1 00:00:01,235 --> 00:00:04,205 {\an7}♪ 2 00:00:04,238 --> 00:00:07,241 {\an7}IN THE NORTHWEST CORNER \h\h\h\h\h\hOF WYOMING 3 00:00:07,274 --> 00:00:10,244 {\an7}\h\h\h\hLIES A TRULY MAGNIFICENT WORLD... 4 00:00:13,213 --> 00:00:15,348 {\an7}RINGED BY TOWERING MOUNTAINS... 5 00:00:19,319 --> 00:00:24,291 {\an7}AND A COLOSSAL DOME OF LAVA, \h\h\h\h\h\hCOVERED IN PINES. 6 00:00:27,961 --> 00:00:29,830 {\an7}IT’S A LAND FORGED 7 00:00:29,863 --> 00:00:33,600 {\an7}BY THE MIGHTIEST FORCES \h\h\h\hON OUR PLANET-- 8 00:00:33,634 --> 00:00:36,437 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hTECTONIC COLLISIONS THAT HAVE THRUST GRANITE PEAKS 9 00:00:36,470 --> 00:00:40,941 {\an7}MORE THAN 13,000 FEET \h\h\hINTO THE SKY... 10 00:00:40,974 --> 00:00:42,642 {\an7}SUPER-HEATED GEYSERS 11 00:00:42,676 --> 00:00:44,978 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT EXPLODE OUT OF THE EARTH BELOW... 12 00:00:47,915 --> 00:00:52,153 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hAND RAGING WATERS THAT HAVE THE POWER TO AWE. 13 00:00:53,487 --> 00:00:58,292 {\an7}VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS AND WILDFIRES HAVE DEVASTATED ITS LAND, 14 00:00:58,325 --> 00:01:01,495 {\an7}\h\h\h\hBUT ITS FERTILE VALLEYS ARE STILL HOME TO MORE MAMMALS 15 00:01:01,528 --> 00:01:04,498 {\an7}THAN ANYWHERE ELSE \hIN THE LOWER 48. 16 00:01:04,531 --> 00:01:07,567 {\an7}♪ 17 00:01:07,601 --> 00:01:11,004 {\an7}WITH ITS STAGGERING BEAUTY... 18 00:01:11,038 --> 00:01:13,173 {\an7}FRAGILE CREATURES... 19 00:01:13,206 --> 00:01:15,208 {\an7}[SQUAWKING] 20 00:01:15,242 --> 00:01:16,577 {\an7}AND COLORFUL SPRINGS 21 00:01:16,610 --> 00:01:21,215 {\an7}\h\h\h\hTHAT MAY HOLD SECRETS ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF LIFE... 22 00:01:21,248 --> 00:01:26,653 {\an7}\h\h\h\hTHIS IS ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE ECOSYSTEMS ON EARTH. 23 00:01:26,687 --> 00:01:29,990 {\an7}A PLACE CALLED YELLOWSTONE. 24 00:01:30,023 --> 00:01:44,471 {\an7}♪ 25 00:01:44,504 --> 00:01:57,350 {\an7}♪ 26 00:01:57,384 --> 00:02:02,389 {\an7}♪ 27 00:02:04,157 --> 00:02:10,130 {\an7}♪ 28 00:02:10,163 --> 00:02:12,399 {\an7}AS SOON AS THE FIRST RAYS \h\h\h\hOF MORNING LIGHT 29 00:02:12,432 --> 00:02:15,135 {\an7}HIT THE GREAT GRANITE FORMS \h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE TETONS, 30 00:02:15,168 --> 00:02:17,704 {\an7}ON WYOMING’S WESTERN BORDER, 31 00:02:17,738 --> 00:02:22,176 {\an7}YOU CAN ALREADY SENSE THAT THIS IS NO ORDINARY WORLD. 32 00:02:22,209 --> 00:02:27,414 {\an7}♪ 33 00:02:27,447 --> 00:02:30,650 {\an7}THESE ARE SOME OF THE MOST \h\h\hDISTINCTIVE LANDFORMS 34 00:02:30,684 --> 00:02:31,685 {\an7}IN AMERICA. 35 00:02:33,420 --> 00:02:36,123 {\an7}\h\h\h\hTHE TALLEST, KNOWN AS GRAND TETON, 36 00:02:36,156 --> 00:02:42,062 {\an7}SOARS 13,770 FEET INTO THE SKY. 37 00:02:42,095 --> 00:02:43,563 {\an7}THIS GIANT HUNK OF GRANITE 38 00:02:43,597 --> 00:02:45,499 {\an7}HAS BEEN PUSHING UP \hOUT OF THE GROUND 39 00:02:45,532 --> 00:02:47,934 {\an7}FOR JUST 10 MILLION YEARS. 40 00:02:47,968 --> 00:02:50,571 {\an7}\hIT’S ONE OF THE YOUNGEST MOUNTAINS IN THE ROCKIES. 41 00:02:53,740 --> 00:02:58,044 {\an7}\h\h\hBUT THE ROCK IT’S MADE OF IS SOME OF THE OLDEST ON EARTH. 42 00:03:01,548 --> 00:03:02,983 {\an7}THE TETONS HAVE BEEN FORMED 43 00:03:03,016 --> 00:03:06,286 {\an7}BY A CLASH OF TECTONIC PLATES \h\h\h\hIN THE EARTH’S CRUST. 44 00:03:08,989 --> 00:03:11,959 {\an7}\hAS THOSE PLATES COLLIDE, THEY TRIGGER EARTHQUAKES, 45 00:03:11,992 --> 00:03:16,163 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hWHICH PUSH UP LAYERS OF ANCIENT ROCK, INCH BY INCH, 46 00:03:16,196 --> 00:03:19,700 {\an7}INTO THESE FORMS WE SEE TODAY. 47 00:03:19,733 --> 00:03:22,836 {\an7}\h\h\hONE REASON THE TETONS ARE SO SHARP AT THEIR TIPS 48 00:03:22,869 --> 00:03:26,139 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hIS BECAUSE EROSION HASN’T YET ROUNDED THE EDGES 49 00:03:26,173 --> 00:03:28,008 {\an7}OF THESE YOUTHFUL MOUNTAINS 50 00:03:28,041 --> 00:03:29,376 {\an7}AND WHITTLED THEM DOWN. 51 00:03:31,545 --> 00:03:33,080 {\an7}THEIR JAGGED SHAPES 52 00:03:33,113 --> 00:03:35,716 {\an7}\h\hARE WHAT MAKE THEM SO EASILY RECOGNIZABLE. 53 00:03:35,749 --> 00:03:41,088 {\an7}♪ 54 00:03:41,121 --> 00:03:43,190 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE TETONS LIE IN THE MIDDLE OF WHAT’S KNOWN 55 00:03:43,223 --> 00:03:46,359 {\an7}\h\h\h\hAS THE GREATER YELLOWSTONE ECOSYSTEM, 56 00:03:46,393 --> 00:03:48,795 {\an7}\h\h\hWHICH STRETCHES FROM SOUTHERN WYOMING 57 00:03:48,829 --> 00:03:51,165 {\an7}ACROSS THE NORTHERN CORNER \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE STATE, 58 00:03:51,198 --> 00:03:52,666 {\an7}WEST INTO IDAHO 59 00:03:52,699 --> 00:03:55,202 {\an7}AND NORTH INTO MONTANA. 60 00:03:55,235 --> 00:03:57,637 {\an7}\hAND AT THE HEART OF THIS VAST REGION 61 00:03:57,671 --> 00:04:00,874 {\an7}ARE THE 2.2 MILLION ACRES \hOF PROTECTED WILDERNESS 62 00:04:00,907 --> 00:04:03,977 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT MAKE UP YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. 63 00:04:04,010 --> 00:04:09,449 {\an7}♪ 64 00:04:09,483 --> 00:04:13,120 {\an7}\h\h\hWHEN YOU DESCEND INTO THE VALLEYS OF YELLOWSTONE, 65 00:04:13,153 --> 00:04:17,124 {\an7}\h\h\hIT CAN SEEM LIKE A VERY PEACEFUL WORLD. 66 00:04:17,157 --> 00:04:21,395 {\an7}BUT DEEP UNDER THESE MOUNTAINS, \h\h\h\h\h\hRIVERS, AND FORESTS 67 00:04:21,428 --> 00:04:24,998 {\an7}\h\h\h\hIS ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST DESTRUCTIVE VOLCANIC FORCES 68 00:04:25,031 --> 00:04:26,699 {\an7}ON THE PLANET-- 69 00:04:26,733 --> 00:04:29,569 {\an7}A GIANT PLUME OF RISING MAGMA 70 00:04:29,603 --> 00:04:32,339 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hKNOWN AS THE YELLOWSTONE HOTSPOT. 71 00:04:33,807 --> 00:04:36,209 {\an7}FOR THE PAST 2 MILLION YEARS, 72 00:04:36,243 --> 00:04:39,146 {\an7}\hTHIS SUPER VOLCANO HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE 73 00:04:39,179 --> 00:04:41,915 {\an7}FOR CATASTROPHIC ERUPTIONS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSO POWERFUL 74 00:04:41,948 --> 00:04:45,819 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY’VE COVERED MUCH OF THE CONTINENT WITH ASH. 75 00:04:45,852 --> 00:04:47,554 {\an7}\h\h\h\hBUT IT’S ALSO WHAT HAS GIVEN BIRTH 76 00:04:47,587 --> 00:04:50,490 {\an7}\h\hTO MANY OF THE WONDERS OF YELLOWSTONE’S LANDSCAPE. 77 00:04:52,259 --> 00:04:53,794 {\an7}IN 1870, 78 00:04:53,827 --> 00:04:58,165 {\an7}ONE MAN SUDDENLY FOUND HIMSELF \h\h\h\h\h\hLOST AND ALL ALONE 79 00:04:58,198 --> 00:05:00,033 {\an7}IN THIS FORBIDDING WORLD. 80 00:05:00,066 --> 00:05:04,304 {\an7}♪ 81 00:05:04,337 --> 00:05:07,140 {\an7}HIS NAME WAS TRUMAN EVERTS, 82 00:05:07,174 --> 00:05:10,077 {\an7}AND HE WAS ANYTHING BUT A MOUNTAIN MAN. 83 00:05:10,110 --> 00:05:13,480 {\an7}\h\hHE HAD BEEN THE INTERNAL REVENUE OFFICER FOR MONTANA, 84 00:05:13,513 --> 00:05:15,949 {\an7}\h\hBUT WAS UNEMPLOYED WHEN HE GOT THE CHANCE 85 00:05:15,982 --> 00:05:18,618 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO TAKE PART IN THE FIRST MAJOR EXPEDITION 86 00:05:18,652 --> 00:05:21,522 {\an7}INTO THE YELLOWSTONE REGION, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hON HORSEBACK. 87 00:05:21,555 --> 00:05:23,190 {\an7}WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM HERE 88 00:05:23,223 --> 00:05:25,158 {\an7}\h\h\hWOULD SOON BE A WARNING TO OTHERS 89 00:05:25,192 --> 00:05:29,296 {\an7}ABOUT THE RISKS OF EXPLORING \hTHIS REMOTE VOLCANIC LAND. 90 00:05:30,864 --> 00:05:33,033 {\an7}IT ALL BEGAN IN THICK FORESTS 91 00:05:33,066 --> 00:05:35,335 {\an7}\h\hON THE SOUTH SIDE OF YELLOWSTONE LAKE, 92 00:05:35,368 --> 00:05:36,970 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hWHEN EVERTS SOMEHOW GOT SEPARATED 93 00:05:37,003 --> 00:05:39,272 {\an7}FROM HIS FELLOW EXPLORERS. 94 00:05:39,306 --> 00:05:41,375 {\an7}SOON AFTER, HIS HORSE BOLTED, 95 00:05:41,408 --> 00:05:44,011 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hALONG WITH ALMOST ALL OF HIS SUPPLIES AND HIS GUN. 96 00:05:46,046 --> 00:05:49,049 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hBY NIGHTFALL, HE WAS COMPLETELY ALONE 97 00:05:49,082 --> 00:05:53,186 {\an7}IN THIS WILD LANDSCAPE \h\hOF LAKES AND TREES. 