Brings back memories


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Posted by Ballpark Frank (69.178.8.75) on 19:54:41 09/12/16

In Reply to: Got him! posted by Beej

Beej,

I'll never forget the year that I worked the information desk at Albright in the fall. I got a real education on the mayhem that occurs when you put visitors from mild climates in the U.S. and overseas, narrow, twisting roads, and an early season snowstorm in a blender and mix them up. The rental car companies don't put winter tires on their cars at that time of year, so whenever we had a few inches of snow on the road between Swan Lake Flats and Norris, mayhem ensued. I heard some great stories from folks who were driving rental cars or witnessed some rental car craziness. In one memorable instance, someone drove off a curve and traveled several hundred feet before stopping.

I also learned that road restrictions and closures at that time of year are not always updated quickly. We had a map just outside the front door of Albright that was designed to provide info to visitors 7x24. We had little stickers that we would mount on specific sections of the Grand Loop Road and the entrance roads to reflect the current status. There were many times when we showed a road closed, and I drove it, only to find dry pavement. There were other times when the opposite was true. I learned to be skeptical of that information source.

I'm convinced that whoever has the say over the fire lookouts is going to try and keep that person on Mt. Washburn until the Buffalo Fire and Central Fire are pretty much out of business. I would love to know if he or she has a vehicle up there, or if some NPS person will retrieve him or her when the time comes to exit.

Ballpark



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