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Wyoming State Historical Society 2002 Annual Trek Yellowstone National Park June 21-22-23, 2002 Hosted by the Park County and Star Valley Chapters of the WSHS Trek Planning Committee: Dick and Marge Wilder, Jermy Wight, Lee Whittlesey From the July, 2002 (Volume 49, Number 4) issue of the Wyoming History News, Loren Jost, Editor... Heard on the Historical Trail Editor's Note: The Wyoming State Historical Society's 2002 summer trek is now in the past but it won't be forgotten quickly by those who attended. Unfortunately, the trek to Yellowstone National Park was one of the very few I have missed over the past twenty years and so I can't offer any first-person accounts. Instead, I asked two Laramie women who participated in the trek to write about their experience and I think their accounts do a wonderful job of passing along something of the trek experience for those of us who couldn't attend. The first account comes from Leslie Shores, the second from Amy Lawrence. As a newcomer to Wyoming, I had previously only made one trip through Yellowstone National Park. Ironically, it was only one month prior to the Wyoming State Historical Society trek in late June. Wildlife was scarce during that first tour in May, when I made a quick swing through the snow-filled park on my way from Cody to Jackson on an American Heritage Center Speaker's Bureau trip. The park was just not how I pictured it after viewing photo books featuring herds of bison and elk grazing in plush meadows and the occasional bear showing up in a stand of pines. But the park had come to life by the time three buses filled with Wyoming State Historical Society trekkers "dieseled" down the main roadways of Yellowstone. The green landscape teemed with wildlife, and I now considered this my first "official" trip to Yellowstone National Park. I thought to myself there could be no better way to introduce a newbie to the area than this historical tour of the architecture, natural features, and cultural past of Yellowstone. As we toured the park, the trek's tour guide, National Park Service archivist Lee Whittlesey, provided interesting and entertaining facts and anecdotes about all aspects of Yellowstone, from botany and wildlife to why rangers wear those distinctive U.S. Army campaign hats as part of their regular uniform. Our loop drive took us by most of Yellowstone's main points of interest, including Old Faithful and the accompanying inn, the Upper and Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, and the impressive hotel at Canyon Village. But we also learned about some of the lesser known features and history of the park, such as Beatty Lake, an Africa-shaped body of water named for a truck driver who drove his vehicle into it in 1931; Yancey's Hotel, a now extinct boarding house operated by Uncle John Yancey for miners and freighters working at the nearby Cooke City mines; and the story of Truman C. Everts, who became lost from the Washburn expedition in 1870 and survived 37 days alone in the wilds of Yellowstone. We also saw plenty of bison, elk, moose; coyotes, black bears and grizzlies; and hundreds of birds. Other features of the trip were wonderful, too, including great conversations and camaraderie with other trekkers, satisfying box lunches and hot dinners, and down time to explore Mammoth Hot Springs. It was a highly enjoyable learning experience for me and I thank Yellowstone personnel and the Park County and Star Valley chapters for making it a grand success. (Leslie Shores) It will be hard to top the 2002 trek to Yellowstone National Park. Not only was it well organized, but the marvels of Yellowstone would make any trip memorable. We had comfortable accommodations at the historic Mammoth Hotel, the food was excellent, and the bus tour was outstanding. The tour guides/bus drivers were knowledgeable and courteous and gave us a wealth of information on not only the park attractions, but on its history. Historical detail was provided by Lee Whittlesly, Yellowstone National Park Historian. The park's history is surprisingly involved, emerging from the early beginnings when the U.S. Army was in charge of the park, and visitors came in horse-drawn vehicles. The problems encountered when the cars and horses tried to share roads were particularly fascinating. This history also reflects the constantly evolving policies regarding wildlife, fires and visitors themselves. Some of my vivid "postcard " memories are of the herds of buffalo grazing in the valleys, green this year from much appreciated rain; a small herd of buffalo cows and calves crossing the road and then filing past our bus, almost close enough to touch (no one challenged their right to claim the "right of way"). Add to that the spectacular Yellowstone falls; the new growth that is beginning to hide the ravages of the fire several years ago; a picnic lunch by Yellowstone Lake and its incomparable vistas and you have a few of the ingredients of a very memorable trek. These treks have given me a greater appreciation of the beauty and history of our state. But our treks are more than trips to historic and beautiful places in the state. Perhaps the most important ingredient is the camaraderie engendered by shared interest in history, and by meeting old friends and making new ones. During my first trek, I was a little intimidated by this very closeness, and I imagine some newcomers feel the same way. But I encourage these newcomers and guests to "hang in there," as it