98 00:05:53,220 --> 00:05:55,656 {\an7}\h\h\h\hALL HE HAD LEFT WAS A COUPLE OF KNIVES, 99 00:05:55,689 --> 00:05:58,292 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAN OPERA GLASS, AND THE CLOTHES ON HIS BACK. 100 00:06:04,331 --> 00:06:05,465 {\an7}OVER THE COMING DAYS, 101 00:06:05,498 --> 00:06:07,934 {\an7}HIS FRUITLESS SEARCH \hFOR HIS COMPANIONS 102 00:06:07,968 --> 00:06:10,871 {\an7}BROUGHT HIM TO THIS RIVER... 103 00:06:10,904 --> 00:06:14,207 {\an7}AND THE SHORES OF HEART LAKE. 104 00:06:14,241 --> 00:06:16,076 {\an7}THIS IS STILL 105 00:06:16,109 --> 00:06:19,312 {\an7}ONE OF THE MOST REMOTE AREAS OF YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK TODAY. 106 00:06:19,346 --> 00:06:22,983 {\an7}♪ 107 00:06:23,016 --> 00:06:26,419 {\an7}EVERTS SPENT MOST OF ONE NIGHT \h\h\h\h\h\hHIGH UP IN A TREE, 108 00:06:26,453 --> 00:06:28,922 {\an7}\h\h\hTRYING TO ESCAPE A HUNGRY MOUNTAIN LION 109 00:06:28,955 --> 00:06:31,024 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT GROWLED AND PACED THE EARTH BELOW HIM. 110 00:06:32,726 --> 00:06:34,194 {\an7}IN THE DAYS THAT FOLLOWED, 111 00:06:34,227 --> 00:06:37,130 {\an7}HE SUFFERED A REMARKABLE SERIES \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF MISFORTUNES. 112 00:06:39,966 --> 00:06:43,870 {\an7}HE MANAGED TO LOSE \hBOTH HIS KNIVES. 113 00:06:43,904 --> 00:06:45,172 {\an7}NOT FAR FROM THE LAKE, 114 00:06:45,205 --> 00:06:49,609 {\an7}HE SLEPT NEAR SOME THERMAL POOLS TO STAY WARM. 115 00:06:49,643 --> 00:06:51,512 {\an7}BUT ONE NIGHT, IN HIS SLEEP, 116 00:06:51,544 --> 00:06:53,713 {\an7}HE ROLLED ONTO A STEAMING VENT 117 00:06:53,747 --> 00:06:55,415 {\an7}AND SCALDED ONE OF HIS HIPS. 118 00:06:57,217 --> 00:06:59,453 {\an7}\h\h\hHE EVEN ESCAPED A RAGING FOREST FIRE 119 00:06:59,486 --> 00:07:02,489 {\an7}THAT HE HAD STARTED HIMSELF \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBY ACCIDENT 120 00:07:02,522 --> 00:07:04,591 {\an7}AND HAD BURNED OFF MUCH OF HIS HAIR. 121 00:07:07,761 --> 00:07:10,764 {\an7}\h\h\h\hEVERY DAY HE GOT MORE AND MORE DELIRIOUS, 122 00:07:10,797 --> 00:07:13,300 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hAND OLD FRIENDS STARTED SPEAKING TO HIM. 123 00:07:15,802 --> 00:07:19,572 {\an7}ONE OF THESE PHANTOM COMPANIONS \h\hENCOURAGED HIM TO FORGE ON 124 00:07:19,606 --> 00:07:21,942 {\an7}\h\h\hUNTIL HE REACHED THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER. 125 00:07:21,975 --> 00:07:27,681 {\an7}♪ 126 00:07:27,714 --> 00:07:30,984 {\an7}\hIT WAS ON HIS 37th DAY ALONE IN THE WILDERNESS 127 00:07:31,017 --> 00:07:35,522 {\an7}THAT EVERTS SUDDENLY HEARD A VOICE CALLING HIS NAME. 128 00:07:35,555 --> 00:07:39,626 {\an7}\h\h\hIT WAS A BOUNTY HUNTER KNOWN AS "YELLOWSTONE JACK." 129 00:07:39,659 --> 00:07:41,461 {\an7}WHEN EVERTS WAS FINALLY RESCUED, 130 00:07:41,494 --> 00:07:44,063 {\an7}HE WEIGHED JUST 90 POUNDS 131 00:07:44,097 --> 00:07:45,832 {\an7}AND WAS WHAT ONE MAN \h\h\hLATER DESCRIBED 132 00:07:45,865 --> 00:07:48,334 {\an7}AS "NOTHING BUT A SHADOW." 133 00:07:48,368 --> 00:07:52,405 {\an7}AT FIRST, HE WAS MISTAKEN \hFOR A SMALL MANGY BEAR. 134 00:07:54,441 --> 00:07:57,311 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hEVERTS PUBLISHED AN ACCOUNT OF HIS SURVIVAL, 135 00:07:57,344 --> 00:08:01,114 {\an7}\h\hWHICH HE CALLED "37 DAYS OF PERIL." 136 00:08:01,147 --> 00:08:03,983 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hSOME QUESTIONED HOW MUCH OF IT WAS TRUE. 137 00:08:04,017 --> 00:08:06,686 {\an7}BUT IT SUCCEEDED IN PAINTING \h\hA PICTURE OF YELLOWSTONE 138 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:09,790 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hAS A STRANGE AND FRIGHTENING PLACE, 139 00:08:09,823 --> 00:08:11,124 {\an7}WHICH ONLY INSPIRED OTHERS 140 00:08:11,157 --> 00:08:13,493 {\an7}TO WANT TO COME AND SEE IT \h\h\h\h\h\hFOR THEMSELVES. 141 00:08:13,526 --> 00:08:18,498 {\an7}♪ 142 00:08:18,531 --> 00:08:20,867 {\an7}TODAY, THE LURE OF YELLOWSTONE 143 00:08:20,900 --> 00:08:24,771 {\an7}IS STILL JUST AS STRONG AS IT WAS 150 YEARS AGO. 144 00:08:27,207 --> 00:08:30,477 {\an7}\h\hTHIS TRAIL RUNS FOR ALMOST 17 MILES 145 00:08:30,510 --> 00:08:34,214 {\an7}\h\hUP WHAT’S KNOWN AS SPECIMEN RIDGE. 146 00:08:34,247 --> 00:08:35,648 {\an7}IT GIVES HIKERS THE CHANCE 147 00:08:35,682 --> 00:08:37,784 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hTO EXPERIENCE THE YELLOWSTONE REGION 148 00:08:37,817 --> 00:08:41,321 {\an7}\hJUST AS NATIVE AMERICANS, TRAPPERS, AND EXPLORERS DID 149 00:08:41,354 --> 00:08:46,025 {\an7}WHEN THEY FIRST MADE THEIR WAY ACROSS THESE VAST OPEN SPACES. 150 00:08:50,964 --> 00:08:53,800 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMANY PARTS OF YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK 151 00:08:53,833 --> 00:08:57,704 {\an7}ARE STILL AS WILD AS THEY WERE \h\h\h\hTHOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO. 152 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:02,609 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hONE OF THEM IS THE HAYDEN VALLEY. 153 00:09:02,642 --> 00:09:16,022 {\an7}♪ 154 00:09:16,056 --> 00:09:18,258 {\an7}UNDER THIS MORNING MIST 155 00:09:18,291 --> 00:09:22,595 {\an7}\h\h\h\hLIES ONE OF AMERICA’S MOST MAGNIFICENT LANDSCAPES-- 156 00:09:22,629 --> 00:09:24,931 {\an7}A VAST FERTILE GRASSLAND 157 00:09:24,964 --> 00:09:28,734 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hFED BY STREAMS THAT WIND THROUGH IT LIKE RIBBONS. 158 00:09:28,768 --> 00:09:35,441 {\an7}♪ 159 00:09:35,475 --> 00:09:37,143 {\an7}ONCE, THE HAYDEN VALLEY 160 00:09:37,177 --> 00:09:40,547 {\an7}WAS COVERED BY THE WATERS \h\h\h\hOF A GIANT LAKE. 161 00:09:40,580 --> 00:09:43,316 {\an7}\h\hBUT, OVER TIME, THE LAKE RETREATED, 162 00:09:43,349 --> 00:09:45,952 {\an7}AND EVENTUALLY GLACIERS \h\hFILLED THE VALLEY. 163 00:09:47,987 --> 00:09:50,256 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWHEN THOSE GREAT RIVERS OF ICE MELTED, 164 00:09:50,290 --> 00:09:53,059 {\an7}ROUGHLY 13,000 YEARS AGO, 165 00:09:53,093 --> 00:09:58,665 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY LEFT BEHIND DEPOSITS OF CLAY AND SEDIMENT. 166 00:09:58,698 --> 00:10:00,667 {\an7}THAT NUTRIENT-RICH SOIL 167 00:10:00,700 --> 00:10:04,337 {\an7}IS WHAT FEEDS THE GRASSES OF THE HAYDEN VALLEY TODAY 168 00:10:04,370 --> 00:10:06,739 {\an7}\h\hAND HAS TURNED IT INTO A PRIME HABITAT 169 00:10:06,773 --> 00:10:10,610 {\an7}FOR SOME OF NORTH AMERICA’S \hMOST POWERFUL PREDATORS. 170 00:10:12,579 --> 00:10:14,681 {\an7}♪ 171 00:10:14,714 --> 00:10:16,482 {\an7}IT’S EARLY JUNE, 172 00:10:16,516 --> 00:10:18,985 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hAND THE LARGEST WOLF PACK IN YELLOWSTONE 173 00:10:19,018 --> 00:10:21,521 {\an7}IS ON THE HUNT. 174 00:10:21,554 --> 00:10:23,723 {\an7}CALLED THE WAPITI LAKE PACK, 175 00:10:23,756 --> 00:10:27,093 {\an7}IT’S ROUGHLY 20 WOLVES STRONG. 176 00:10:27,127 --> 00:10:30,631 {\an7}\hSOME MEMBERS OF THE PACK ARE FINISHING OFF A RECENT KILL-- 177 00:10:30,663 --> 00:10:32,498 {\an7}AN ELK. 178 00:10:32,532 --> 00:10:34,768 {\an7}TODAY, THERE ARE ABOUT 100 WOLVES 179 00:10:34,801 --> 00:10:36,903 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hINSIDE YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. 180 00:10:38,872 --> 00:10:42,509 {\an7}\h\h\hCENTURIES AGO, THERE WERE MANY MORE. 181 00:10:42,542 --> 00:10:44,110 {\an7}BUT IN THE 1800s, 182 00:10:44,144 --> 00:10:48,615 {\an7}WESTWARD EXPANSION AND HUNTING \h\hREDUCED THEIR POPULATIONS. 183 00:10:48,648 --> 00:10:50,049 {\an7}AND STARTING IN 1900, 184 00:10:50,083 --> 00:10:52,285 {\an7}U.S. GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED HUNTS 185 00:10:52,318 --> 00:10:55,454 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hREMOVED THEM FROM YELLOWSTONE COMPLETELY. 186 00:10:55,488 --> 00:10:58,124 {\an7}♪ 187 00:10:58,158 --> 00:11:02,763 {\an7}\h\h\hIN 1995, WOLVES WERE REINTRODUCED INTO THE PARK 188 00:11:02,795 --> 00:11:05,231 {\an7}\h\hTO TRY AND RESTORE THIS ENDANGERED SPECIES 189 00:11:05,265 --> 00:11:07,501 {\an7}\h\hTO ONE OF THEIR ORIGINAL HABITATS. 