Yellowstone Country Guardians Field Journal

River Guardian Fly Fishing School 2011: Giving Back

After escaping an oncoming thunderstorm on day two, we awoke to clear skies and warm temperatures on Wednesday morning.  One of the most fulfilling components of running a program like the River Guardian Fly Fishing School is observing the progress that is made each and every day and this morning brought tremendous growth in regards to fly casting and line management.  Following our morning casting session we journeyed back to the classroom where we watched a short but powerful video titled Against The Current about the importance of water in the arid west.  This film really touches home for each participant as the entire piece takes place in the Paradise Valley which we commute through each morning and afternoon as we shuttle our Livingston students to Gardiner and back each day.  The visceral discussion that followed clearly demonstrated the thoughtful progress that is being made by the 2011 class of river guardians.

Next we journeyed back to the Joe Brown Fishing Access Site which has become our project sight for our Giving Back day of the River Guardian Fly Fishing School.  As with our Yellowstone Leadership Challenge, we feel strongly that service learning or community service projects are essential to inspiring a commitment from these young and excited Yellowstone country guardians.  For this year’s service project we returned to Joe Brown with our friend Matt Wilhelm from the Center for Aquatic Nuisance Species to learn about the threat that aquatic invasive species pose to the watersheds that represent the lifeblood of the Yellowstone region.  Working in collaboration with the Gardiner District Forest Service office, Matt shared an engaging presentation about one of the most potent invasive species in our region, Spotted Knapweed.  One adult Spotted Knapweed can produce upwards of 80,000-100,000 seeds per year with a germination rate of approximately 95%. 

Perhaps because of the wet spring and early summer, there was a profusion of knapweed around one of the most critical fishing access sites on the Yellowstone River.  While we were concerned there wouldn’t be enough work to keep us busy after our successful project during the 2010 River G program, it was quite the contrary.  Matt theorized that we were witnessing the rosettes that we weren’t able to tackle the year before.  Regardless the reason, the aggressive knapweed was certainly attempting to gain a stronghold and if left uncheck, it would only be a matter of a few years before this potent invasive would begin outcompeting the important native riparian vegetation. 

This year’s project was a huge success as we filled between 16-20 thirty gallon trash bags with Spotted Knapweed. The kids were jacked as were the YCG volunteers, Matt and our friends from the Gardiner District Forest Service.  One of the reasons this site is so critical is because it is the upper most access site with a Spotted Knapweed problem and rests above the legendary Yankee Jim Canyon.  When the seeds are dispersed they travel downstream and continue to germinate, thus by tackling the problem upstream we are mitigating future downstream outbreaks. 

We were then joined by our volunteer guides for day three, Burke Holms and Jeff Musselman.  Burke is one of the hot up and coming guides from the region who volunteered two days for the 2010 River G program and Jeff has become an important friend to YCG and journeyed down from Bozeman and quickly become a favorite of the kids.  We couldn’t be more grateful for the efforts of these important volunteers.  Venturing back to the Indian Creek area, we separated the groups and worked a few small tribs to the Gardner River and celebrated another banner August day in Yellowstone National Park. 

~Michael Leach, Director and Founder

Two happy young ladies getting it done with two full bags of spotted knapweed.

Nick with a spotted knapweed bouquet. 

2011 River Guardian's "Giving Back" at our River G service project in collaboration with the Gardiner District Forest Service and Center for Aquatic Nuisance Species.

Much love and happy times.

Big Jay artfully casting a long line. 

A happy Devon after catching a beautiful brook trout.

YCG volunteer Jeff Musselman teaching a river guardian.

Bubba is a happy guardian after landing another little brook trout on a dry.

YCG Director Michael Leach with River G rockstar Olivia prepping to fish a secret stream.

River Guardian Fly Fishing School 2011: Day Two Getting Involved...

Getting started under the monarch of Electric Peak.

Bright blue skies a slight breeze and warm temps welcomed us as we started day two of the River Guardian Fly Fishing School this morning.  After a day full of river stewardship and watershed ecology, we dove head first into our morning casting sessions early this morning as the morning sunshine radiated off the summit of Electric Peak.  We were joined today by two of our mentors/counselors who will be with us for the rest of the week, Ashley Sherburne, a grad student at the University of Montana and YCG intern who has been working feverishly on a new YCG curriculum and evaluation and John Dolinsek, a longtime friend of YCG and one of our great supporters and contributors to the 2011 River G program.  We couldn’t be more enthused to have John and Ashley’s expertise and passion for Yellowstone Country as we work to inspire our aspiring river guardians.