will not be long until you experience these same warm friendships. We all owe a big "thank you" to Marge and Dick Wilder and Jermy Wight for their work in organizing such a special trek, and to the Yellowstone National Park personnel for making this possible. (Amy Lawrence) Test your knowledge of Yellowstone National Park History by Mike Jording The Wyoming State Historical Society just finished the annual trek and it was truly a success. While enjoying the trek I was encouraged by a kind traveler from Rock Springs to take some notes of the historic talks and trek stops. So, with a collection of notes, and with Lee Whittlesey's "Top Ten Events in Yellowstone History" and "A Mile-by-Mile History Excursion Around Yellowstone's Grand Loop Road" by Lee H. Whittlesey and Aubrey L. Haines, I offer the following quiz for the enjoyment of those who attended (and those who didn't). I hope all of you who trekked in Yellowstone can answer the questions with the help of your mile-by-mile guide. For those of you who didn't get to the trek, you can access the publication on the society's website. You can also view a printable version of the quiz to test your knowledge of Yellowstone National Park history off-line. So, if you like fun tests, feel free to review your visit to Yellowstone National Park. The answers are listed below and are to be used only once. Good luck. The Questions (1) The year that Yellowstone National Park was established. (2) Yellowstone National Park's only natural feature to be named a National Historic Landmark. (3) The year that the National Park Service was established. (4) Opened in 1891, this was the first large hotel in the geyser basins. (5) Passed by Congress giving full protection to wildlife in Yellowstone Park (except wolves and coyotes) and paving the way for future wildlife and environmental movements. (6) Now known as the "Museum of the National Park Ranger." (7) Built during 1903-1904, this building became the most famous structure in Yellowstone National. (8) This engineer built the original Fishing Bridge in 1902. (9) Built in 1889, the name of the oldest hotel still standing in Yellowstone National Park. (10) The name of the grand hotel designed by Robert Reamer and opened in 1911. (11) In 1871 this man led an official exploration, that included artist Thomas Moran and photographer William H. Jackson, into the country later to become Yellowstone National Park. (12) The president who was honored in 1920 when a lodge was built in his memory. (13) Arrived in Yellowstone National Park in 1915. (14) Arrived in Yellowstone National Park in 1886. (15) Arrived in Yellowstone National Park in 1883. (16) Said keep things natural, "ecological process management." (17) The year that eight wildfires swept Yellowstone National Park burning nearly 800,000 acres. (18) The year that construction of Fort Yellowstone began. (19) Originally known as the "National Hotel." (20) From 1891 until 1907, this man operated several Yellowstone concessions, including the Yellowstone Park Hotel Company and the Yellowstone Park Transportation Company. The Answers Match an answer from this list with one of the questions above: (A) 1872 (B) 1988 (C) U.S. Army (D) Canyon Hotel (E) Harry W. Child (F) Lake Hotel (G) Ferdinand V. Hayden (H) Fountain Hotel (I) Obsidian Cliff (J) 1891 (K) Theodore Roosevelt (L) 1916 (M) Automobiles (N) Lacey Act (O) Leopold Report (P) Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel (Q) Old Faithful Inn (R) Hiram Chittenden (S) Norris Soldier Station (T) Northern Pacific Railroad 2002 WSHS ANNUAL TREK ITINERARY: FRIDAY, June 21 1:00pm - 4:30pm   Self-guided tours of Yellowstone National Park Mammoth area (geysers, terraces, wildlife, museum and visitors center) 1:30pm - 7:00pm   Registration and getting reacquainted, Hospitality Room, Mammoth Hotel 2:30pm   State Historical Society Executive Board meeting 4:30pm   Guided tour of Old Fort Yellowstone by park staff 7:00pm - 8:00pm   Dinner, Map Room, Mammoth Hotel 8:00pm   Orientation, welcome and lecture by Lee Whittlesey, Yellowstone National Park archivist and historian. Lee Whittlesey has spent scores of seasons in the "Grand Old Park." In his many years at Yellowstone, he has worn the hats of bus tour guide, snowcoach driver, communications specialist, law enforcement ranger, ranger-naturalist, technical writer & more. A backcountry expert, he has hiked all 1,200 miles of Yellowstone's marked trails, and hundreds of miles off-trail. The Yellowstone National Park archivist and historian holds a law degree from the University of Oklahoma and lives year-round in the park with his family at Mammoth. Lee H. Whittlesey has authored and contributed to several books on Yellowstone - some are shown below - click on a book cover to learn more:       SATURDAY, June 22 7:00am - 8:30am   Breakfast in the Mammoth Hotel dining room 8:30am - 8:45am   Assemble in front of Mammoth Hotel for bus assignments 8:45am - 12:00pm   Tour of Yellowstone National Park historical sites via busses 12:00pm -1:00pm   Lunch on the shore of Yellowstone Lake 1:00pm - 5:00pm   Continue bus tour of Yellowstone National Park historical sites 6:00pm- 7:00pm   Reception and no host bar at the Mammoth complex recreation hall 7:00pm   Dinner and social at the Rec Hall with entertainment and door prizes SUNDAY, June 23 8:00am - 9:00am   Breakfast "on your own" in the Mammoth Hotel dining room Please contact us with your comments, suggestions or inquiries.

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