Staff Suggestions to Help You Spring into Greater Yellowstone | March 2024
It’s officially spring – whether it looks like it or not outside is another matter. Here in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, spring means hearing the prehistoric calls of sandhill cranes, absorbing an extra hour of sunlight, and checking the expiration date on our bear spray. It’s a season to enjoy the quiet before the bustle of summer.
What are some of the ways you enjoy spring? In this staff picks blog, we’re excited to share with you some of our staff’s favorite things to listen to, read, see, and explore in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Some of these recommendations will help you enjoy the quiet while others will have you planning for summer.
Artist: Sarah Angst
Sally Schrank, Montana Conservation Coordinator (Bozeman, Montana)
Sarah’s Angst’s piece “Naptime” Black Bear. (Photo Sarah Angst)
“Bozeman Artist Sarah Angst has a whimsical eye for the creatures, plant life, and people of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Her art inspires me to write notes to my friends, hang pictures on my wall, and think about the colors, shapes, and joy that surround me. Her style is unmistakable and can be seen in local shops in Montana.”
Trail: Off-Trail Wanders and Yellowstone Walks
Jared Baecker, Wyoming Conservation Coordinator (Jackson, Wyoming)
Jared among the wildflowers somewhere in Wyoming. (Photo Jared Baecker)
“The best trails are the places where there are no trails. It doesn't have to be far from a road, but for me wandering in wildflowers with my binoculars and free-roaming dogs or pushing through unbroken snow on cross-country skis is where I want to be.
A few designated trails I enjoy are in Yellowstone National Park. An early summer day hike on Specimen Ridge overlooking the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Slough Creek, and the Lamar Valley are pretty special. Around Jackson, Wyoming, an autumn walk through the aspen forests of Munger Mountain settles my soul.”
Book: The Wolverine Way by Doug Chadwick
Craig Benjamin, Director of Conservation (Jackson, Wyoming)
“Wolverines were already my favorite animal before I read The Wolverine Way. They’re ferocious, fearless, surprisingly fun, and completely misunderstood. The Wolverine Way dives into the natural history, daily lives, and potential future of this enigmatic species and provides a good metaphor for the difficulties of thriving in a challenging environment like the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.”
Place: Baptiste Lake, Wind River Range
Matt Cuzzocreo, Senior Wildlife Conservation Associate (Lander, Wyoming)
Baptiste Lake and Mount Hooker. (Photo Matt Cuzzocreo)
“Accessible from either the Big Sandy or Moccasin Lake trailheads, reaching Baptiste Lake requires a significant walk from either direction. Situated at 10,833 feet within an enormous cirque surrounded by Musembeah Peak and Mount Lander, the view to the south is utterly dominated by the sheer, 1,800 vertical-foot north face of Mount Hooker – one of the tallest and most remote alpine walls in the lower 48 states. The views are spectacular, the fishing can be action-packed, and the campsites in the wildflower-laden meadows below the lake are protected and plentiful. For me, there’s no better place for a long weekend.”
Podcast: Mountain & Prairie
Erin Steva, Montana Conservation Associate (Bozeman, Montana)
Ed Roberson talks with David James Duncan at the Old Salt Festival. (Photo Erin Steva)
“This podcast is all about the American West and the folks who are doing inspired work within it. It’s “informal, yet substantive” and conservationist and podcast host, Ed Roberson, asks the most thoughtful questions of his guests. I was lucky enough to have a front row seat to a live episode Ed recorded with Montana author, David James Duncan, at the Old Salt Festival the summer of 2023. Each and every episode asks me to rethink things from a different perspective, which is an especially crucial skill in the world of conservation work.”