After a spirited casting session we journeyed to the classroom where we engaged the students in a lively discussion about the mountain whitefish and the importance of this native species to the Yellowstone watershed.  Often maligned for their fishier smell, pea shaped mouth and lack of brilliant colors, far too often across the region and in the fly fishing culture, the mountain whitefish is not only disrespected but wantonly wasted as many anglers will give them the customary Montana handshake which is a squeezing of their belly or worse yet, bank release them to slowly suffocate.  This session dispelled the myths about the mountain whitefish as we revisited our required reading, “Respect for the Senior Blanco,” a piece I recently had published in the summer issue of Outside Bozeman. 

Following this dynamic conversation and a re-visit of the River G Core Values, we welcomed guest speaker and former president of the Joe Brooks Chapter of Trout Unlimited for a presentation on the threats to the Yellowstone River.  This included oil and gas development, setbacks, rip rap and aquatic invasive species. 

Next we welcomed a special friend of YCG, Ranger Keith Young, a Yellowstone National Park Law Enforcement Ranger who gave a riveting presentation about resource management in Yellowstone, passionately sharing stories of fish poachers who he has busted over the years.  This led us to the afternoon session where we were joined by ranger Keith and YCG volunteer Tyrene Riedl for our first river time of this year’s program.

With high water making the Yellowstone River unfishable, we were forced to adapt and instead purchased fishing licenses for the student participants and journey into Yellowstone National Park and the beautiful waters of the Gardner River.  The afternoon was a great success as each participant walked away from our time in the “Hole” with big smiles and a pep in their step. 

~Michael Leach, Director and Founder

YCG supporter and mentor John Dolinsek lending a helping hand.

YCG director and founder Michael Leach helping Mizz Taylor get started.

Tight lines...

Ranger Keith Young speaking about Yellowstone fishery issues.

Heading into the "Hole" in YNP.

River Guardian Fly Fishing School 2011: Day One Get Inspired...

 
The 2011 River Guardian Fly Fishing Crew!

Day one of the 2011 River Guardian Fly Fishing School kicked off today as we welcomed 17 teenagers from Gardiner, Emigrant, Livingston, Mammoth Hot Springs and Belgrade.  This year we are excited to also welcome two impressive young students hailing from the east coast and the bustling metro areas of Washington D.C. and the outskirts of Baltimore.  While it looks like we are going to face our fair share of challenges with high water making wade fishing the Yellowstone River a long-shot and inclement weather on forecast, we couldn’t be more enthused about this year’s cast of River Guardians.

After a full morning of leadership exercises and watershed education ranging from the importance of water in the arid west, to the hydrologic cycle, river ecology, riparian habitat and the significance of the Yellowstone watershed, we began to explore the knots that will be vital to these aspiring fly fishermen and women.  We have a wide range of ages, backgrounds and personalities all coalescing to create a diverse and lively river guardian crew who are already beginning to demonstrate their potential as guardians of the Yellowstone’s lifeblood, its water.

After building a solid foundation for what it means to be a river guardian, we executed another memorable Christmas in August as we passed out thousands of dollars worth of gear that has been generously provided to this year’s program through donations and sponsors.  It is a sight I wish all River G contributors and sponsors could experience as each participants is geared out from head to toe with all of the modern swag and gear that will allow each angler to flourish in our five day program and to begin their own fly fishing odyssey.

Next we journeyed down to the historic Parks’ Fly Shop for a presentation from owner Richard Parks about the fly fishing industry and a discussion reiterating the importance of ethical angling and becoming a river guardian.

Last, we ended the day the way we will begin each of the four remanding days of the program by heading out on the succulent green grass of the Gardiner School football field for an introduction to fly casting. Let the journey begin….

~Michael Leach, Director and Founder

 

Building leadership and teamwork skills through a team-buidling exercise.

Thank you Anglers West who really hooked us up this year. AW who wanted to up their support to the Yellowstone level provided over $1,400 in gear for this year's program.

Big D all jacked up after the Christmas in August extravaganza where students receive loads of gear including the Simms river shoes pictured, the new River G t-shirt which is Off The Hook and tons of other gear including hats, tools, bugs, boxes, stainless steel waterbottles.

