Yellowstone Roads To Remain Closed Overnight Due To Spring Snowstorm
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Contact: Al Nash, 307-344-2015
National Park Service Yellowstone National Park ---------------------------------------------------- Yellowstone Roads To Remain Closed Overnight Due To Spring Snowstorm The section of road from Norris to Canyon was the first to close shortly after 10 o’clock this morning. By 3:00 p.m. the roads from Mammoth Hot Springs to Norris and Madison, and from West Yellowstone to Madison and Old Faithful were all closed to travel. The only road currently open to travel is the road from the park’s North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana to Mammoth Hot Springs and east toward Tower Junction, the Northeast Entrance, and Cooke City, Montana. This section of road is not typically maintained between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. The balance of the park’s roads and entrances have yet to open for the season. Staff members at Canyon report that commercial power is out and that they received as much as a foot of new snow during a two hour period this afternoon. The Old Faithful area is also operating on a back-up electric generator, with staff members there saying it is difficult to estimate the snowfall from the storm because of the blowing and drifting occurring in the area. The National Weather Service in Riverton, Wyoming has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for a large area including Yellowstone National Park which is in effect until midnight Wednesday. The forecast calls for snow showers on through the weekend. Yellowstone National Park staff will evaluate the weather and road conditions Thursday morning and will reopen roads to travel when it is safe to do so. Visitors to the park this time of year should be prepared for a wide range of winter and spring weather conditions, including plows clearing snow from the roads, and temporary road closures. Updated Yellowstone National Park road information is available 24 hours a day by calling 307-344-2117. - www.nps.gov/yell -
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Did You Know?
Some groups of Shoshone Indians, who adapted to a mountain existence, chose not to acquire the horse. These included the Sheep Eaters, or Tukudika, who used dogs to transport food, hides, and other provisions. The Sheep Eaters lived in many locations in Yellowstone.