Date: October 1, 2009
Contact: Stacy Vallie, 307-344-2012
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Yellowstone National Park
P.O. Box 168
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2009 - 7:00 p.m. 09-102
Stacy Vallie (307) 344-2015
----------------------------------------------------
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK NEWS RELEASE
----------------------------------------------------
Road Between Lake and West Thumb to Begin Opening Intermittently
The road between Lake and West Thumb will be open for short periods each day beginning at 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 1 to allow for public travel through the 2 miles of road affected by the Arnica Fire.
There will be three opportunities each day as follows:
• 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.
• Noon to 1:00 p.m.
• 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
During these open periods, National Park Service staff will escort two-way traffic through a two-mile road segment. A maximum of eight vehicles will be escorted at a time in each direction. Vehicles must follow the flow of traffic; no stopping will be allowed.
During the periods when the road is closed, crews will be working to remove hazardous trees along the road. For safety reasons, the road must be cleared of all traffic, as heavy equipment will be utilized to fall and remove burned trees. These intermittent closures will continue until hazardous tree removal has been completed.
Fire activity has greatly diminished with the rain and snow, although heavy fuels may continue to smolder.
During the open periods, the Lake Village area will be accessible from all entrances, although construction and temporary snow closures may mean detours from the most direct route. The Lake Hotel is open for business until October 4.
The Elephant Back and Natural Bridge Trails have been closed due to fire activity in these areas. Check at park visitor centers or backcountry offices for the current status of other hiking trails and backcountry campsites in the area.
All entrances are open. As a reminder, the road between Norris and Madison is also closed due to road construction. Visitors are encouraged to stop at park visitor centers and area chambers of commerce for assistance with trip planning in and around the park.
During the fall season, visitors to Yellowstone can expect to encounter winter driving conditions. Travelers should be prepared for blowing snow and icy roads. These conditions can temporarily close park roads. Visitors can use the following sources to access up-to-date information: by calling the 24-hour road information line at 307-344-2117, or the fire information line at 307-344-2580 or visit http://www.inciweb.org/incident/1901/; http://www.nps.gov/yell/parknews/newsreleases.htm.
- www.nps.gov/yell -