 

Music In The Park: 2011 Arch Park Fundraiser A Big Success...

Dead Winter Carpenters with YCG Director and Founder Michael Leach, gearing up for a big night in G-town. 7/29/11

Under the big blue Montana sky, we are excitedly in the midst of our 2011 River Guardian Fly Fishing School, a week-long program where 21 teenagers from Park County will uncover the enigmatic water-world that is the lifeblood of the Yellowstone region.  With dozens of volunteers and our amazing network of sponsors and supporters, we are thrilled to provide this transformational opportunity to the youth of the region.  We are still riding a high after the incredible energy and upbeat atmosphere that filled Arch Park at our fundraising concert last Friday night.       

Yellowstone Country Guardians (YCG) wishes to thank the Gardiner and Livingston communities for the tremendous outpouring of support at our fundraising concert the evening of July 29^th, in memory of Karl Jacobik. A very special thank you goes out to Anna Holloway for helping to make this wonderful evening possible. Our sincerest gratitude and much love to Montana Whitewater and the Tumbleweed for being our major sponsors. The musicians from Dead Winter Carpenters were "inspired to be Guardians" and provided a night of positive vibes and wonderful entertainment. We also wish to thank Scott Demaree from the North Entrance Food Farm, Wade and Paula Laubach from the Sinclair TNT, and both Albertson's and Town and Country in Livingston for their generous support. Last, and certainly not least, a big shout out and special thank you to our tireless troops for their hard work over the course of the night which included: Crystal Leach, Heather Laubach, Mitchell Cloghessy, Maria “Full of Grace” Beers, Stacy Vallie, Gilaine Spoto, Mark from Montana Whitewater, Randy Ingersoll, and YCG board member Ashea Mills.

~Michael Leach, YCG Director and Founder

A happy Coach Leach with the G-town basketball crew.  Coach Leach, former and current players, Gardiner School Principal (The Man, Tom Gauthier) and Gardiner School math teacher and YCG supporter Mr. Coop.

Dead Winter Carpenters lead singer Jesse Dunn sporting the new YCG regalia.

YCG volunteer Big Mitch reppin' and holding down the fort at Arch Park.

 
Straight out of the mountains of Northern Cali and the shores of Lake Tahoe, all of the Dead Winter Carpenters showed YCG much love by sporting the new YCG swag.

YCG's most dedicated volunteers Crystal and Heather (neither of whom have missed one YCG program or fundraiser) keeping the YCG supporters happy and well fed, dishing out the award winning chili Crystal had been cranking on for four days!

Thumbs up on the sound check, Dead Winter Carpenters.

Maholo from the G-town Ballers!

A night to remember...

YCG Annual Summer Concert Fundraiser This Friday, July 29th: Dead Winter Carpenters...

 

 

Well, the Yellowstone River is still pulsing with over 13,000 cubic feet per second and surging with run-off, but the hot summer temperatures tell us that it is indeed the last week of July. It is a big few weeks for YCG with our annual fundraiser coming up this Friday night and the onset of our week-long River Guardian Fly Fishing School beginning the first day of August which we are feverishly planning for at this very moment.  But first things first, it is once again time to celebrate the work of YCG and the wild spirit of Yellowstone under the monarch of Electric Peak for our annual fundraising concert. 

We couldn''t be more excited about this year's Concert in the Park, as we will welcome one of the hottest bluegrass bands from the fertile music scene of Northern California, the Dead Winter Carpenters.  The weather is looking like it is going to be a perfect summer night, so get your dancing shoes on or simply come barefooted and journey down to Gardiner, Montana, for a beautiful evening and celebration of place in the shadow of the legendary Roosevelt Arch. Bridging the history of bluegrass with the contempory edge of newgrass, the Dead Winter Carpenters will bring a new sound and positive vibe to the gateway community of Gardiner. 

All of the proceeds for this event go directly towards supporting the important work of YCG and programs like our upcoming River Guardian Fly Fishing School.  We will also be honoring Karl Jacobik, a Yellowstone River raft guide, Gardiner resident, and lover of Yellowstone who tradgically passed away in a motor vehicle accident in November of 2010.

Tickets can be purchased on site, with beer, drinks and killer home made chilli and chilli dogs for available for purchase. Show the love and come spend an evening with the YCG Crew!

