American Northwest National Parks:

Glacier-Yellowstone-Grand Teton

Shang-Da Yang

Feb. 14, 2004

This project is sponsored by Shelley Chang-Chien

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Outline

Focus: what can you expect (instead of practical logistics).

Geographical introduction. Waterton-Glacier NP. Yellowstone NP. Grand Teton NP.

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Where are they?

Waterton-Glacier

1400 milesYellowstone

Grand Teton

Lafayette

1200 miles

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My own routes (June 2003)

15 days (WG:2 days, Y: 4 days, GT: 2 days);3000-miles driving

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Waterton (Canada, 1895), Glacier (US, 1910); dedicated as World Heritage Site (1995).

Rocky Mountain’s narrowest width (35 miles); convergence of ecosystems and watersheds.

Geographic views: cedar/hemlock forest, prairies, glaciers (overlook), lakes, sudden mountain-to-plains transitions.

Activities: sight seeing, camping, trail hiking, boating.

Waterton-Glacier NP (introduction)

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Waterton-Glacier NP (overview)

LakeMcDonald

St. Mary Lake

Going-to-the-sun Road

Avalanche Lake

MG Hotel

Camping

Boat

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Camping by Lake McDonald

Campground covered by a layer of “needles” Creek flowing beside Excellent lake-mountain view

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Trail of Avalanche Lake

2-miles trail, climbing 500 ft. Sudden witness the fantastic view Ice flow from the surrounding mountains Clear lake water

(Photo by Doug Wilson)

(Photo by John Latta)

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Logan Pass

Terrains created by fault and glacier erosion Wildlife: mountain goats across the road

(Photo from NP’s website)

(Photo from terragalleria.com)

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Many Glacier Hotel

Swiss chalet style, built in 1914 By Swiftcurrent Lake, boating

(Photo from manyglacierhotel.com)

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The world’s 1st national park, founded in 1872 by President Ulysses Grant. World Heritage Site.

Caldera left by a series of volcanic eruptions (~600K years interval).

Geographic views: geyser basins, hot springs, lodge pine forest (recover from 1988 fire), water falls, grand canyon, river valleys, lakes…

Wildlife: bison, grizzly bear, black bear, wolf, coyote, pronghorn, elk, moose, pelican, cutthroat trout…

Yellowstone NP (introduction)

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Yellowstone NP (overview)

Lower FallsGibbonMeadow

Old FaithfulGeyser

Hot Springs& NP HQ, museum

Lamar Valley

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Old Faithful Geyser

Eruption interval: 40-120 min. (avg 90 min. lengthening) Eruption last 1.5-5 min, height 30-55 M “Steamboat” is higher (100 M), but less regular.

(Photo from shebbyleetours.com)

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Gibbon Meadow

Herds of elk, bison (dusk, number in tens). Bison weight 2K lb, 6 ft tall, surprising fast.

(Photo by Steve Ricketts)

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Mammoth Hot Springs

Water ascends through ancient limestone (not silica-rich lava), fading.

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Lamar Valley

Bison recovery program (50 in 1902, 3500 in 1996). Other wildlife abounds in (wolf, coyote, waterfowl). Wonderful sight

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Lower Falls and Grand Canyon

1000 ft high, carved by ancient glacier Landmark, famous by Moran’s painting

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A Glance of Grand Teton

not far south away from Yellowstone Mountain ridges, by a great Jackson lake formed by fault-Glacier

(Photo from thechicagofiles.com)(Photo from winona.msus.edu)

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Teton? How do you think?

poor French trapper….

(Photo by Mike Levin)

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What I saw

Episcopal Chapel Church (talent architect) Jenny Lake overlook (awesome view)

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Go go go….