Flooding in Yellowstone

[wesleycrusher]

Some of the videos and pictures are wild. I can't imagine it will be easy to rebuild all those roads and bridges in the park.

www.cnn.com/2022/06/14/us/yellowstone-national-park-closed-visitors-flooding-tuesday/index.html


The Yellowstone River gauge at Corwin Springs, Montana, reached 13.88 feet Monday afternoon, surpassing the historical high crest of 11.5 feet from 1918.

[gardengal]

It's totally devastating.

And as a person with upcoming travel to the Yellowstone area, I'm not sure what to do (our lodging is "safe"/fine/not near affected area & we could easily fill the few days with non-Yellowstone daytrips, but should we really be there?)

[TR]

We've been following this via posts from Red Lodge and the Rock Creek flooding. It's so so sad, people have lost homes in Red Lodge, businesses are underwater. The ILs' house is up on a bench, so well above any flood waters, but the south end of "downtown" Red Lodge is a mess. H's nephew is there for the summer with two friends and they were filling sandbags most of the day yesterday.

[TR]

This drone footage of Red Lodge is something else:

[underwaterrhymes]

We were supposed to be there right now, but when my surgery was rescheduled, we canceled our plans because I didn’t feel right about taking five weeks medical leave and then hopping out for another two weeks less than two months later. I’m so relieved we made that decision for a lot of reasons, but this got moved to the top of the list. I feel so bad for the people and animals who live there and everyone whose travel plans have been affected.

[secretagent]

We are supposed to go this summer and while I'm all in a tizzy about rescheduling, we could be stranded there now or have lost our entire livelihood, so I'm trying to keep it in perspective.

[Velar Fricative]

I'm not familiar with the landscape at all, but this looks devastating and I hope everyone in the area remains safe.

I personally would cancel or postpone a visit to Yellowstone if I had imminent travel to the area. I don't think we need to be adding people to the area when emergency workers are trying to rescue people already there.

[TR]

The Yellowstone Visitor FB page says this in a post (I can't figure out how to link the post):

If you have plans to visit YNP this summer, you are encouraged to rethink them and work with Xanterra and other lodging, activities, car rentals, etc to modify those.

www.facebook.com/YellowstoneNationalParkVisitor/

[dutchgirl678]

The people living in Gardiner, just outside the north entrance of the park are locked in. It looks so devastating! And it could take months for them to repair the roadways.

[TR]

Jun 14, 2022 13:02:36 GMT -5 gardengal said:

It's totally devastating.

And as a person with upcoming travel to the Yellowstone area, I'm not sure what to do (our lodging is "safe"/fine/not near affected area & we could easily fill the few days with non-Yellowstone daytrips, but should we really be there?)

I would say it depends on where you're staying. In the park? In an entrance town that's currently experiencing flooding? Completely outside of the park where you wouldn't be drawing any resources from people who need them?

[gardengal]

Jun 14, 2022 16:28:17 GMT -5 TR said:

Jun 14, 2022 13:02:36 GMT -5 gardengal said:

It's totally devastating.

And as a person with upcoming travel to the Yellowstone area, I'm not sure what to do (our lodging is "safe"/fine/not near affected area & we could easily fill the few days with non-Yellowstone daytrips, but should we really be there?)

I would say it depends on where you're staying. In the park? In an entrance town that's currently experiencing flooding? Completely outside of the park where you wouldn't be drawing any resources from people who need them?

In West Yellowstone. Not in park, not in affected area (that I’ve heard)

[TR]

Jun 14, 2022 17:07:28 GMT -5 gardengal said:

Jun 14, 2022 16:28:17 GMT -5 TR said:

I would say it depends on where you're staying. In the park? In an entrance town that's currently experiencing flooding? Completely outside of the park where you wouldn't be drawing any resources from people who need them?

In West Yellowstone. Not in park, not in affected area (that I’ve heard)

I think you’d be fine staying there and doing non-park activities if that’s still something you want to do. That’s pretty far from the affected areas.

[rubytue]

Jun 14, 2022 13:02:36 GMT -5 gardengal said:

It's totally devastating.

And as a person with upcoming travel to the Yellowstone area, I'm not sure what to do (our lodging is "safe"/fine/not near affected area & we could easily fill the few days with non-Yellowstone daytrips, but should we really be there?)