Date: Friday, July 29th, 2011

Time: 5:30-9:30 pm

Site: Arch Park

Place: Gardiner, Montana

Much Love,

Michael Leach, Director and Founder

Raging Rivers and Whitewater Fireworks...

    

After the wettest spring I can ever remember here in the Northern Rockies and throughout Yellowstone Country, like clockwork, when the calendar hit June 21^st, the warm temperatures and blue skies returned to our beloved.  With a silly amount of snow still in the mountains, the 90+ degree temperatures of the last several days have sent muddied waters bursting through the river bottoms and streambeds across Yellowstone Country.  I have attached a link to a You Tube video that I shot on June 24^th, in the Lamar Canyon.  If you are a lover of Yellowstone and admirer of its waters, I would highly encourage you to plan a journey to the park in early June (which is a more typical time for the height of runoff in the Lamar) so you can take a walk into the depths of the Lamar Canyon to see the river on full display.  We did just that on the 24^th and you can see for yourself, the power and immensity of the Lamar River just last week. 

That very day, as I was finishing up my day in the field, leading a wildlife safari for a beautiful family from Seattle, Washington, the Lamar River which had been carving out chunks of the river bank, eroded its way through the bank supporting a section of the road coursing through the Lamar Valley, temporally shutting down through traffic throughout the valley while park service crews attempted to remedy the situation.  Filled with nearly 16,000 cfs of life thrusting water on the 24^th of June, and currently over 8,000 cubic feet per second pounding its way through the Lamar Canyon en route to the confluence with the Yellowstone River, the East Fork as it were once known, before being renamed officially as the Lamar in honor of Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus our Secretary of the Interior in 1885, remains a significant and important tributary to the mighty Yellowstone and there is never a time that it is more impressive.  

The historic max flow for this day at the gage station at Corwin Springs was in 1943 when 20800 cfs (cubic feet per second) of water burst its way down the Yellowstone River.  At 6 pm this evening (after the water has already begun receding for the day) the flows were at 24,300 cfs.  On the morning of June 30^th, yesterday, the flows nearly topped 30,000 cfs at Corwin Springs.  As a fly fishing guide who spends much of my summer perusing the waters of the upper Yellowstone from Gardiner to Yankee Jim Canyon, I assure you these are flows of epic proportions. 

Local folklore tells us that Hellroaring Creek received its name during a tumultuous runoff such as what we are presently experiencing, for the hellish roaring that large glacial boulders would make while tumbling down the hurried torrents of yet another tributary to the Yellowstone.  And I can attest, that when the wind is calm, one can sit on a quite night, beside the banks of the Yellowstone and from time to time, hear the grinding vibrations of what sounds like truck sized boulders rolling down the river bottom, bouncing and vibrating all along the way. 

So here it is, July 1^st, and we have certainly already experienced our fare share of fireworks in the form of violent waters wildly bursting their way to the overflowing banks of Missouri River… 

~Michael Leach, Director and Founder

Joe Brown Fishing Access Site just south of Yankee Jim Canyon. 6-28-11

Over 28,000 CFS bursting through Yankee Jim Canyon. 6-28-11. And just a side note for those not accustomed to driving through Yankee Jim, but one cannot typically view the water while driving, but with these impressive flows a traveler can witness Revenge, Big Rock and much of Box Car, three of the most impressive Yellowstone River Rapids from the confines of their highway traveling vehicle. Wow.

What's Happening With YCG: A June To Remember...

YCG Director and Founder Michael Leach giving the opening keynote address at the Montana ReAct Teen Summit in Helena, Montana. 6-21-11

We are excited to share that YCG director and founder Michael Leach was the opening keynote speaker at the Montana ReAct Teen Summit in Helena, Montana, this past week.  It was the first day of summer, June 21st, and we finally received a day full of sunshine and warm temperatures.   High school students from around the state poured into a room at Carroll College to hear Michael’s motivational presentation that was all about leaving a legacy and living a life that matters.  After speaking at the statewide Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Conference in 2010, about how to inspire youth to action, Michael was jacked up about sharing this special evening with what we believe represents the greatest asset found throughout the treasure state, and certainly the future and current guardians of Yellowstone, our local youth. 

