A couple of points

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Posted by Bison (24.209.189.167) on 12:39:57 09/02/12

In Reply to: Well, if it's truly "closed," I would think that means everyone posted by Rick

I'm not speaking for Roadie, but her and I and a number of other Loons have had discussions on the topic of backcountry access. It is tough because it is a fine line between protection of a resource and just being a Yellowstone snob.

There seems to be some confusion about this, the thermal area in question is not closed. I believe what Roadie was pointing out is that the area up White Creek; which is a completely different thermal area,has been closed. It is a widely held belief that it was closed because it became too popular. Lots and lots of people that were inexperienced with hiking in backcountry thermal areas were visiting it. There is no boardwalk to that area and although most people on this chat page probably know thermal ground can be very thin and dangerous, not many first time visitors are that saavy. In addition we all know how much crab gets thrown into thermal pools when there are people around - imagine the damage to a backcountry thermal when no one is around to witness idiot behavior. There is a widely held belief that it became "popular" due to some guidebooks that pointed it out and led visitors directly to the thermal area. At what would seem like the height of its popularity it was closed by the park. I believe that Roadie is making the point that if this backcountry area is made public in a place like this chat page like White Creek was it will eventually be made off limits too.

No one is saying that people shouldn't go there, nor that you shouldn't share directions to it. In fact Roadie just recommended that they take it to email rather than the public chat page. Heck, I wouldn't have ever been there if someone hadn't shown me the way.

There is a general fear, maybe paranoia, amongst hikers and geyser gazers that the current administration or at least the geological department at the park prefers to close or at least is quick to close areas to the public, especially thermal areas.

Lastly, I'm in agreement with Olaus Murie who in his famous report talked about not handing the visitor his entertainment on a plate but make them work for it. (That is a paraphrase). Study the geyser books, check topo maps, and google earth and go find the backcountry stuff you want to see. That's better than having someone pointing you to some thermal pool.

Or maybe I'm just being a snob.

Follow Ups:

• Good clarification - Rick 13:45:39 09/02/12 (6)
  • totally different areas - Hoot 13:53:16 09/02/12 (5)
    • Um, okay - Rick 13:58:05 09/02/12 (4)
      • The way I understood it... - Rob 14:02:36 09/02/12 (3)
        • correct - Hoot 14:08:29 09/02/12 (1)
          • Ah - Rick 14:11:00 09/02/12 (0)
        • Correct. At least that was my point. .....nm - Bison 14:06:49 09/02/12 (0)
• Using the White Creek area as a "case study" (Part 1) - Ballpark Frank 13:12:10 09/02/12 (9)
  • Using the White Creek area as a "case study" (Part 2) - Ballpark Frank 13:43:47 09/02/12 (0)
  • Using the White Creek area as a "case study" (Part 2) - Ballpark Frank 13:43:32 09/02/12 (7)
    • Message Added: Using the White Creek area as a "case study" (Part 3-Concluded)) - Ballpark Frank 14:01:02 09/02/12 (6)
      • Well said! - Rob (Hiker) 10:37:30 10/02/12 (0)
      • Good Stuff, Ballpark - Charles 09:27:58 09/04/12 (0)
      • My thoughts exactly - Kent 06:41:07 09/03/12 (0)
      • Another example - katjh 06:04:42 09/03/12 (0)
      • $64,000 question - Hoot 14:51:31 09/02/12 (1)
        • Agreed - katjh 05:52:36 09/03/12 (0)

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