190 00:11:09,936 --> 00:11:12,872 {\an7}THEY QUICKLY MADE A COMEBACK. 191 00:11:12,906 --> 00:11:17,277 {\an7}TODAY, THERE ARE 11 DIFFERENT \h\h\hPACKS INSIDE THE PARK, 192 00:11:17,310 --> 00:11:18,778 {\an7}AND THEIR TRACKING COLLARS 193 00:11:18,811 --> 00:11:21,781 {\an7}\h\h\hENABLE THEM TO BE STUDIED AND MONITORED. 194 00:11:21,814 --> 00:11:25,418 {\an7}EACH PACK CAN RANGE OVER HUNDREDS OF SQUARE MILES 195 00:11:25,451 --> 00:11:28,020 {\an7}IN ITS SEARCH FOR FOOD. 196 00:11:28,054 --> 00:11:29,155 {\an7}BUT THE WAPITI LAKE PACK 197 00:11:29,189 --> 00:11:32,693 {\an7}\h\hOFTEN HUNTS HERE, IN THE HAYDEN VALLEY. 198 00:11:32,725 --> 00:11:35,861 {\an7}\h\h\hTHESE CREATURES MAY BE TOP PREDATORS IN YELLOWSTONE, 199 00:11:35,895 --> 00:11:39,532 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT THEY ARE SURPRISINGLY VULNERABLE. 200 00:11:39,566 --> 00:11:40,901 {\an7}THEY OFTEN KILL EACH OTHER 201 00:11:40,934 --> 00:11:44,438 {\an7}\h\h\hIN BATTLES OVER TERRITORY AND MATES. 202 00:11:44,470 --> 00:11:46,372 {\an7}\h\hSOME HAVE BEEN CRITICALLY INJURED 203 00:11:46,406 --> 00:11:48,608 {\an7}BY THE PREY THEY HUNT. 204 00:11:48,641 --> 00:11:51,010 {\an7}ONE DIRECT KICK IN THE JAW \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFROM AN ELK 205 00:11:51,044 --> 00:11:53,480 {\an7}CAN EASILY KILL A WOLF. 206 00:11:53,513 --> 00:11:54,881 {\an7}AND SOME WOLVES 207 00:11:54,914 --> 00:11:57,417 {\an7}THAT HAVE STRAYED OUTSIDE \h\hTHE PARK’S BOUNDARIES 208 00:11:57,450 --> 00:12:00,219 {\an7}HAVE BEEN SHOT BY HUNTERS. 209 00:12:00,253 --> 00:12:02,055 {\an7}BUT NOW, DURING SPRINGTIME, 210 00:12:02,088 --> 00:12:05,491 {\an7}\h\h\h\hTHESE WOLVES HAVE PLENTY OF PREY. 211 00:12:05,525 --> 00:12:07,360 {\an7}AND WITH A PACK THIS BIG, 212 00:12:07,393 --> 00:12:10,196 {\an7}THEY CAN EVEN TAKE DOWN \h\h\h\hAN ADULT BISON. 213 00:12:10,230 --> 00:12:13,767 {\an7}♪ 214 00:12:13,800 --> 00:12:16,369 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPEERING DOWN ON YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK 215 00:12:16,402 --> 00:12:17,703 {\an7}FROM ABOVE 216 00:12:17,737 --> 00:12:21,274 {\an7}\h\h\hIS A CHANCE TO WITNESS AN AMAZING ARRAY OF CREATURES 217 00:12:21,307 --> 00:12:23,943 {\an7}AS THEY TRY TO SURVIVE \h\h\h\h\hONE MORE DAY 218 00:12:23,977 --> 00:12:27,647 {\an7}IN THIS WILD VOLCANIC WORLD. 219 00:12:30,650 --> 00:12:33,620 {\an7}\h\h\h\hBUT IT ALSO MAY BE THE BEST WAY TO UNDERSTAND 220 00:12:33,653 --> 00:12:35,788 {\an7}\hHOW CATASTROPHIC GEOLOGICAL EVENTS 221 00:12:35,822 --> 00:12:36,990 {\an7}HAVE FORMED AND SCULPTED 222 00:12:37,023 --> 00:12:40,293 {\an7}YELLOWSTONE’S MOUNTAINS, \h\hVALLEYS, AND CANYONS. 223 00:12:40,326 --> 00:12:49,235 {\an7}♪ 224 00:12:49,269 --> 00:12:51,371 {\an7}THIS 24-MILE-LONG CHASM, 225 00:12:51,404 --> 00:12:54,374 {\an7}CALLED THE GRAND CANYON \h\hOF THE YELLOWSTONE, 226 00:12:54,407 --> 00:12:56,376 {\an7}IS ONE OF THEM. 227 00:12:56,409 --> 00:13:10,523 {\an7}♪ 228 00:13:10,556 --> 00:13:14,627 {\an7}THE WALLS OF THIS CANYON PLUNGE \h\h\h1,200 FEET INTO THE EARTH 229 00:13:14,661 --> 00:13:17,497 {\an7}\h\h\hAND HOLD THE WATERS OF THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER. 230 00:13:17,530 --> 00:13:22,769 {\an7}♪ 231 00:13:22,802 --> 00:13:25,204 {\an7}GEOLOGISTS BELIEVE IT BEGAN ITS LIFE 232 00:13:25,238 --> 00:13:27,140 {\an7}AS A LONG FRACTURE IN THE EARTH, 233 00:13:27,173 --> 00:13:29,175 {\an7}CREATED BY VOLCANIC FORCES 234 00:13:29,208 --> 00:13:33,946 {\an7}AS THEY PUSHED UP THE CRUST THAT COVERS THE YELLOWSTONE HOTSPOT. 235 00:13:33,980 --> 00:13:37,884 {\an7}OVER TIME, THERMAL VENTS HELPED BREAK UP THE LAVA 236 00:13:37,917 --> 00:13:39,619 {\an7}THAT LINE ITS WALLS. 237 00:13:42,221 --> 00:13:45,991 {\an7}WATER STARTED RUNNING ALONG \hTHE FLOOR OF THE CANYON, 238 00:13:46,025 --> 00:13:49,495 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hAND EROSION FROM WIND, RAIN, AND MELTING SNOW 239 00:13:49,529 --> 00:13:53,333 {\an7}\h\h\hALSO OXIDIZED AND EXPOSED COLORFUL MINERALS IN THE EARTH. 240 00:13:57,036 --> 00:14:00,106 {\an7}\h\h\h\hSOME HAVE CLAIMED THAT THE YELLOW WALLS OF THIS CANYON 241 00:14:00,139 --> 00:14:03,442 {\an7}\h\h\hWERE THE INSPIRATION FOR THE NAME "YELLOWSTONE." 242 00:14:03,476 --> 00:14:05,912 {\an7}BUT IT PROBABLY COMES INSTEAD 243 00:14:05,945 --> 00:14:09,715 {\an7}FROM A NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBE \h\h\hCALLED THE MINNETAREE, 244 00:14:09,749 --> 00:14:12,585 {\an7}WHO NAMED THE RIVER \h\h"STONE YELLOW" 245 00:14:12,618 --> 00:14:14,887 {\an7}AFTER THE SANDSTONE BLUFFS \h\h\h\hTHAT LINE ITS BANKS 246 00:14:14,921 --> 00:14:16,956 {\an7}DOWNSTREAM IN MONTANA. 247 00:14:16,989 --> 00:14:21,126 {\an7}♪ 248 00:14:21,160 --> 00:14:24,330 {\an7}\hWHERE THE GRAND CANYON OF THE YELLOWSTONE STARTS 249 00:14:24,364 --> 00:14:26,333 {\an7}IS ONE OF THE MOST CAPTIVATING SIGHTS 250 00:14:26,366 --> 00:14:28,101 {\an7}IN THE AMERICAN WEST-- 251 00:14:28,134 --> 00:14:31,838 {\an7}\h\h\hTHE GREAT CASCADE OF YELLOWSTONE’S LOWER FALLS. 252 00:14:31,871 --> 00:14:40,313 {\an7}♪ 253 00:14:40,346 --> 00:14:44,684 {\an7}\h\hWHEN AN EARLY EXPEDITION OF EXPLORERS ARRIVED HERE IN 1870, 254 00:14:44,717 --> 00:14:46,953 {\an7}\h\h\h\hTHEY CLIMBED OVER ROCKS AT THE TOP 255 00:14:46,986 --> 00:14:49,822 {\an7}AND DANGLED STRINGS, DARINGLY, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOVER THE EDGE 256 00:14:49,856 --> 00:14:51,891 {\an7}\h\h\hTO TRY AND MEASURE THE HEIGHT OF THE FALLS. 257 00:14:54,060 --> 00:14:56,963 {\an7}THE LEGENDARY MOUNTAIN MAN \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hJIM BRIDGER 258 00:14:56,996 --> 00:14:59,131 {\an7}HAD CLAIMED THEY PLUNGED \h\h\h\hA THOUSAND FEET. 259 00:14:59,165 --> 00:15:10,877 {\an7}♪ 260 00:15:10,910 --> 00:15:13,746 {\an7}THEIR ACTUAL HEIGHT IS 308, 261 00:15:13,780 --> 00:15:16,950 {\an7}WHICH IS ALMOST TWICE THE HEIGHT OF NIAGARA FALLS. 262 00:15:16,983 --> 00:15:27,827 {\an7}♪ 263 00:15:27,860 --> 00:15:32,965 {\an7}♪ 264 00:15:32,999 --> 00:15:36,970 {\an7}DURING THE LAST MAJOR ERUPTIONS OF YELLOWSTONE’S SUPER VOLCANO, 265 00:15:37,003 --> 00:15:40,907 {\an7}ROUGHLY 640,000 YEARS AGO, 266 00:15:40,940 --> 00:15:44,177 {\an7}MASSIVE QUANTITIES OF MAGMA \h\hPOURED OUT OF THE EARTH 267 00:15:44,210 --> 00:15:47,380 {\an7}\h\h\h\hAND FILLED IN THE FLOOR OF THE VOLCANO’S GIANT CALDERA. 268 00:15:49,682 --> 00:15:52,084 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE LANDSCAPE THESE LAVA FLOWS CREATED 269 00:15:52,118 --> 00:15:54,754 {\an7}\hWASN’T VERY FRIENDLY TO PLANTS AND ANIMALS. 270 00:15:57,723 --> 00:16:00,659 {\an7}\h\hBUT OVER TIME, ONE SPECIES OF TREE 271 00:16:00,693 --> 00:16:02,895 {\an7}\h\hMANAGED TO THRIVE ON THE SHALLOW EARTH 272 00:16:02,929 --> 00:16:05,465 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT COVERS ALL THIS HARDENED LAVA. 273 00:16:08,201 --> 00:16:10,537 {\an7}THEY’RE CALLED LODGEPOLE PINES, 274 00:16:10,570 --> 00:16:14,240 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hAND THEY MAKE UP 80% OF ALL THE TREES IN YELLOWSTONE. 275 00:16:14,273 --> 00:16:18,177 {\an7}♪ 276 00:16:18,211 --> 00:16:20,380 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hONE REASON THIS SPECIES THRIVES HERE 277 00:16:20,413 --> 00:16:23,383 {\an7}IS BECAUSE LODGEPOLE PINES HAVE SHALLOW ROOT SYSTEMS 278 00:16:23,416 --> 00:16:27,320 {\an7}THAT CAN CLING TO THE THIN LAYER OF EARTH THAT COVERS THE LAVA. 279 00:16:29,555 --> 00:16:30,923 {\an7}BUT EVERY YEAR, 280 00:16:30,957 --> 00:16:35,995 {\an7}WILDFIRES DESTROY VAST SWATHS \h\hOF FOREST IN YELLOWSTONE. 281 00:16:36,028 --> 00:16:39,031 {\an7}THE LARGEST SERIES OF FIRES, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN 1988, 282 00:16:39,065 --> 00:16:41,935 {\an7}CAUSED THE ENTIRE PARK \h\h\h\hTO BE EVACUATED 283 00:16:41,968 --> 00:16:45,905 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hAND BURNED CLOSE TO 800,000 ACRES. 284 00:16:45,938 --> 00:16:47,373 {\an7}BUT LODGEPOLE PINES 285 00:16:47,406 --> 00:16:49,842 {\an7}HAVE AN AMAZING ABILITY \h\h\h\hTO REGENERATE, 286 00:16:49,876 --> 00:16:52,145 {\an7}THANKS TO A SECRET WEAPON \h\h\h\hTHAT THEY DEPLOY 287 00:16:52,178 --> 00:16:54,013 {\an7}\hWHEN THEY ARE ON THE VERGE OF DEATH. 