I’m here with you. My trip is 35 days away, so 5 days left to cancel. That said, if they cancel it, you get the ability to book next year a month before the general public. I know this because this is the 4th year in a row we have tried to make this trip, and 2 of those were booked with priority. 😫 (we have all park reservations. Mostly middle and south section)

[gardengal]

Jun 14, 2022 18:11:00 GMT -5 rubytue said:

Jun 14, 2022 13:02:36 GMT -5 gardengal said:

It's totally devastating.

And as a person with upcoming travel to the Yellowstone area, I'm not sure what to do (our lodging is "safe"/fine/not near affected area & we could easily fill the few days with non-Yellowstone daytrips, but should we really be there?)

I’m here with you. My trip is 35 days away, so 5 days left to cancel. That said, if they cancel it, you get the ability to book next year a month before the general public. I know this because this is the 4th year in a row we have tried to make this trip, and 2 of those were booked with priority. 😫 (we have all park reservations. Mostly middle and south section)

Oh man. That puts my disappointment into perspective.

Are you on the Yellowstone, Glacier, & Montana FB page? (I think that’s the name?). Lots of good info. It sounds like only southern loop will be open this year & they will do reservation system. Someone shared the email they got as park employee

I think we will add a day to our Grand Teton portion & then keep our West Yellowstone reservation & do day trips west of there. And try again in a few years?

[redheadk]

We have been looking into a Yellowstone trip for next summer but we will likely put it off now since demand will be so high.

I really feel for the people who live there whose lives have been turned upside down. My town has flooded several times, once was a major flood where many of our friends lost their homes, and it is devastating to live through.

[rubytue]

gardengal , the joke going around is that the universe is trying to tell me something. 🤣 I just confirmed with my dog sitter last week, and I saw her today and 😫

Just to vent… it started in March 2019. We started planning the trip, and then March 17: I had a stroke. Spent two days in icu and left with my cancer diagnosis. So, we decided to go in 2020. Covid. Then booked for 2021, but accidentally booked one reservation with a shared bathroom (camping cabin thing). And they shut down shared bathrooms. We possibly could have made it work, as it was just 2 days of the trip. But then, H was stressing me with “where should we go for those night” and the thought of missing two weeks of work at that time was really stressing me. So, we grabbed the mulligan opportunity, and booked for this summer.

edit to add - I really do feel for all he folks that live there, the people that had to be evacuated. And just 😭 at the devastating photos coming out. I don’t mean to sound like it’s all about my trip. But… see above. 

also, I have a good friend who is working as a chef there this summer. She’s been keeping me up to date with what she hears. 

[TR]

Jun 14, 2022 18:11:00 GMT -5 rubytue said:

Jun 14, 2022 13:02:36 GMT -5 gardengal said:

It's totally devastating.

And as a person with upcoming travel to the Yellowstone area, I'm not sure what to do (our lodging is "safe"/fine/not near affected area & we could easily fill the few days with non-Yellowstone daytrips, but should we really be there?)

I’m here with you. My trip is 35 days away, so 5 days left to cancel. That said, if they cancel it, you get the ability to book next year a month before the general public. I know this because this is the 4th year in a row we have tried to make this trip, and 2 of those were booked with priority. 😫 (we have all park reservations. Mostly middle and south section)

The middle & south sections may be reopen by then. The Northern Loop will be closed for the summer:

billingsgazette.com/news/local/northern-yellowstone-blocked-for-season/article_6a32faa4-ec39-11ec-b4b7-c3177a80f026.html

[rubytue]

Jun 14, 2022 20:05:45 GMT -5 TR said:

Jun 14, 2022 18:11:00 GMT -5 rubytue said:

I’m here with you. My trip is 35 days away, so 5 days left to cancel. That said, if they cancel it, you get the ability to book next year a month before the general public. I know this because this is the 4th year in a row we have tried to make this trip, and 2 of those were booked with priority. 😫 (we have all park reservations. Mostly middle and south section)

The middle & south sections may be reopen by then. The Northern Loop will be closed for the summer:

billingsgazette.com/news/local/northern-yellowstone-blocked-for-season/article_6a32faa4-ec39-11ec-b4b7-c3177a80f026.html

Yeah. I’m watching the press conference now. 12 hours ago, I thought this was mostly the Red Lodge side, but I’m now learning all the footage I’ve seen has been the mammoth side. Annoyingly, it’s that northern loop that we want to see the most. Like, H and I have 2 hours into thinking about it, but it take out 50% of the trip, but like 80% of our goals. And after waiting this long, should we take the compromise trip? It’ll be cool, I know. But, I’ve spent 4 years building this up in my head. *sigh* 

But, as this guy on the conference just said, we are 36 hours into this. So… it not like tonight makes all my decisions.

