After two full months working in Yellowstone, it appears we have reached peak season. The clinic has been crazy busy with patients and we are breaking records each week. Our busiest day we saw 31 patients, which is about 10 over what we see on a “normal day”. Nearly all the numbers being reported from the National Park Service indicate that Yellowstone is on track to have a record season for visitors –about 6 million in total for 2024. As of now, nearly everything is double…daily cars through the entrances, people coming to the visitor centers, number of ambulance calls, number of search-and-rescues and so on. Traffic in the park is thick and slow going…patience and planning ahead are the top two items’ visitors and staff need to have in abundance on a daily basis. Despite the high attendance, spirits are high and experiences are epic. We have a fair amount of COVID and influenza circulating among the seasonal staff and occasionally with visitors. Daily dispensed advice from clinic staff includes good handwashing and wearing a mask when in close quarters…otherwise get outside and enjoy the park!
I had two days off and decided to venture north-east from Gardiner and Mammoth along the Bear Tooth Highway to Red Lodge, MT to explore a few other epic peaks. The journey begins traveling through the Yellowstone Lamar Valley where there are many herds of various animals enjoying their natural environments. Hundreds of elk, bison, wolves, and bears call this area home. It’s a prime spot to view the wild creatures. After passing through Lamar, I exited YNP through the north-east entrance into the small town of Cooke City. Continuing on eastward to the Bear Tooth Highway which is a 68-mile scenic drive along the Bear Tooth Mountain range, home to the largest collection of 12,000+ FT mountains in Montana. After a few hours of amazing views and twisty turns I arrived at Red Lodge, MT for a quick lunch. I then launched into the wilderness directly from town along an 18-mile off-road trail which gave me a chance to stretch the 4Runner 4×4 capabilities as I navigated deep ruts, washouts, and steep water crossings. The end of the trail brought me to the site of an old coal mine, where a disaster in 1943 claimed the lives of 74 men at Smith Mine. May their memories be eternal!
Making my way back to Red Lodge from the trail brought me to a local BBQ place where the slow smoked pulled pork was delicious. Later in the evening I found a primitive dispersed campsite in the Bear Tooth Mountains down a long forest road and next to a beautiful stream. The sights in all directions were of tall mountain peaks and the nighttime sky way spectacular.
The week ahead brings my next guests…my Mom and Dad. Looking forward to celebrating the 4th of July at Yellowstone and sharing all the beauty of the region with my parents. Until next week, be well and… May God Bless America!
