.

Visitors can take in views of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone by traveling on the North Rim Drive. However, viewing locations along the South Rim Drive such as Artist Point won’t be accessible until road repairs are completed. Read the rest of this entry →