We also just kicked off our 2011 summer collaboration with our friends from C5 Youth Foundations.  C5 is a national organization based out of Atlanta, Georgia, with sites in Boston, Dallas, and Los Angeles.  Their four year program is a model that we have always admired and we continue to learn from their success.  Michael Leach has had the opportunity to work with the students from C5 who journey to Wyoming for two weeks during the second year of their C5 programming since his days working as a ranger in Yellowstone National Park.  After a successful collaboration which included motivational legacy presentations by Michael to C5 participants in 2010, this year we have taken our efforts with C5 and their amazing students and staff to another level. 

We just finished up our first two of six program days with students from Atlanta and Dallas.  After flying in from Salt Lake City, and spending a day touring Utah State University, Michael meets the C5 crew and staff at Madison Junction for an inspiring presentation about the legacy of grizzly bears, Yellowstone, and the ability of each participant to lead and leave their own legacy and create change in their communities.  This is followed up by a full day tour of Yellowstone which includes a heavy dose of bear education, a stop on Dunraven Pass for a discussion of grizzlies, whitebark pine and climate change, before descending to the canyon to view the sights that legendary watercolorist Thomas Moran so beautifully documented on his 1871 journey with the Hayden Expedition that helped inspire the establishment of Yellowstone National Park.  We end the day with a high energy discussion in the Hayden Valley about bison management and the importance of advocating for something in their lives.  Needless to say, it is an inspiring day for all involved, and an opportunity Michael relishes. 

We were also excited to participate again this year in the Mountain Sky Guest Ranche's Visions of Yellowstone Program which took place the first week of June.  Michael joined up with legendary Yellowstone photographer and YCG contributor Tom Murphy to lead participants on a wildlife safari through Yellowstone’s Northern Range.  The program which has been a big success these last two June’s will run this October as well and we are excited that Michael will be there to represent YCG. We certainly don't know how we could possibly top the day of wildlife watching which included newborn bison calves, grizzly bears, cubs, hunting bears and an intense wolf/coyote interaction. 

With two more C5 days coming up, our big annual fundraiser on July 29^th (a concert that you will not want to miss, right here at Arch Park in Gardiner) and our fast approaching second annual River Guardian Fly Fishing School, we are jamming and working hard to grow the YCG family.

We want to thank all of you who have recently contributed in response to our spring appeal.  The 2011 River Guardian Fly Fishing School is looking like it is going to be another top notch program and we encourage you all to come out and see what it is all about…    

YCG Director Michael Leach speaking to a group of 30 teenagers from Dallas, Texas, participants from the C5 Youth Foundations.

 

Yellowstone's Lifeblood...

One of our volunteers recently sent this to us. It is a link to an article written by YCG director and founder, Michael Leach, for the Yellowstone Association’s Yellowstone Discovery magazine. While they only post the first part of the article, we thought you would enjoy this romantic tribute to the waters of Yellowstone, during this very watery season…

Yellowstone's Lifeblood: The waters of Yellowstone

First Elk calf of 2011...

Female elk licking her calf a few hours after entering the world of Yellowstone.

Our day began with spirited adventure on Wednesday, May 25^th.  After a week of getting up at 4 am in order to lead wildlife tours, I awoke early yesterday morning and meandered to the office.  Still groggy from a lack of sleep, my fingers lingered on each letter as I attempted to respond to countless emails that needed attention.  But my sleepy stupor quickly vanished when my wife came bursting into the office to tell me about her wild encounter with a protective and edgy cow elk.  It is certainly that time of year.  Upon being asked when the elk have their calves in Yellowstone, we are taught as rangers in the park to stick with the common drop date of June 1^st. 

Perhaps we in the Leach Clan get too stuck on the calendar and thought we still had a week of normalcy around the office and house, but any such visions of peaceful tranquility quickly vanished yesterday morning.  Simply looking to go for a morning run, my wife encountered a cow elk which is not at all uncommon around our place.  What was uncommon was the aggressive nature of their encounter.  Both upon leaving the house and arriving back home, Crystal shared a memorable encounter with a defensive mother, adding a great deal of excitement and adrenaline to her morning cardio session. 

