There are certain places that have a special meaning for each of us: places where we have discovered things about ourselves and our values , and that have shaped our interests, passions and, in some cases, to our future . For these five people, that place is the yellowstone national park . On the park's 150th anniversary, we've asked you to share what impact this natural wonder has had on your lives.
MICHAEL POLAND, CHIEF SCIENTIST AT THE YELLOWSTONE VOLCANIC OBSERVATORY
“A lot can be learned from Yellowstone in terms of geology . We are always discovering new things from the mineral deposits carried by the Hot water . We learn how the ground moves: groundwater tells us details about how earthquakes start, the fluctuations of the ground... There is much to investigate. Another aspect of Yellowstone that I particularly appreciate is be able to see its evolution . This constantly changing , and that's what makes it so fascinating, especially for volcanologists. The behavior of geysers changes over time; for example, fluctuations in its temperature affect its color. A few years ago we discovered certain hot springs that didn't exist in the 1990s or early 2000s: the ground heated up and killed the trees, and suddenly we went from a forest to a thermal area . That kind of dynamic nature is an endless source of emotion: I have the feeling that every time you go to the park you can see something different . Normally such changes can only be observed over the centuries; here, we can experience many of them in a few years. And, on the other hand, the past is the key to the future: those changes that have happened once will happen again” . Written by Jessica Puckett.
An exceptional location for wolf sightings in the Lamar Valley off the Beartooth Highway.
WES MARTEL, SENIOR WIND RIVER CONSERVATION PARTNER OF THE GREATER YELLOWSTONE COALITION AND MEMBER OF THE EASTERN SHOSHON TRIBE
“For our people, Yellowstone represents many things: it is our apothecary, our garden, our pantry and our chapel . There are many aspects that bind us to him. When our elders and ancestors farmed or hunted on that land, they always did so in a spirit of reciprocity: you take care of us and we take care of you. Sadly, that has been lost. This park would not exist if they had not expelled the native tribes from here. Think of all the areas and places of interest in the country that were important to us and how we have been excluded, expelled and denied any kind of right to claim it. Our tribes have historical connections to Yellowstone National Park – it is a very special place, a sacred place. Our investigations have shown that at least 49 tribes have some type of ancestral relationship with Yellowstone . For most of us, the park is not a reason to celebrate, because we were killed and forced out of here to create it. The only thing we have to celebrate, I think, is that we're still here, and this anniversary gives us the opportunity to prove it. Several months ago, we released 50 buffalo on our ranch in the Wind River . The federal government tried to eradicate the buffalo, which is one of our relatives, in an effort to eradicate us, and they almost succeeded. Seeing those buffalo galloping across our meadow was a wonderful feeling. I thought: ‘What joy it gives me to see you come back stronger than ever’” . Written by Megan Spurrell.
SARAH DAVIS, YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK CHIEF FOREST MANAGER
"In 1988, when I was 16, I went on a trip called the 'Teenage Western Camping Tour.' We were 30 16-year-olds and four adults, and we went from North Carolina to California and back, visiting as many national parks as we could in 23 days. I was able to see the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Zion, big sur Y Redwood . That's when I realized that I was passionate about our national parks . On that first trip to Yellowstone, I remember seeing a grizzly on the lake shore, but we were also there when that year's historic wildfires broke out. There was a lot of smoke and flames all over the shoulder of the road. I remember going home and watching the news, I saw the flames near the Old Faithful Inn Y I realized the great impact that the fire would have on the park . I have been lucky enough to travel a lot: I have been on safari to Africa many times, and each time is a spiritual experience. Seeing wildlife in their natural habitat (cheetahs, lions, leopards, and hyenas) is amazing. Yellowstone is, for me, something very similar . The springs, the geysers, the rivers, the animals; watch the bison migrate through the valleys, doing what they have done for thousands of years; to moose in heat; the wolves playing outside their den; Old Faithful spitting its jets of water and steam into the blue sky of a clear day… There is nothing like it. It is very significant to think about everything we have done to protect this area, and it makes me feel proud of our work” . Written by Meredith Carey.
The Great Prismatic Spring of Yellowstone National Park.
LISA MCGEE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WYOMING OUTDOOR COUNCIL
“My experiences at Yellowstone have changed me forever; I have spent many nights camping there, in awe of the scenery, beauty and wildlife. The park is full of different geological wonders : has the river basin Norris Geyser along the western part of the park, with muddy craters, boiling aquamarine hot springs and the Great Prismatic Fountain . There is a whole contingent of so-called geyser watchers , enthusiasts who visit the park just to see them. And there are also more accessible, but equally impressive parts, like Hayden Valley Y Lamar Valley ; people get up early to go there to see the Brown bears , the bison or the Wolves . For me, the real magic is in making camping either hiking in the depths of Yellowstone. The park is over two million hectares, so once you get a couple of kilometers off the road, you're cut off from civilization. But social networks have changed the way of living natural parks - People are now searching and promoting places that were previously local secrets, which is giving rise to illegal user-created trails, which in turn have an effect of erosion and impact on wildlife . The enthusiasm for these less touristy experiences has only grown, so we have to ask ourselves: What can we do as a society so that our love for nature does not end up destroying it?” . Written by Shannon McMahon.
MATTHEW GAGHEN, CEO, UNDER CANVAS INC.
“The park is closely linked to the history of my family and has had a huge impact on the decisions I have made throughout my life . My father grew up in the more rural area from the United States; he came west with the veterans law after the Korean War and became season ranger in Yellowstone. my mother grew up in Billing's , Montana, and she lived in a small cabin with her mother in Cooke City , which is about five miles from the park's northeast entrance, and they often drove to see wildlife. One day, my father was on duty at the northeast entrance to the park, checking people in and welcoming them. And that's how my parents met , at the northeast entrance, on that emblematic plot of land. Years went by and they got married, and my dad eventually moved to Billings and started teaching, but he kept doing seasonal forestry jobs in Yellowstone, so I spent my summers going back and forth from Billings to Cooke City . Over time he stopped being a ranger, but Yellowstone remained extremely important to the family . It was our refuge. We weren't rich, but I felt privileged because we could explore the park , with the fence of the Beartooth Mountains around it. Being able to experience true unspoiled nature is something very special and it had a great impact on me: has clearly shaped my life and my values, what matters to me and what I do . My business is based on two things, fundamentally: access to nature and do so in a way that respects and protects the environment” . Written by Betsy Blumenthal.
This article was published in the March 2022 international edition of Condé Nast Traveler.