[RoxMonster]

It's so devastating. We went in 2019 and it's one of the most beautiful places I've been. I feel for all the residents whose houses/businesses etc were lost or greatly damaged and impacted. I feel for all the park employees displaced. I feel for visitors who were evacuated and stranded and also for those with upcoming trips. I know it would be heartbreaking to cancel a long-awaited trip. I get so excited for my vacations.

It sounds like there are still five backcountry groups stranded that need to be rescued by air (as of yesterday - maybe that has been accomplished by now). I read on the Wyoming Trip Advisor forum and some travelers said they were out sightseeing when the evacuation began Monday and were told they couldn't return to their in-park lodging, so they have none of their belongings with them - just whatever was in their car at the time and no indication of when they can get them. One woman said they may go home without their stuff and fly back later to retrieve it. Ugh. I know there was also a campground outside the park where campers had to even abandon vehicles and RVs and get taken out by SAR raft.

[rubytue]

So, I’m 80% on canceling my July trip. Yesterday morning, I’d heard things like “flooding” and “park is closed.” But, I really didn’t grasp just how bad it was yet.

And I realize that my inconvenience and disappointment is nothing compared to everyone out there right now. But there are so many things that go into it. The dog sitter being a big one. Ugh I need some more dog sitting option for my little brat. We canceled our Christmas vacation bc a dog sitter canceled at the last minute.

Anyway, when H made this summers reservations last year, he actually made two sets so we could decided between late July and early September. We settled on july op this winter, and he was supposed to cancel the September. Turns out, he didn’t. So, I’m juggling around to see if I can get the time off in September, and if we have a dog sitter availability. And then, should I pivot july (I’m already off work) to something else. If so, what is fun, easy to plan, a reasonable cost, and we want to do (like, no east coast beaches). It’s a pain. A small pain the the grand scheme of thing.

I gotta say though, I always have such angst traveling to places in turmoil because of the locals. Even when they say to come support them rebuilding, it’s feels so much like I’m a burden. And go to enjoy myself when they are not in a good place feels so icky. 

[gardengal]

Jun 15, 2022 8:41:38 GMT -5 rubytue said:

So, I’m 80% on canceling my July trip. Yesterday morning, I’d heard things like “flooding” and “park is closed.” But, I really didn’t grasp just how bad it was yet.

And I realize that my inconvenience and disappointment is nothing compared to everyone out there right now. But there are so many things that go into it. The dog sitter being a big one. Ugh I need some more dog sitting option for my little brat. We canceled our Christmas vacation bc a dog sitter canceled at the last minute.

Anyway, when H made this summers reservations last year, he actually made two sets so we could decided between late July and early September. We settled on july op this winter, and he was supposed to cancel the September. Turns out, he didn’t. So, I’m juggling around to see if I can get the time off in September, and if we have a dog sitter availability. And then, should I pivot july (I’m already off work) to something else. If so, what is fun, easy to plan, a reasonable cost, and we want to do (like, no east coast beaches). It’s a pain. A small pain the the grand scheme of thing.

I gotta say though, I always have such angst traveling to places in turmoil because of the locals. Even when they say to come support them rebuilding, it’s feels so much like I’m a burden. And go to enjoy myself when they are not in a good place feels so icky. 

I'd keep your Sept & do something in July.

Since y'all seem outdoors-y, if you haven't been to Davis, WV/Canaan Valley/Dolly Sods, I'd highly recommend. You should be able to easily get a rental & I think you're in MD so it also would be easy to drive. And, depending on rental situation, you could bring your dog. Dolly Sods is really, really gorgeous. Due to elevation, the ecosystem is more like Maine than mid-Atlantic. There's also a scenic train (we haven't done yet but looks lovely) and mountain biking, hiking, and probably nearby water-y things.

Another localish, easy to plan/wing it, would be Ohiopyle/Laurel highlands in PA. We went just for a weekend in January one year & it truly is a hidden gem. Really lovely hiking.

[rubytue]

gardengal, thanks 😁 We’ve actually done both those. Tempting though. I’m tossing around some options. But ugh, my dog sitter is not available in September. Sorry to turn this thread into selfish whining.

[TR]

rubytue - I know how disappointing it is, but I wouldn't go in July unless you plan to visit Yellowstone again in the future. Even if the southern loop re-opens, they may implement a timed entry reservation system OR it will be so, so, so crowded, even more than the usual summer traffic jams since everyone will be limited to only part of the park. Also, the northern part is generally where the best wildlife spotting happens so if you'd be really sad to miss that, I'd look at next year.