While many eager runners across the country worry about traffic or the occasional oddball while training under the faded light of dawn and dusk, we are on alert for protective ungulates with stomping hooves and newly born calves.  Within minutes of hearing her story of “survival” I decided to venture out myself for what I hoped would be a few photos of my first elk calf of 2011.  Not wanting to push the female or alarm the wobbly calf, new to the world, I kept my distance.  Simply walking out of the backdoor I put the mother on alert, so the photo isn’t the clearest, but this image represents yet another sign that spring is in full force throughout Yellowstone…   

~Michael Leach, Director and Founder

A Wet and Succulent Spring in Yellowstone...

A band of bison with frolicking calves in Little America, YNP.

In the midst of the wettest spring that I can remember in this part of the country, fecundity and succulence has returned to Yellowstone Country.  With far too many 14 hour days filled with presentations, meetings and days in the field, I have failed to keep our followers up to speed with the goings on in Yellowstone.  May and early June have long been celebrated by wildlife enthusiasts as the time to explore the enigmatic wonders of Yellowstone National Park.  While the crowds are starting to return as demonstrated by the re-opening of restaurants here in Gardiner, and the return of our seasonal raft guides who are excitedly pumping their way down the mighty Yellowstone River which is currently pulsing with 12,000 cubic feet per second of muddied waters, spring is perhaps best known for its unique and abundant wildlife sightings. 

After a long day spent at Park High in Livingston, Montana, early last week, sharing six 45 minute long motivational presentations in hopes of inspiring a sense of environmental stewardship and participation in our upcoming River Guardian Fly Fishing School, I was fortunate enough to spend the rest of the week in the field, leading wildlife watching tours throughout Yellowstone’s legendary, Lamar Valley.  Working in collaboration with our friends from the Wildside, a local naturalist tour company focusing on large carnivores and co-founded by YCG board member Nathan Varley and his wife Linda Thurston, we led a group of nearly 60 college students from Longwood University emphasizing the importance of local communities and public engagement.  Splitting the groups in two, we led 30 students each day on a wildlife watching extravaganza. While each day in Yellowstone offers its own magic and something vastly different, we were able to spot multiple grizzly bears and wolves each day which was certainly a highlight of the trip for these lively students from Virginia.

My time with the students from Longwood University ended last Thursday evening—after a long day in the field that began at 6 am—with a presentation on the wild spirit of Yellowstone, with a heavy dose of YCG and our efforts to inspire a commitment to this region while bringing the human element into the equation.  Having worked with one of Longwood’s extraordinary professors for three years now, I and a number of our supporters were inspired by her introduction of my presentation and the efforts of YCG.  It is extremely exciting to see talented and well versed professionals like professor Riden express her admiration for the work that we embody as it speaks directly to her life’s work in rural and environmental sociology.  Even though they hadn’t eaten since 11 am and it was well after 8 pm when the presentation ended, countless students hung around afterwards to ask questions and learn more about how they can get involved.  This is yet another reason we focus so much of our efforts on high school and in this case college aged youth; they are inspirable and when inspired, motivated to go out, get their hands dirty, and really make a difference. 

The final day of last week was spent with two members of the YCG family and supporters of our work, and while the wet, windy and cold weather which has dominated most afternoons of late, started first thing in the morning, the wildlife watching was yet again tremendous.  After spending an hour watching the alpha male and three yearlings from the Lamar Canyon pack, we moved on through the Lamar Valley and upon our second pass through the valley floor, we witnessed at close range, a sub-adult grizzly bear on a carcass.  As if this sighting at no more than 200 yards wasn’t enough, within thirty minutes one of the gray yearlings from the Lamar Canyon pack whom we had watched bedded down just two hours before, passed through en-route to the den.  But Yellowstone is so much more than wolves and grizzly bears.  Each day of the week was filled with a multitude of bird sightings, pronghorn, elk, mountain goats, bighorn sheep and an untold number of wonderful bison sightings fueled by spirited, burnt orange calves spastically frolicking in the succulent and rich green grasses of North America’s little Serengeti. 

If ever there was a time for those passionate about wildlife to visit Yellowstone, this is surely it.  As I write these words, a tumultuous wind feverishly batters the side windows and walls of my office, and the dark and low lying clouds continue to spit flurries of rain.  But the wildlife which abounds this time of year are flourishing with the return of spring, and before we know it the dry winds of summer will return to the landscape.  So if at all possible, change your plans, forget about your credit card debt, and find a way to Yellowstone.  I assure you that she will not disappoint…

 ~Michael Leach, Director and Founder