288 00:16:54,046 --> 00:17:00,753 {\an7}♪ 289 00:17:00,786 --> 00:17:04,923 {\an7}THESE PINE TREES ARE EQUIPPED \hWITH A SPECIAL KIND OF CONE. 290 00:17:07,994 --> 00:17:10,597 {\an7}UNDER INTENSE HEAT \h\hFROM WILDFIRES, 291 00:17:10,630 --> 00:17:11,831 {\an7}THEY BURST OPEN 292 00:17:11,864 --> 00:17:14,700 {\an7}AND SHOOT THEIR SEEDS OUT \hACROSS THE FOREST FLOOR. 293 00:17:14,734 --> 00:17:20,607 {\an7}♪ 294 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:23,676 {\an7}\h\h\hAS STANDING TREES ARE ENGULFED IN FLAMES, 295 00:17:23,709 --> 00:17:27,646 {\an7}THEY ARE ALREADY GIVING BIRTH TO NEW ONES THAT WILL REPLACE THEM. 296 00:17:30,016 --> 00:17:31,417 {\an7}IT’S ONE OF THE MANY WAYS 297 00:17:31,450 --> 00:17:34,420 {\an7}THAT YELLOWSTONE’S ECOSYSTEM \hIS EQUIPPED TO BOUNCE BACK 298 00:17:34,453 --> 00:17:36,455 {\an7}FROM CATASTROPHIC EVENTS. 299 00:17:36,489 --> 00:17:46,065 {\an7}♪ 300 00:17:46,098 --> 00:17:49,902 {\an7}\hTO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR FIRES THAT COULD BURN OUT OF CONTROL, 301 00:17:49,936 --> 00:17:53,039 {\an7}RANGERS ARE STATIONED HERE \h\hAT THIS LOOKOUT TOWER. 302 00:17:56,042 --> 00:17:57,677 {\an7}IT STANDS ON THE SUMMIT 303 00:17:57,710 --> 00:18:02,081 {\an7}OF THE 10,243-FOOT-HIGH \h\h\h\hMOUNT WASHBURN. 304 00:18:05,484 --> 00:18:08,320 {\an7}BUT WITH MORE THAN 10,000 \h\hHYDROTHERMAL FEATURES 305 00:18:08,354 --> 00:18:09,755 {\an7}IN YELLOWSTONE, 306 00:18:09,789 --> 00:18:13,459 {\an7}EVEN RANGERS AT THIS STATION NEED TO HAVE A TRAINED EYE. 307 00:18:13,492 --> 00:18:20,299 {\an7}♪ 308 00:18:20,333 --> 00:18:24,470 {\an7}AS HEAT AND STEAM FROM VENTS, FUMAROLES, POOLS, AND GEYSERS 309 00:18:24,503 --> 00:18:26,372 {\an7}HITS THE WINTER AIR, 310 00:18:26,405 --> 00:18:28,474 {\an7}IT’S EASY TO BELIEVE \h\hTHAT YELLOWSTONE 311 00:18:28,507 --> 00:18:30,576 {\an7}IS BEING RAVAGED BY FIRE. 312 00:18:33,012 --> 00:18:35,414 {\an7}IT CAN EVEN LOOK LIKE \hTHERE’S AN INFERNO 313 00:18:35,448 --> 00:18:38,584 {\an7}RAGING UNDER THE EARTH ITSELF. 314 00:18:40,252 --> 00:18:42,554 {\an7}WHEN EUROPEAN TRAPPERS, \h\h\h\h\hMOUNTAIN MEN, 315 00:18:42,588 --> 00:18:44,090 {\an7}AND OTHER BRAVE SOULS 316 00:18:44,123 --> 00:18:47,727 {\an7}JOURNEYED INTO YELLOWSTONE IN THE EARLY 19th CENTURY, 317 00:18:47,760 --> 00:18:49,895 {\an7}\hTHEY OFTEN CAME BACK WITH FANTASTICAL TALES 318 00:18:49,929 --> 00:18:52,165 {\an7}OF WHAT THEY HAD SEEN. 319 00:18:52,198 --> 00:18:56,803 {\an7}IN 1829, A 19-YEAR-OLD TRAPPER \h\h\h\h\h\h\hNAMED JOSEPH MEEK 320 00:18:56,836 --> 00:18:58,371 {\an7}WROTE IN HIS DIARY THAT 321 00:18:58,404 --> 00:18:59,906 {\an7}"THE WHOLE COUNTRY 322 00:18:59,939 --> 00:19:03,743 {\an7}WAS SMOKING WITH THE VAPOR \h\h\hFROM BOILING SPRINGS. 323 00:19:03,776 --> 00:19:06,912 {\an7}INTERSPERSED AMONG THESE \h\hWERE LARGER CRATERS, 324 00:19:06,946 --> 00:19:11,451 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hSOME OF THEM FOUR TO SIX MILES ACROSS. 325 00:19:11,484 --> 00:19:17,023 {\an7}OUT OF THESE ISSUED BLUE FLAMES \h\h\h\hAND MOLTEN BRIMSTONE." 326 00:19:17,056 --> 00:19:19,325 {\an7}THE LARGEST HOT SPRING \h\h\h\hIN YELLOWSTONE, 327 00:19:19,358 --> 00:19:22,428 {\an7}CALLED GRAND PRISMATIC SPRING, 328 00:19:22,461 --> 00:19:23,896 {\an7}IS ENORMOUS, 329 00:19:23,929 --> 00:19:27,399 {\an7}WITH A DIAMETER OF 370 FEET. 330 00:19:27,433 --> 00:19:31,170 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT ALSO MAKES IT THE THIRD LARGEST IN THE WORLD. 331 00:19:31,203 --> 00:19:34,440 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hBUT IT’S NOWHERE CLOSE TO THE SIZE THAT MEEK DESCRIBED. 332 00:19:36,175 --> 00:19:37,376 {\an7}NEVERTHELESS, 333 00:19:37,410 --> 00:19:39,879 {\an7}COLORFUL AND EXAGGERATED \h\h\h\h\hTALES LIKE HIS 334 00:19:39,912 --> 00:19:42,381 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hGOT PEOPLE MORE AND MORE INTRIGUED 335 00:19:42,415 --> 00:19:45,418 {\an7}\h\hABOUT THIS WILD AND REMOTE REGION. 336 00:19:45,451 --> 00:19:48,988 {\an7}♪ 337 00:19:49,021 --> 00:19:51,457 {\an7}\h\h\h\hBY THE MIDDLE OF THE 19th CENTURY, 338 00:19:51,490 --> 00:19:53,826 {\an7}RUMORS WERE SPREADING ABOUT WHAT LAY INSIDE 339 00:19:53,859 --> 00:19:58,063 {\an7}THE MYSTERIOUS REGION \hCALLED YELLOWSTONE. 340 00:19:58,097 --> 00:19:59,398 {\an7}AFTER THE U.S. GOVERNMENT 341 00:19:59,432 --> 00:20:02,669 {\an7}AUTHORIZED THE NEW TERRITORIES \h\h\h\hOF MONTANA AND WYOMING 342 00:20:02,702 --> 00:20:04,971 {\an7}IN THE 1860s, 343 00:20:05,004 --> 00:20:08,207 {\an7}THERE WAS ALSO GROWING INTEREST \h\h\h\hBY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS 344 00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:11,977 {\an7}\h\hTO EXPLORE EVERY CORNER OF THESE NEW WESTERN LANDS. 345 00:20:13,679 --> 00:20:16,182 {\an7}FINALLY, IN 1870, 346 00:20:16,215 --> 00:20:20,119 {\an7}\h\h\hTHE SURVEYOR GENERAL, A MAN NAMED HENRY WASHBURN, 347 00:20:20,152 --> 00:20:23,756 {\an7}LED THE FIRST MAJOR EXPEDITION \h\h\h\h\h\h\hINTO YELLOWSTONE. 348 00:20:23,789 --> 00:20:28,794 {\an7}♪ 349 00:20:28,828 --> 00:20:32,231 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hON AUGUST 22nd, THE 19 MEMBERS OF THE PARTY, 350 00:20:32,264 --> 00:20:35,567 {\an7}\h\hKNOWN AS THE WASHBURN- LANGFORD-DOANE EXPEDITION, 351 00:20:35,601 --> 00:20:38,404 {\an7}SET OFF FROM FORT ELLIS \hIN BOZEMAN, MONTANA, 352 00:20:38,437 --> 00:20:40,506 {\an7}ON HORSEBACK. 353 00:20:40,539 --> 00:20:44,143 {\an7}THIS FARM NOW LIES ON THE SITE \h\h\h\h\hOF THAT FORMER FORT, 354 00:20:44,176 --> 00:20:46,311 {\an7}WHICH IS NO LONGER STANDING. 355 00:20:46,345 --> 00:20:49,915 {\an7}WASHBURN AND THE OTHERS MADE THEIR WAY ACROSS THE PLATEAU 356 00:20:49,949 --> 00:20:51,050 {\an7}AND ALONG THE RIM 357 00:20:51,083 --> 00:20:53,552 {\an7}OF THE GRAND CANYON OF THE YELLOWSTONE. 358 00:20:53,586 --> 00:20:57,623 {\an7}\hA FEW DAYS LATER, THEY THOUGHT THEY SAW SMOKE IN THE DISTANCE. 359 00:20:57,656 --> 00:21:00,025 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hBUT REALIZING IT WAS ACTUALLY STEAM, 360 00:21:00,059 --> 00:21:01,794 {\an7}THEY CELEBRATED. 361 00:21:01,827 --> 00:21:05,197 {\an7}\h\hFINALLY, THEY WERE CLOSE TO THE MYSTERIOUS THERMAL FEATURES 362 00:21:05,231 --> 00:21:08,134 {\an7}\h\h\h\hTHEY HAD HEARD SO MANY STORIES ABOUT. 363 00:21:08,167 --> 00:21:10,369 {\an7}\h\h\hWHEN THEY REACHED THE UPPER GEYSER BASIN, 364 00:21:10,402 --> 00:21:12,938 {\an7}\h\h\hTHIS WAS ONE OF THE VERY FIRST SIGHTS 365 00:21:12,972 --> 00:21:14,273 {\an7}THEY SET EYES ON. 366 00:21:16,976 --> 00:21:20,146 {\an7}SINCE THEY THOUGHT IT LOOKED \h\hLIKE TURRETS ON A CASTLE, 367 00:21:20,179 --> 00:21:23,215 {\an7}THEY NAMED IT "CASTLE GEYSER." 368 00:21:23,249 --> 00:21:26,252 {\an7}\hIT STILL ERUPTS EVERY 10-12 HOURS 369 00:21:26,285 --> 00:21:29,822 {\an7}AND SENDS A STREAM OF WATER UP TO 90 FEET INTO THE SKY. 370 00:21:29,855 --> 00:21:37,796 {\an7}♪ 371 00:21:37,830 --> 00:21:40,032 {\an7}AS THEY MAPPED, MEASURED, \h\h\h\h\hAND DOCUMENTED 372 00:21:40,065 --> 00:21:42,134 {\an7}EVERYTHING THEY SAW, 373 00:21:42,168 --> 00:21:45,204 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hTHEY NAMED MANY MORE OF YELLOWSTONE’S IMPRESSIVE SIGHTS. 374 00:21:45,237 --> 00:21:51,477 {\an7}♪ 375 00:21:51,510 --> 00:21:53,612 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hAFTER WATCHING THE WATERS OF A SMALL CREEK 376 00:21:53,646 --> 00:21:56,249 {\an7}\h\h\hRACE THROUGH THIS NARROW CHANNEL 377 00:21:56,282 --> 00:21:58,484 {\an7}\h\h\hAND THEN PLUNGE TO THE VALLEY BELOW, 378 00:21:58,517 --> 00:22:01,487 {\an7}THEY NAMED THIS SITE \h\h\h\h"TOWER FALL." 379 00:22:03,355 --> 00:22:06,491 {\an7}\hBUT SINCE THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF WATERFALLS IN YELLOWSTONE, 380 00:22:06,525 --> 00:22:08,227 {\an7}BIG AND SMALL, 381 00:22:08,260 --> 00:22:10,863 {\an7}\h\hTHERE WERE FAR TOO MANY FOR THE EXPEDITION TO NAME. 382 00:22:10,896 --> 00:22:16,435 {\an7}♪ 383 00:22:16,468 --> 00:22:19,004 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hONE OUTCOME OF THE WASHBURN EXPEDITION 384 00:22:19,038 --> 00:22:21,207 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWAS THAT MORE AND MORE SCIENTISTS 385 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:24,376 {\an7}STARTED GETTING CURIOUS \h\hABOUT YELLOWSTONE. 