[rubytue]

TR , yeah, july is out. Both for the disappointment and also not wanting to add a couple more people to the stress of what is left. I’m just waiting for H to get his ass out of bed and discuss the replacement trip I found that I having amazingly quickly pivoted to.

Edit: my office networks/VPN are completely down (something about the provider). This has been extremely handy as I replan today. 😂

[RoxMonster]

Jun 15, 2022 8:41:38 GMT -5 rubytue said:

So, I’m 80% on canceling my July trip. Yesterday morning, I’d heard things like “flooding” and “park is closed.” But, I really didn’t grasp just how bad it was yet.

And I realize that my inconvenience and disappointment is nothing compared to everyone out there right now. But there are so many things that go into it. The dog sitter being a big one. Ugh I need some more dog sitting option for my little brat. We canceled our Christmas vacation bc a dog sitter canceled at the last minute.

Anyway, when H made this summers reservations last year, he actually made two sets so we could decided between late July and early September. We settled on july op this winter, and he was supposed to cancel the September. Turns out, he didn’t. So, I’m juggling around to see if I can get the time off in September, and if we have a dog sitter availability. And then, should I pivot july (I’m already off work) to something else. If so, what is fun, easy to plan, a reasonable cost, and we want to do (like, no east coast beaches). It’s a pain. A small pain the the grand scheme of thing.

I gotta say though, I always have such angst traveling to places in turmoil because of the locals. Even when they say to come support them rebuilding, it’s feels so much like I’m a burden. And go to enjoy myself when they are not in a good place feels so icky. 

Such a huge disappointment. I’m sorry your trip plans are getting ruined again. Ugh.

I don’t know if I would go in Sept either unless you were ok not visiting the northern loop at all. The park superintendent’s message yesterday said Mammoth and Roosevelt areas are likely closed for the season. I guess there is always that small chance so I can understand keeping the reservations for now. But I might consider a back-up for that too. I don’t know that they’d have those roads rebuilt by then. Or you could go and enjoy the south loop and the Tetons and maybe some other nearby areas (like Big Sky or Craters of the Moon etc).

[rubytue]

RoxMonster, oh, I don’t think the north end will be open. I suspect it’ll be next year at the earliest. But, keeping that reservation floating out there right now is a compromise to convince my H that this is the right thing to do. He just tried to argue with me that we don’t know enough and july is still 5 weeks out. So, if it makes him feel better to have this is his pocket until more is certain, I’ll go with it.

[wildrice]

Jun 15, 2022 10:15:43 GMT -5 rubytue said:

gardengal , thanks 😁 We’ve actually done both those. Tempting though. I’m tossing around some options. But ugh, my dog sitter is not available in September. Sorry to turn this thread into selfish whining.

I have a good friend who dog sits, if you'd like a recommendation. She's a ridiculously good sitter - like, she won't make social plans on weekends when she's dog sitting because she wants to be there with the dogs. I think she's nuts for that, but I'd also hire her in a heartbeat given that

[rubytue]

Since I took over this with me minor problems, given the scale of devastation. I just want to share that we have pivoted. I found something else in the same time period that is similar-ish in a “see things” but requires little research and planning. And the best part, we will be in the town of a friend I haven’t seen in 20 years!! And I was chatting with him today and OMG, I am so excited to see him. I have made lemon aid. I only hope similar happy stories for everyone else dealing with frustrations.

And, my friend who is working at Grant Village this summer is fine and in good spirits.

edit, chatted with my friend, and good spirits is an overstatement. She says things are getting really sketchy with little information provided. She has decided to come home. She said they were moving 3 people into her dorm room, which was a single. And, from what I am seeing on Reddit, it’s likely Xanterra will be laying off a ton of folks. So she is getting out while she can. A bit of “fuck it, I’m 40 something and this is a young gals game” kind of stuff. But, she is fine, and looking forward to getting home to her wife, even if it is bailing on what would have been a dream summer. 

[rubytue]

Good article with photo mountainjournal.org/floods-destroy-yellowstone-tourist-season-in-northern-half-of-famed-national-park

[midwestmama]

It makes me so sad. We were visiting Yellowstone just about this time last year, and we stayed two nights in Gardiner, MT. It was probably one of our favorite trips/experiences as a family thus far. I'm sad to see all the devastation and how scary for the visitors who were there when it happened and scary/sad for the residents that have to deal with the aftermath.