Kelsey Dayton

Recent Posts

Death In Yellowstone: True stories of park’s fatal perils

Yellowstone National Park historian Lee Whittlesey is the author of "Death In Yellowstone," a compilation of true stories about the park's fatal perils.

Don’t bother asking Lee Whittlesey about his favorite Yellowstone ghost stories. He doesn’t believe in ghosts. He doesn’t need to. The Yellowstone National Park historian knows horror stories far scarier than made-up specters. They are haunting, disturbing and particularly terrifying because they actually happened. These are the stories of people falling into boiling water, of wild animals attacking and feasting on flesh, and the unsolved mysteries as to whether a person fell or was pushed. Continue Reading →

Filed under: , , , ,

‘Geyser Gazers’ patiently wait for Yellowstone eruptions

Self-described 'geyser gazer' Ryan Maurer takes notes after the eruptions of Lion Geyser in Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone is home to two-thirds of the world’s geysers, attracting visitors from around the world. Most catch Old Faithful and may wander the boardwalks and accidentally witness other eruptions. Some look at the schedule in the visitor’s office listing the times for the six predictable regular geysers, Great Fountain, Grand, Castle, Daisy and Riverside along with Old Faithful, and plan their day in hopes of catching those in action. But a dedicated few devote weeks, and sometimes entire summers, to waiting, watching and recording eruptions. These are geyser gazers and members of the Geyser Observation and Study Association. Continue Reading →

Filed under: , , , , , , ,

Mr. Bubbles: Soaking in a natural Yellowstone hot tub

Alyssa Ammen and Ben Griffith soak in Mr. Bubbles in Yellowstone National Park. Mr.Bubbles is one of the rare places you can soak in Yellowstone because it’s not a thermal feature. Hot water from thermal features nearby mixes with the cold river water.

I leaned over the water with trepidation, looking at the bubbles gurgling from the middle of the pool. I put my hand over the water, straining to feel how much heat it emitted. Then I put in my toe. My hiking partners and I knew Mr. Bubbles was one of the few places in Yellowstone National Park you can soak without being boiled alive. Continue Reading →

Filed under: , , , , , ,

Hiking Jackson Hole’s other iconic peak

The Grand Teton often dominates photos of Jackson’s skyline. But Sheep Mountain, more commonly known as the Sleeping Indian because of the naturally-carved headdress, distinct nose and belly the mountain forms, is Jackson’s second most recognizable peak. There you can fully take in the grandeur of the Tetons across the valley. You’ll likely have the views all to yourself because Grand Teton National Park draws most visitors in the area. Those who hike the Sleeping Indian are usually locals that know the area well. Continue Reading →

Filed under: , , , ,

Ski trip across Yellowstone reveals unique sounds of winter

Derek Collins takes in the view while skiing across Yellowstone National Park.

There are sounds in Yellowstone National Park that can only be heard in the winter, away from the snow machines and out of the snowcoaches. They are the squeak of cold snow underfoot and the whispered rhythm of skis pushing and gliding. They are the gurgle of thermal features and the splash of water descending from the air and returning to geyser pools, sounds too meek to hear above the din of throngs of people in summer. Continue Reading →

Filed under: , ,

Wildlife officials warn Yellowstone area grizzly bears expanding range, seeking food

A few grizzly bears have been spotted emerging from hibernation in Yellowstone National Park.

As the population of grizzly bears in the greater Yellowstone area expands, grizzlies are expanding their range. That expansion, along with a year of low whitebark pine cone production—a staple of the grizzly’s diet—means outdoor enthusiasts need to be hyper-vigilant this fall, even when recreating in areas where they’ve never seen signs of bears. Continue Reading →

Filed under: , , ,

Shoeshiner keeps old-school trade alive in Jackson bar

Tim Tetley works on Gordon Little’s boots at Tetley’s shoe-shine stand in the Cowboy Bar in Jackson, Wyo., south of Grand Teton National Park.

Walk into the Cowboy Bar, just south of Grand Teton National Park, on a busy night in the summer, and there might be a line of patrons waiting to climb into Tm Tetley’s shoe-shine chair. People take pictures as he scoots around on his stool, examining soles and whipping towels across the tops of boots until they gleam. For visitors it’s like a carnival ride to sit in the chair and have their footwear lathered back to pristine condition by someone dressed from an era passed, while in Jackson’s famous bar with its saddle seats. Continue Reading →

Filed under: , , , , ,

Wyoming moose study focuses on large herd south of Grand Teton

A study on Wyoming’s largest moose herd could guide management decisions about oil and gas leasing in the Wyoming Range, south of Grand Teton National Park. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit recently expanded a moose project in the Northern Wyoming Range between Jackson and Pinedale. Continue Reading →

Filed under: , , , , ,

Study: Yellowstone elk pregnancies stressed from poor nutrition, not wolves

A University of Wyoming study shows that elk don’t respond frequently enough to threats from wolves to impact body fat and pregnancy rates. Wolves’ effects on elk populations is limited to direct predation, not harassment or stress that leads to lower pregnancy rates or poor body composition, according to the study. Continue Reading →

Filed under: , , , ,