386 00:22:24,410 --> 00:22:27,847 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN 1871, THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 387 00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:30,483 {\an7}\h\h\h\hBACKED PLANS FOR A NEW EXPEDITION 388 00:22:30,516 --> 00:22:32,818 {\an7}TO THOROUGHLY DOCUMENT \hTHE REGION’S PLANTS, 389 00:22:32,852 --> 00:22:35,221 {\an7}ANIMALS, AND MINERALS 390 00:22:35,254 --> 00:22:39,225 {\an7}\hAND TO MAP ITS LAKES AND THERMAL FEATURES. 391 00:22:39,258 --> 00:22:43,929 {\an7}IT WAS LED BY A GEOLOGIST \hNAMED FERDINAND HAYDEN. 392 00:22:43,963 --> 00:22:48,935 {\an7}WITH THEM WAS A PHOTOGRAPHER, \h\h\hWILLIAM HENRY JACKSON. 393 00:22:48,968 --> 00:22:51,070 {\an7}LUGGING 300 POUNDS OF GEAR, 394 00:22:51,103 --> 00:22:54,340 {\an7}INCLUDING HIS LARGE FORMAT \h\hBLACK-AND-WHITE CAMERA, 395 00:22:54,373 --> 00:22:57,710 {\an7}JACKSON TOOK THE FIRST-EVER \h\h\h\hPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES 396 00:22:57,743 --> 00:22:59,778 {\an7}OF YELLOWSTONE. 397 00:22:59,812 --> 00:23:06,519 {\an7}♪ 398 00:23:06,552 --> 00:23:08,921 {\an7}BUT IT WAS AN OIL PAINTER \h\h\h\hON THE EXPEDITION 399 00:23:08,954 --> 00:23:11,056 {\an7}NAMED THOMAS MORAN 400 00:23:11,090 --> 00:23:13,192 {\an7}WHO BROUGHT IT ALL ALIVE 401 00:23:13,225 --> 00:23:15,094 {\an7}IN FULL-BLOWN COLOR. 402 00:23:15,127 --> 00:23:22,434 {\an7}♪ 403 00:23:22,468 --> 00:23:26,072 {\an7}MORAN’S MOST FAMOUS PAINTING \h\h\hIS OF THE LOWER FALLS, 404 00:23:26,105 --> 00:23:27,073 {\an7}VIEWED FROM INSIDE 405 00:23:27,106 --> 00:23:28,908 {\an7}\hTHE GRAND CANYON OF THE YELLOWSTONE. 406 00:23:30,776 --> 00:23:34,113 {\an7}\h\hTHE IMAGES AND SPECIMENS THAT HAYDEN’S TEAM COLLECTED 407 00:23:34,146 --> 00:23:36,248 {\an7}WERE PUT ON DISPLAY \h\h\hIN WASHINGTON 408 00:23:36,282 --> 00:23:37,717 {\an7}AND HELPED ENERGIZE A MOVEMENT 409 00:23:37,750 --> 00:23:39,652 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hTO CONVINCE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 410 00:23:39,685 --> 00:23:42,521 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hTO SET ASIDE AND PROTECT YELLOWSTONE 411 00:23:42,554 --> 00:23:45,390 {\an7}AS A HUGE PUBLIC PARK. 412 00:23:45,424 --> 00:23:48,894 {\an7}\hIT TOOK THREE TRIES TO GET CONGRESS TO VOTE ON THE BILL. 413 00:23:48,928 --> 00:23:53,199 {\an7}\h\hBUT WHEN IT DID, ON FEBRUARY 27, 1872, 414 00:23:53,232 --> 00:23:56,902 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT PASSED, WITH 115 VOTES IN FAVOR. 415 00:23:56,936 --> 00:23:59,705 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hAND THAT’S HOW YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK 416 00:23:59,738 --> 00:24:01,940 {\an7}WAS BORN. 417 00:24:01,974 --> 00:24:05,077 {\an7}\hIT WAS THE FIRST PIECE OF WILD LAND IN AMERICA 418 00:24:05,110 --> 00:24:07,646 {\an7}\h\h\h\hSET ASIDE FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES 419 00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:09,715 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO BE MANAGED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. 420 00:24:11,250 --> 00:24:15,020 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hSINCE THEN, 58 MORE NATIONAL PARKS HAVE FOLLOWED. 421 00:24:15,054 --> 00:24:21,661 {\an7}♪ 422 00:24:21,694 --> 00:24:24,163 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSOON AFTER YELLOWSTONE WAS CREATED, 423 00:24:24,196 --> 00:24:27,633 {\an7}A NEW MOUNTAIN TOWN IN MONTANA, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hCALLED GARDINER, 424 00:24:27,666 --> 00:24:30,035 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hBEGAN SERVING AS ITS NORTHERN GATEWAY, 425 00:24:30,069 --> 00:24:31,437 {\an7}AND STILL DOES TODAY. 426 00:24:33,339 --> 00:24:36,409 {\an7}HIKERS AND FISHERMEN COME HERE \h\h\h\h\hTO OUTFIT THEMSELVES 427 00:24:36,442 --> 00:24:37,843 {\an7}FOR THEIR JOURNEYS \h\hINTO THE PARK. 428 00:24:39,812 --> 00:24:44,717 {\an7}\h\hIN 1903, A STONE ARCH WAS ERECTED TO MARK THE ENTRANCE. 429 00:24:44,750 --> 00:24:46,018 {\an7}WHEN IT WAS BEING BUILT, 430 00:24:46,051 --> 00:24:47,452 {\an7}PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT 431 00:24:47,486 --> 00:24:49,788 {\an7}HAPPENED TO BE ON VACATION \h\h\h\h\h\hIN YELLOWSTONE. 432 00:24:52,858 --> 00:24:55,527 {\an7}THE MASONS CONVINCED HIM TO LAY THE CORNERSTONE, 433 00:24:55,561 --> 00:24:59,532 {\an7}\h\h\h\hAND THAT’S WHY THE ARCH WAS NAMED IN ROOSEVELT’S HONOR. 434 00:24:59,565 --> 00:25:00,833 {\an7}SINCE THEN, 435 00:25:00,866 --> 00:25:03,135 {\an7}MILLIONS OF EXCITED VISITORS \h\h\h\hHAVE PASSED UNDER IT, 436 00:25:03,168 --> 00:25:05,671 {\an7}EAGER TO SEE AMERICA’S \h\hFIRST NATIONAL PARK 437 00:25:05,704 --> 00:25:07,172 {\an7}FOR THEMSELVES. 438 00:25:08,574 --> 00:25:10,810 {\an7}ABOVE THEM ARE THE WORDS, 439 00:25:10,843 --> 00:25:14,347 {\an7}"FOR THE BENEFIT AND ENJOYMENT \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE PEOPLE." 440 00:25:17,483 --> 00:25:20,252 {\an7}ANOTHER MAJOR JUMPING-OFF POINT \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO THE NEW PARK 441 00:25:20,285 --> 00:25:23,388 {\an7}\h\h\h\hWAS THE TOWN OF JACKSON, WYOMING. 442 00:25:23,422 --> 00:25:25,824 {\an7}\h\hIT GOT ITS START AS A FUR TRADING HUB, 443 00:25:25,858 --> 00:25:27,126 {\an7}AND LIKE GARDINER, 444 00:25:27,159 --> 00:25:30,095 {\an7}JACKSON IS ALSO FAMOUS \h\h\h\h\hFOR AN ARCH. 445 00:25:30,129 --> 00:25:34,634 {\an7}IN FACT, IT HAS FOUR OF THEM \h\h\h\h\hON ITS TOWN SQUARE. 446 00:25:34,666 --> 00:25:39,104 {\an7}\h\hEACH ONE TOOK ABOUT 10,000 POUNDS OF ELK ANTLER TO BUILD. 447 00:25:41,473 --> 00:25:44,509 {\an7}JACKSON LIES IN THE VALLEY \h\h\h\h\hOF JACKSON HOLE, 448 00:25:44,543 --> 00:25:45,944 {\an7}ALONG THE SNAKE RIVER, 449 00:25:45,978 --> 00:25:48,981 {\an7}SOUTHEAST OF THE TETONS. 450 00:25:49,014 --> 00:25:52,184 {\an7}BY THE 1920s, A PAVED ROAD \h\h\hHAD BEEN CONSTRUCTED 451 00:25:52,217 --> 00:25:54,920 {\an7}FROM JACKSON INTO YELLOWSTONE, 452 00:25:54,953 --> 00:25:57,622 {\an7}AND MORE THAN 400 YELLOW TOUR BUSES 453 00:25:57,656 --> 00:26:02,327 {\an7}WERE ALREADY SHUTTLING VISITORS \h\h\h\h\hALL AROUND THE PARK. 454 00:26:02,361 --> 00:26:04,997 {\an7}\h\h\h\hTODAY, A FEW OF THESE HISTORIC VEHICLES 455 00:26:05,030 --> 00:26:06,732 {\an7}ARE STILL IN OPERATION. 456 00:26:10,202 --> 00:26:11,937 {\an7}YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK 457 00:26:11,970 --> 00:26:16,875 {\an7}COVERS 3,472 SQUARE MILES \h\h\h\h\h\hOF TERRITORY. 458 00:26:18,911 --> 00:26:22,748 {\an7}\h\hBUT IT HAS ONLY 466 MILES OF ROADS. 459 00:26:22,781 --> 00:26:28,220 {\an7}♪ 460 00:26:28,253 --> 00:26:30,522 {\an7}IN THE BUSIEST MONTH OF JULY, 461 00:26:30,556 --> 00:26:33,759 {\an7}THEY CARRY MORE THAN \h\h30,000 VISITORS, 462 00:26:33,792 --> 00:26:36,995 {\an7}\h\h\hWHICH IS THREE TIMES THE POPULATION OF JACKSON. 463 00:26:37,029 --> 00:26:41,233 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hAND THAT’S WHY TRAFFIC JAMS ARE COMMON. 464 00:26:41,266 --> 00:26:43,101 {\an7}BUT TOURISTS ARE JUST THE LATEST 465 00:26:43,135 --> 00:26:45,537 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hIN A LONG HISTORY OF THOSE WHO HAVE EXPLORED 466 00:26:45,571 --> 00:26:48,407 {\an7}YELLOWSTONE’S HILLS, RIVERS, AND VALLEYS. 467 00:26:51,810 --> 00:26:54,179 {\an7}\h\hARCHAEOLOGISTS HAVE FOUND EVIDENCE 468 00:26:54,213 --> 00:26:59,552 {\an7}THAT NATIVE AMERICANS WERE HERE \h\h\h\h\h\h\h11,000 YEARS AGO. 469 00:26:59,585 --> 00:27:01,921 {\an7}\h\hLATER, THE REGION WAS USED BY ANCESTORS 470 00:27:01,954 --> 00:27:05,624 {\an7}OF THE TRIBES KNOWN TODAY AS THE BLACKFEET, BANNOCK, 471 00:27:05,657 --> 00:27:07,559 {\an7}NEZ PERCE, SHOSHONE, 472 00:27:07,593 --> 00:27:09,728 {\an7}AND UMATILLA, AMONG OTHERS. 473 00:27:12,297 --> 00:27:15,000 {\an7}BECAUSE OF YELLOWSTONE’S \h\h\h\h\hHARSH WINTERS, 474 00:27:15,033 --> 00:27:17,035 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMOST TRIBES CAME IN THE SUMMER MONTHS 475 00:27:17,069 --> 00:27:18,771 {\an7}TO FISH IN ITS RIVERS, 476 00:27:18,804 --> 00:27:20,739 {\an7}JUST LIKE PEOPLE STILL DO TODAY. 477 00:27:22,174 --> 00:27:24,643 {\an7}BUT THEY ALSO CAME TO HUNT. 478 00:27:27,779 --> 00:27:31,683 {\an7}\hTHE PLATEAU’S LOCATION BETWEEN DIFFERENT NATIVE AMERICAN LANDS 479 00:27:31,717 --> 00:27:35,254 {\an7}\h\hMADE IT A CONVENIENT PLACE FOR TRIBES TO GATHER AND TRADE. 480 00:27:37,089 --> 00:27:39,959 {\an7}ONE KNOWN MEETING SPOT WAS HERE, 481 00:27:39,992 --> 00:27:42,394 {\an7}\h\hON THE NORTH SIDE OF YELLOWSTONE LAKE, 482 00:27:42,427 --> 00:27:45,530 {\an7}WHERE FISHING BRIDGE NOW CROSSES THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER. 483 00:27:45,564 --> 00:27:54,039 {\an7}♪ 484 00:27:54,072 --> 00:27:57,008 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT YELLOWSTONE HAD SOMETHING ELSE TO OFFER, 485 00:27:57,042 --> 00:27:59,444 {\an7}THANKS TO ITS VOLCANIC PAST-- 486 00:27:59,478 --> 00:28:01,013 {\an7}A SPECIAL KIND OF ROCK 487 00:28:01,046 --> 00:28:06,318 {\an7}THAT WAS PERFECT FOR MAKING \h\h\h\hTOOLS AND WEAPONS. 488 00:28:06,351 --> 00:28:08,954 {\an7}\h\h\h\hDEPOSITS OF IT CAN STILL BE FOUND HERE 489 00:28:08,987 --> 00:28:11,656 {\an7}AT OBSIDIAN CLIFF. 490 00:28:11,690 --> 00:28:17,529 {\an7}\h\hTHESE DARK, JAGGED FORMS ARE ACTUALLY VOLCANIC GLASS. 491 00:28:17,563 --> 00:28:21,067 {\an7}TODAY, SURGEONS USE SCALPELS \h\h\h\h\hMADE FROM OBSIDIAN 492 00:28:21,099 --> 00:28:24,436 {\an7}\hIN SOME OF THE WORLD’S MOST DELICATE SURGICAL PROCEDURES. 493 00:28:24,469 --> 00:28:26,271 {\an7}BUT FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, 494 00:28:26,305 --> 00:28:30,376 {\an7}\h\h\hNATIVE AMERICANS USED IT TO MAKE KNIVES AND ARROWHEADS. 495 00:28:30,409 --> 00:28:32,878 {\an7}BY X-RAYING OBSIDIAN, 496 00:28:32,911 --> 00:28:37,315 {\an7}\h\hRESEARCHERS CAN TELL WHICH VOLCANIC SOURCE IT COMES FROM. 497 00:28:37,349 --> 00:28:38,584 {\an7}IT’S HOW THEY DISCOVERED 498 00:28:38,617 --> 00:28:40,853 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT TOOLS FOUND IN NATIVE AMERICAN SETTLEMENTS 499 00:28:40,886 --> 00:28:42,721 {\an7}AS FAR AWAY AS OHIO 500 00:28:42,754 --> 00:28:45,490 {\an7}CAME FROM THE WALLS \hOF OBSIDIAN CLIFF 501 00:28:45,524 --> 00:28:47,259 {\an7}IN YELLOWSTONE. 502 00:28:49,428 --> 00:28:50,696 {\an7}IT’S POWERFUL EVIDENCE 503 00:28:50,729 --> 00:28:53,966 {\an7}\hOF YELLOWSTONE’S RICH HUMAN HISTORY, 504 00:28:53,999 --> 00:28:56,034 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hLONG BEFORE TOURISTS FLOCKED HERE 505 00:28:56,068 --> 00:28:59,705 {\an7}TO SEE ITS RIVERS, WILDLIFE, \h\h\h\hAND THERMAL FEATURES. 506 00:28:59,738 --> 00:29:11,817 {\an7}♪ 507 00:29:14,620 --> 00:29:18,524 {\an7}THE LAST MAJOR ERUPTIONS OF YELLOWSTONE’S SUPER VOLCANO 508 00:29:18,557 --> 00:29:22,761 {\an7}HAPPENED MORE THAN 600,000 YEARS AGO. 509 00:29:22,794 --> 00:29:24,162 {\an7}THE NEXT MAJOR ERUPTION 510 00:29:24,196 --> 00:29:28,000 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hCOULD OBLITERATE YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. 511 00:29:28,033 --> 00:29:29,368 {\an7}BUT SCIENTISTS SAY 512 00:29:29,401 --> 00:29:32,804 {\an7}THAT’S PROBABLY NOT GOING \hTO HAPPEN ANYTIME SOON. 513 00:29:34,473 --> 00:29:37,476 {\an7}\h\h\h\hBUT WHILE YELLOWSTONE COULD ULTIMATELY BE DESTROYED 514 00:29:37,509 --> 00:29:39,745 {\an7}BY FORCES UNDERGROUND, 515 00:29:39,778 --> 00:29:42,381 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hMUCH OF WHAT GIVES THE PARK ITS LIFE 516 00:29:42,414 --> 00:29:45,717 {\an7}FALLS DOWN FROM THE SKY-- 517 00:29:45,751 --> 00:29:47,920 {\an7}SNOW. 518 00:29:47,953 --> 00:29:50,322 {\an7}ALONG YELLOWSTONE’S \h\hEASTERN BORDER 519 00:29:50,355 --> 00:29:54,559 {\an7}\h\hIS A PIECE OF THE ROCKIES KNOWN AS THE ABSAROKA RANGE. 520 00:29:54,593 --> 00:29:57,496 {\an7}IF YOU FOLLOW THE RIDGES \h\hOF THESE JAGGED PEAKS 521 00:29:57,529 --> 00:29:59,998 {\an7}AS THEY CLIMB HIGHER AND HIGHER, 522 00:30:00,032 --> 00:30:01,700 {\an7}THEY WILL LEAD YOU \hRIGHT TO THE TOP 523 00:30:01,733 --> 00:30:05,237 {\an7}OF A SNOW-COVERED SUMMIT \h\hCALLED YOUNT’S PEAK. 524 00:30:05,270 --> 00:30:10,242 {\an7}♪ 525 00:30:10,275 --> 00:30:15,847 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hIT TOUCHES THE SKY AT 12,165 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL 526 00:30:15,881 --> 00:30:18,016 {\an7}AND WAS NAMED AFTER A COLORFUL CHARACTER 527 00:30:18,050 --> 00:30:20,319 {\an7}NAMED HENRY YOUNT. 528 00:30:20,352 --> 00:30:24,957 {\an7}HE WAS A 19th-CENTURY HUNTER, PROSPECTOR, CIVIL WAR SOLDIER, 529 00:30:24,990 --> 00:30:26,592 {\an7}\h\h\hAND THE FIRST OFFICIAL GAMEKEEPER 530 00:30:26,625 --> 00:30:28,927 {\an7}OF YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. 531 00:30:31,863 --> 00:30:37,035 {\an7}\h\h\h\hCOME WINTER, THIS IS A HARSH, UNINHABITABLE WORLD. 532 00:30:37,069 --> 00:30:39,805 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT YOUNT’S PEAK AND ITS SURROUNDING MOUNTAINS 533 00:30:39,838 --> 00:30:43,342 {\an7}ARE ALSO THE LIFE FORCE \h\h\h\hOF YELLOWSTONE. 534 00:30:43,375 --> 00:30:47,846 {\an7}♪ 535 00:30:47,879 --> 00:30:51,349 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hOVER MILLENNIA, SNOWMELT FROM THESE GIANTS 536 00:30:51,383 --> 00:30:54,319 {\an7}\h\h\h\hHAS FLOWED DOWN INTO THE VALLEYS BELOW 537 00:30:54,353 --> 00:30:59,225 {\an7}AND CONVERGED TO CREATE \hTHE YELLOWSTONE RIVER. 538 00:30:59,257 --> 00:31:02,994 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hFOR MONTHS AT A TIME, THIS RIVER IS COVERED BY SNOW, 539 00:31:03,028 --> 00:31:06,698 {\an7}\hAS IT WINDS THROUGH THE THOROFARE VALLEY. 540 00:31:06,732 --> 00:31:08,334 {\an7}THIS VALLEY HAS BEEN CALLED 541 00:31:08,367 --> 00:31:11,770 {\an7}\h\h\h\hTHE MOST REMOTE PIECE OF WILDERNESS IN THE LOWER 48 542 00:31:11,803 --> 00:31:16,641 {\an7}BECAUSE IT LIES MORE THAN \h20 MILES FROM ANY ROAD. 543 00:31:16,675 --> 00:31:20,846 {\an7}\h\hTO AID THOSE WHO VENTURE THIS FAR INTO YELLOWSTONE’S INTERIOR, 544 00:31:20,879 --> 00:31:23,882 {\an7}A NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RANGER \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS POSTED HERE 545 00:31:23,915 --> 00:31:26,951 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAT THE TINY THOROFARE RANGER STATION. 546 00:31:26,985 --> 00:31:28,186 {\an7}OVER THE YEARS, 547 00:31:28,220 --> 00:31:31,390 {\an7}THESE RANGERS HAVE RESCUED \h\h\hMANY INJURED HIKERS. 548 00:31:31,423 --> 00:31:33,525 {\an7}THEY ARE ALSO HERE \h\hTO NAB POACHERS 549 00:31:33,558 --> 00:31:36,194 {\an7}WHO VENTURE ILLEGALLY \h\h\hONTO PARK LAND. 550 00:31:38,130 --> 00:31:40,566 {\an7}BUT WHEN THE SNOW ARRIVES, 551 00:31:40,599 --> 00:31:46,138 {\an7}THIS LONELY OUTPOST IS SHUTTERED FOR THE HARSH WINTER AHEAD. 552 00:31:46,171 --> 00:31:48,840 {\an7}THIS VALLEY GOT ITS NAME, \h\h\h\h\hTHE THOROFARE, 553 00:31:48,874 --> 00:31:50,976 {\an7}BECAUSE IT WAS ONCE \hTHE PRIMARY ROUTE 554 00:31:51,009 --> 00:31:53,478 {\an7}THAT NATIVE AMERICANS AND FUR TRAPPERS USED 555 00:31:53,512 --> 00:31:58,617 {\an7}\hTO GET INTO YELLOWSTONE FROM JACKSON, WYOMING, TO THE SOUTH. 556 00:31:58,650 --> 00:32:00,051 {\an7}IN WINTER, 557 00:32:00,085 --> 00:32:03,088 {\an7}THEIR EARLY TRAILS PROBABLY LOOKED A LOT LIKE THIS ONE, 558 00:32:03,121 --> 00:32:05,156 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMADE BY THE SNOWSHOES OF HIKERS 559 00:32:05,190 --> 00:32:07,159 {\an7}\hAS THEY CROSSED THE FROZEN WATERS 560 00:32:07,192 --> 00:32:09,628 {\an7}OF THE THOROFARE VALLEY. 561 00:32:09,661 --> 00:32:13,298 {\an7}\hLIKE THEM, EARLY TRAVELERS ALSO CARVED HOLES IN THE ICE 562 00:32:13,331 --> 00:32:17,435 {\an7}TO GET TO WATER AND FISH BELOW. 563 00:32:17,469 --> 00:32:19,638 {\an7}♪ 564 00:32:19,671 --> 00:32:22,007 {\an7}UNDER THIS FROZEN WILDERNESS, 565 00:32:22,040 --> 00:32:24,776 {\an7}THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER CONTINUES ITS JOURNEY. 566 00:32:27,112 --> 00:32:31,416 {\an7}\hITS WATERS ARE THE SOURCE OF ONE OF YELLOWSTONE’S WONDERS-- 567 00:32:31,450 --> 00:32:35,120 {\an7}A 132-SQUARE-MILE BODY OF WATER 568 00:32:35,153 --> 00:32:37,355 {\an7}\hTHAT’S THE LARGEST HIGH ELEVATION LAKE 569 00:32:37,389 --> 00:32:39,625 {\an7}ON THE CONTINENT. 570 00:32:39,658 --> 00:32:42,494 {\an7}YELLOWSTONE’S LAST MAJOR \h\h\hVOLCANIC ERUPTIONS 571 00:32:42,527 --> 00:32:45,663 {\an7}LEFT BEHIND A GIANT CALDERA. 572 00:32:45,697 --> 00:32:47,098 {\an7}OVER TIME, 573 00:32:47,132 --> 00:32:49,801 {\an7}WATER FROM THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER AND THE SURROUNDING MOUNTAINS 574 00:32:49,835 --> 00:32:54,673 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFILLED IT UP AND CREATED YELLOWSTONE LAKE. 575 00:32:54,706 --> 00:32:59,411 {\an7}\h\h\hTHE FLOOR OF THIS LAKE DROPS TO A DEPTH OF 390 FEET, 576 00:32:59,444 --> 00:33:02,180 {\an7}\hAND LIKE THE GROUND ALL OVER YELLOWSTONE, 577 00:33:02,214 --> 00:33:05,284 {\an7}\h\h\h\hIT, TOO, IS RIDDLED WITH ACTIVE THERMAL VENTS. 578 00:33:07,319 --> 00:33:08,687 {\an7}BUT IN THE WINTER, 579 00:33:08,720 --> 00:33:12,524 {\an7}THE TOP TWO FEET OF THE LAKE \hARE STILL OFTEN SOLID ICE. 580 00:33:12,557 --> 00:33:18,763 {\an7}♪ 581 00:33:18,797 --> 00:33:20,499 {\an7}ON THE NORTH SIDE, 582 00:33:20,532 --> 00:33:23,101 {\an7}THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER \h\h\h\hEMERGES AGAIN 583 00:33:23,134 --> 00:33:28,373 {\an7}TO BEGIN A SLOW, WINDING JOURNEY THROUGH THE HAYDEN VALLEY. 584 00:33:28,406 --> 00:33:30,808 {\an7}THIS IS A FREQUENT \h\hGATHERING SPOT 585 00:33:30,842 --> 00:33:34,579 {\an7}FOR ONE OF YELLOWSTONE’S \hMOST FRAGILE SPECIES-- 586 00:33:34,613 --> 00:33:36,248 {\an7}TRUMPETER SWANS. 587 00:33:38,383 --> 00:33:41,653 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWITH A WINGSPAN THAT CAN REACH 8 FEET ACROSS, 588 00:33:41,686 --> 00:33:46,157 {\an7}\h\h\hTHEY ARE THE LARGEST WILD WATERFOWL IN THE U.S. 589 00:33:46,191 --> 00:33:50,028 {\an7}\h\h\h\hTHIS SHALLOW, SLOW-MOVING SECTION OF THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER 590 00:33:50,061 --> 00:33:53,731 {\an7}\hIS A PERFECT PLACE FOR THEM TO FEED ON PLANTS UNDERWATER, 591 00:33:53,765 --> 00:33:55,734 {\an7}EVEN IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER. 592 00:33:55,767 --> 00:34:01,773 {\an7}♪ 593 00:34:01,806 --> 00:34:03,608 {\an7}LESS THAN A CENTURY AGO, 594 00:34:03,642 --> 00:34:07,279 {\an7}THIS SPECIES WAS ALMOST EXTINCT \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN NORTH AMERICA. 595 00:34:07,312 --> 00:34:11,616 {\an7}\h\hENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS HELPED THEM MAKE A COMEBACK, 596 00:34:11,650 --> 00:34:16,488 {\an7}\hAND BY 1961, THERE WERE 72 SWANS INSIDE THE PARK. 597 00:34:19,724 --> 00:34:23,895 {\an7}BUT SINCE THEN, THEIR POPULATION HAS BEEN DECLINING. 598 00:34:23,929 --> 00:34:27,766 {\an7}\h\hONE REASON IS THAT SWANS HAVE BECOME PREY FOR EAGLES, 599 00:34:27,799 --> 00:34:32,003 {\an7}WHICH USED TO FEED PRIMARILY \hON NATIVE CUTTHROAT TROUT. 600 00:34:32,037 --> 00:34:34,806 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT THEN, A NON-NATIVE SPECIES OF TROUT 601 00:34:34,839 --> 00:34:37,809 {\an7}INVADED YELLOWSTONE’S \h\hRIVERS AND LAKES. 602 00:34:37,842 --> 00:34:41,612 {\an7}NOW THE EAGLES HUNT SWANS. 603 00:34:41,646 --> 00:34:44,282 {\an7}\hJUST 29 OF THESE GRACEFUL CREATURES 604 00:34:44,316 --> 00:34:46,151 {\an7}ARE LEFT IN YELLOWSTONE, 605 00:34:46,184 --> 00:34:50,055 {\an7}AND SCIENTISTS ARE WORKING HARD \hTO TRY AND SAVE THIS SPECIES 606 00:34:50,088 --> 00:34:52,424 {\an7}BEFORE IT DISAPPEARS COMPLETELY. 607 00:34:52,457 --> 00:35:02,534 {\an7}♪ 608 00:35:02,567 --> 00:35:05,537 {\an7}\h\h\hTHE AVERAGE ELEVATION OF THE YELLOWSTONE PLATEAU 609 00:35:05,570 --> 00:35:07,739 {\an7}IS 8,000 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL. 610 00:35:09,908 --> 00:35:11,543 {\an7}AND IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER, 611 00:35:11,576 --> 00:35:13,011 {\an7}TEMPERATURES HERE CAN DROP 612 00:35:13,044 --> 00:35:17,582 {\an7}TO 40 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT \h\h\h\h\h\h\hBELOW ZERO. 613 00:35:17,616 --> 00:35:19,351 {\an7}HIGH UP IN THE MOUNTAINS, 614 00:35:19,384 --> 00:35:23,088 {\an7}\h\h\hRECORDED ANNUAL SNOWFALL HAS BEEN KNOWN TO HIT 30 FEET. 615 00:35:23,121 --> 00:35:30,862 {\an7}♪ 616 00:35:30,895 --> 00:35:32,263 {\an7}BY FEBRUARY, 617 00:35:32,297 --> 00:35:34,866 {\an7}\h\hMANY LAKES THROUGHOUT THE YELLOWSTONE ECOSYSTEM 618 00:35:34,899 --> 00:35:37,435 {\an7}ARE FROZEN SOLID. 619 00:35:37,469 --> 00:35:40,672 {\an7}\h\h\h\hAND THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT SOME LOCALS EAGERLY WAIT FOR-- 620 00:35:40,705 --> 00:35:42,140 {\an7}SO THEY CAN HEAD OUT, 621 00:35:42,173 --> 00:35:44,842 {\an7}BRAVE THE COLD, AND FISH. 622 00:35:46,378 --> 00:35:48,113 {\an7}EAST OF THE PARK’S BOUNDARIES 623 00:35:48,146 --> 00:35:50,615 {\an7}\h\hLIES THE LOWER SUNSHINE RESERVOIR, 624 00:35:50,649 --> 00:35:52,885 {\an7}IN MEETEETSE, WYOMING. 625 00:35:52,917 --> 00:35:56,387 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hTODAY, IT’S JUST ONE GIANT SHEET OF SOLID ICE. 626 00:35:58,757 --> 00:36:03,228 {\an7}IT’S ALSO THE SITE OF THE ANNUAL MEETEETSE ICE FISHING DERBY. 627 00:36:03,261 --> 00:36:06,531 {\an7}EVERY YEAR, TEAMS COME HERE AND SPEND A DAY ON THE ICE 628 00:36:06,564 --> 00:36:09,801 {\an7}TO SEE WHO CAN CATCH \h\hTHE BIGGEST FISH. 629 00:36:09,834 --> 00:36:15,173 {\an7}THE TEAM THAT CATCHES THE SIX LONGEST AND FATTEST FISH WINS. 630 00:36:15,206 --> 00:36:19,310 {\an7}MOST ARE CUTTHROAT AND RAINBOW TROUT. 631 00:36:19,544 --> 00:36:21,613 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHIS YEAR, THE WINNING TEAM’S SIX FISH 632 00:36:21,646 --> 00:36:25,683 {\an7}MEASURED IN AT 189.75 INCHES. 633 00:36:25,717 --> 00:36:31,056 {\an7}♪ 634 00:36:31,089 --> 00:36:34,826 {\an7}FOR CREATURES ALL ACROSS THE YELLOWSTONE REGION, 635 00:36:34,859 --> 00:36:36,794 {\an7}THE BEGINNING OF EVERY WINTER 636 00:36:36,828 --> 00:36:42,200 {\an7}IS THE START OF ANOTHER TOUGH SIX-MONTH BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL. 637 00:36:42,233 --> 00:36:44,902 {\an7}AND THERE’S NO BETTER PLACE \h\hTO WITNESS THAT BATTLE 638 00:36:44,936 --> 00:36:47,672 {\an7}THAN HERE, THE LAMAR VALLEY. 639 00:36:49,708 --> 00:36:53,779 {\an7}IT’S WHERE BALD EAGLES JOURNEY \h\hOUT OF THEIR NESTS TO HUNT 640 00:36:53,812 --> 00:36:57,082 {\an7}\h\h\h\hAND SCAVENGE LEFTOVERS FROM THE KILLS OF GRAY WOLVES. 641 00:36:57,115 --> 00:37:02,320 {\an7}♪ 642 00:37:02,353 --> 00:37:04,222 {\an7}ABOVE THE LAMAR VALLEY, 643 00:37:04,255 --> 00:37:07,024 {\an7}\h\h\h\hBIGHORN SHEEP USE THE STEEP ROCKY LANDSCAPE 644 00:37:07,058 --> 00:37:10,295 {\an7}TO HIDE FROM PREDATORS. 645 00:37:10,328 --> 00:37:12,564 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hLIKE MANY OF YELLOWSTONE’S CREATURES, 646 00:37:12,597 --> 00:37:15,333 {\an7}THEY FIND SAFETY IN NUMBERS. 647 00:37:18,236 --> 00:37:23,308 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT NEARBY, A EWE HAS BEEN LEFT BEHIND. 648 00:37:23,341 --> 00:37:24,542 {\an7}WITH A LAME FRONT LEG, 649 00:37:24,576 --> 00:37:27,913 {\an7}SHE STRUGGLES TO GET THROUGH \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE DEEP SNOW. 650 00:37:27,946 --> 00:37:32,651 {\an7}\hSHE’S THE PERFECT TARGET FOR A PACK OF YELLOWSTONE’S WOLVES. 651 00:37:32,684 --> 00:37:35,220 {\an7}BUT SHE HASN’T BEEN SPOTTED YET. 652 00:37:35,253 --> 00:37:43,962 {\an7}♪ 653 00:37:43,995 --> 00:37:46,731 {\an7}IN A LAND THAT’S PLUNGED \h\h\hINTO A DEEP FREEZE 654 00:37:46,765 --> 00:37:48,533 {\an7}FOR MOST OF THE YEAR, 655 00:37:48,566 --> 00:37:52,837 {\an7}YELLOWSTONE’S CREATURES HAVE HAD TO HONE THEIR SURVIVAL SKILLS. 656 00:37:52,871 --> 00:37:56,375 {\an7}♪ 657 00:37:56,407 --> 00:38:00,878 {\an7}BUT WINTER IS PARTICULARLY HARD \h\h\h\h\h\h\hON ONE SPECIES-- 658 00:38:00,912 --> 00:38:03,148 {\an7}BISON. 659 00:38:03,181 --> 00:38:07,352 {\an7}WEIGHING UP TO 2,000 POUNDS, THEY HAVE TO MOVE CONSTANTLY 660 00:38:07,385 --> 00:38:11,055 {\an7}TO FIND ENOUGH NUTRITION TO SURVIVE UNTIL SPRING. 661 00:38:11,089 --> 00:38:13,391 {\an7}THIS HERD IS FOLLOWING \h\h\hA MIGRATION ROUTE 662 00:38:13,424 --> 00:38:16,360 {\an7}ALONG THE FIREHOLE RIVER. 663 00:38:16,394 --> 00:38:18,396 {\an7}WHEN BISON DO FIND FOOD, 664 00:38:18,429 --> 00:38:21,098 {\an7}\hTHEY USUALLY GRAZE UNTIL IT’S ALL GONE. 665 00:38:21,132 --> 00:38:24,302 {\an7}♪ 666 00:38:24,335 --> 00:38:27,371 {\an7}\h\h\hONCE, THESE CREATURES BLANKETED THE GREAT PLAINS 667 00:38:27,405 --> 00:38:29,774 {\an7}BY THE TENS OF MILLIONS. 668 00:38:29,808 --> 00:38:33,545 {\an7}NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES TOOK PART IN ANNUAL BISON HUNTS 669 00:38:33,578 --> 00:38:36,648 {\an7}AND USED JUST ABOUT EVERY PART \hOF THE ANIMALS THEY KILLED-- 670 00:38:36,681 --> 00:38:40,185 {\an7}FOR FOOD, SHELTER, AND TOOLS. 671 00:38:40,218 --> 00:38:43,621 {\an7}\h\h\hAFTER EUROPEANS STARTED FANNING OUT ACROSS THE WEST, 672 00:38:43,655 --> 00:38:46,591 {\an7}\hBISON WERE SLAUGHTERED BY THE TENS OF THOUSANDS 673 00:38:46,624 --> 00:38:48,559 {\an7}FOR THEIR MEAT AND SKINS, 674 00:38:48,593 --> 00:38:51,563 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hAND SOMETIMES JUST FOR ENTERTAINMENT. 675 00:38:51,596 --> 00:38:52,931 {\an7}WITHIN A FEW DECADES, 676 00:38:52,964 --> 00:38:56,568 {\an7}\h\h\hAMERICA’S BISON WERE ALMOST EXTINCT. 677 00:38:56,601 --> 00:38:59,671 {\an7}TODAY, ROUGHLY 5,000 \hOF THESE CREATURES 678 00:38:59,704 --> 00:39:01,839 {\an7}INHABIT YELLOWSTONE. 679 00:39:01,873 --> 00:39:03,675 {\an7}IT’S THE ONLY PLACE \h\h\hIN THE NATION 680 00:39:03,708 --> 00:39:06,010 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hWHERE BISON HAVE LIVED CONTINUOUSLY 681 00:39:06,044 --> 00:39:08,713 {\an7}SINCE PREHISTORIC TIMES. 682 00:39:11,683 --> 00:39:15,820 {\an7}THE LARGE HUMPS ON THEIR BACKS ARE JUST BIG BUNDLES OF MUSCLE 683 00:39:15,854 --> 00:39:18,957 {\an7}THAT PROVIDE EXTRA POWER \h\h\h\hTO A BISON’S HEAD 684 00:39:18,990 --> 00:39:20,425 {\an7}TO HELP THEM CLEAR SNOW 685 00:39:20,458 --> 00:39:22,393 {\an7}SO THEY CAN ACCESS \h\hGRASSES BELOW. 686 00:39:25,163 --> 00:39:30,201 {\an7}\hBUT WINTER GRASSES HAVE ABOUT AS MUCH NUTRITION AS CARDBOARD. 687 00:39:30,235 --> 00:39:31,970 {\an7}SO, WITHOUT RESERVES OF FAT 688 00:39:32,003 --> 00:39:34,239 {\an7}\hBUILT UP DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS 689 00:39:34,272 --> 00:39:35,740 {\an7}AND THICK COATS, 690 00:39:35,773 --> 00:39:37,708 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHESE ANIMALS WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO SURVIVE 691 00:39:37,742 --> 00:39:39,244 {\an7}WINTER IN YELLOWSTONE. 692 00:39:41,479 --> 00:39:44,749 {\an7}AND MANY DON’T. 693 00:39:44,782 --> 00:39:49,687 {\an7}\h\h\h\hABOUT 9% OF ADULTS WON’T MAKE IT UNTIL SPRING. 694 00:39:49,721 --> 00:39:52,123 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBABY BISON ARE EVEN MORE VULNERABLE 695 00:39:52,156 --> 00:39:54,592 {\an7}TO THE COLD AND LACK OF FOOD. 696 00:39:54,626 --> 00:39:55,827 {\an7}EVERY YEAR, 697 00:39:55,860 --> 00:39:58,229 {\an7}UP TO 40% OF THE PARK’S \h\h\h\hYOUNGEST BISON 698 00:39:58,263 --> 00:40:00,565 {\an7}PERISH DURING THE WINTER, 699 00:40:00,598 --> 00:40:04,135 {\an7}FROM EXPOSURE, PREDATION, \h\hAND ACCIDENTAL DEATH. 700 00:40:08,139 --> 00:40:11,876 {\an7}\hBUT YELLOWSTONE CAN BE DANGEROUS AND EVEN DEADLY 701 00:40:11,910 --> 00:40:13,412 {\an7}FOR HUMANS, TOO. 702 00:40:16,080 --> 00:40:19,383 {\an7}EVERY YEAR, AT LEAST ONE OR TWO \h\h\h\h\hVISITORS TO THE PARK 703 00:40:19,417 --> 00:40:21,452 {\an7}ARE GORED BY BISON 704 00:40:21,486 --> 00:40:25,857 {\an7}\h\hAFTER GETTING TOO CLOSE FOR PHOTO OPS AND SELFIES. 705 00:40:25,890 --> 00:40:27,525 {\an7}AND IN 2018, 706 00:40:27,558 --> 00:40:32,797 {\an7}TWO WOMEN WERE KICKED BY ELK \h\hNEAR A YELLOWSTONE HOTEL. 707 00:40:32,830 --> 00:40:36,701 {\an7}AT LEAST 20 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN THE PARK’S THERMAL POOLS. 708 00:40:36,734 --> 00:40:38,736 {\an7}MOST FALL IN ACCIDENTALLY. 709 00:40:38,770 --> 00:40:42,674 {\an7}BUT IN 1981, A MAN DECIDED \h\h\h\hTO DIVE INTO A POOL 710 00:40:42,707 --> 00:40:45,276 {\an7}THAT WAS 202 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT 711 00:40:45,310 --> 00:40:48,747 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hTO TRY AND SAVE HIS FRIEND’S DROWNING DOG. 712 00:40:48,780 --> 00:40:52,817 {\an7}NEITHER HE NOR THE DOG SURVIVED. 713 00:40:52,850 --> 00:40:56,120 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hBUT FOR HIKERS OUT IN YELLOWSTONE’S BACKCOUNTRY, 714 00:40:56,154 --> 00:40:58,490 {\an7}ONE OF THE BIGGEST POTENTIAL DANGERS 715 00:40:58,523 --> 00:41:00,558 {\an7}IS A MOTHER GRIZZLY WITH CUBS. 716 00:41:02,060 --> 00:41:04,963 {\an7}BEAR ATTACKS IN YELLOWSTONE \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hARE RARE. 717 00:41:04,996 --> 00:41:06,931 {\an7}BUT, SINCE 1872, 718 00:41:06,965 --> 00:41:10,168 {\an7}AT LEAST EIGHT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN \h\h\hMAULED TO DEATH BY BEARS, 719 00:41:10,201 --> 00:41:13,004 {\an7}INSIDE THE PARK. 720 00:41:13,037 --> 00:41:15,773 {\an7}ONE HAPPENED SURPRISINGLY CLOSE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO THE MAIN ROAD. 721 00:41:17,976 --> 00:41:21,813 {\an7}IT WAS ABOUT 8:30 A.M. \h\h\hON JULY 6, 2011, 722 00:41:21,846 --> 00:41:24,916 {\an7}WHEN A COUPLE FROM CALIFORNIA \hPARKED THEIR CAR IN THIS LOT 723 00:41:24,949 --> 00:41:28,853 {\an7}\hAT THE NORTHERN END OF THE HAYDEN VALLEY. 724 00:41:28,886 --> 00:41:31,822 {\an7}THIS IS THE STARTING POINT OF THE WAPITI LAKE TRAIL. 725 00:41:34,192 --> 00:41:37,529 {\an7}AS THEY SET OUT FOR A DAY HIKE, \hTHEY PASSED A SIGN THAT READ, 726 00:41:37,562 --> 00:41:40,165 {\an7}\h\h\h"DANGER, YOU ARE ENTERING BEAR COUNTRY." 727 00:41:43,201 --> 00:41:47,806 {\an7}\h\hTHE COUPLE HEADED EAST, ACROSS THIS OPEN HILLSIDE. 728 00:41:47,839 --> 00:41:51,443 {\an7}\h\h\hTHEIR FIRST DESTINATION WAS YELLOWSTONE’S CLEAR LAKE. 729 00:41:51,476 --> 00:41:54,279 {\an7}AFTER THEY LEFT THE FOREST, \hANOTHER HIKER ALERTED THEM 730 00:41:54,312 --> 00:41:56,614 {\an7}TO A MOTHER GRIZZLY \hAND HER TWO CUBS 731 00:41:56,647 --> 00:41:59,316 {\an7}FORAGING IN A FIELD BELOW THEM. 732 00:41:59,350 --> 00:42:01,352 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE COUPLE PHOTOGRAPHED THE BEARS, 733 00:42:01,386 --> 00:42:05,290 {\an7}\h\hWHICH STILL LOOKED LIKE TINY DOTS IN THE DISTANCE. 734 00:42:05,323 --> 00:42:07,725 {\an7}THEY DIDN’T APPEAR \h\hTO BE A THREAT, 735 00:42:07,759 --> 00:42:12,197 {\an7}\hSO THE COUPLE CONTINUED ON AND CROSSED HOT SPRING CREEK. 736 00:42:12,230 --> 00:42:16,267 {\an7}♪ 737 00:42:16,300 --> 00:42:21,539 {\an7}BUT SWARMS OF MOSQUITOS QUICKLY \h\h\hFORCED THEM TO TURN BACK. 738 00:42:21,572 --> 00:42:25,242 {\an7}THAT’S WHEN THEY SPOTTED \hTHE MOTHER BEAR AGAIN. 739 00:42:25,276 --> 00:42:27,445 {\an7}BUT NOW SHE WAS MUCH CLOSER, 740 00:42:27,478 --> 00:42:30,414 {\an7}JUST 100 YARDS AWAY. 741 00:42:30,448 --> 00:42:33,351 {\an7}\h\h\h\hAS THE COUPLE TURNED AND HEADED TOWARD THE TREES, 742 00:42:33,384 --> 00:42:35,987 {\an7}THE MOTHER GRIZZLY SPOTTED THEM. 743 00:42:36,020 --> 00:42:40,157 {\an7}♪ 744 00:42:40,191 --> 00:42:42,427 {\an7}SUDDENLY, SHE STARTED TO CHARGE. 745 00:42:44,662 --> 00:42:46,497 {\an7}THE MAN AND HIS WIFE \h\h\h\hBEGAN YELLING 746 00:42:46,531 --> 00:42:49,501 {\an7}AS THEY RAN INTO THE FOREST. 747 00:42:49,534 --> 00:42:52,871 {\an7}\h\hBUT WITHIN SECONDS, 500 FEET UP THE TRAIL, 748 00:42:52,904 --> 00:42:55,874 {\an7}THE GRIZZLY CAUGHT UP TO THEM, \h\h\h\h\hKNOCKED THE MAN DOWN, 749 00:42:55,907 --> 00:42:58,276 {\an7}AND MAULED HIM TO DEATH. 750 00:42:58,309 --> 00:43:00,678 {\an7}SHE TURNED BACK TO FIND HIS WIFE, 751 00:43:00,711 --> 00:43:03,047 {\an7}\h\h\hWHO WAS HIDING UNDER A FALLEN TREE, 752 00:43:03,081 --> 00:43:05,317 {\an7}JUST 15 FEET AWAY. 753 00:43:05,349 --> 00:43:07,852 {\an7}THE GRIZZLY PICKED HER UP \h\h\h\h\hBY HER BACKPACK 754 00:43:07,885 --> 00:43:11,522 {\an7}AND PUT HER DOWN AGAIN, \h\h\h\h\h\hUNINJURED. 755 00:43:11,556 --> 00:43:13,124 {\an7}THEN SHE LEFT. 756 00:43:13,157 --> 00:43:17,328 {\an7}♪ 757 00:43:17,361 --> 00:43:19,129 {\an7}AT THE TIME OF THE ATTACK, 758 00:43:19,163 --> 00:43:23,868 {\an7}THE COUPLE WAS LESS THAN A MILE \h\hAND A HALF FROM THEIR CAR. 759 00:43:23,901 --> 00:43:25,169 {\an7}SINCE THAT DAY, 760 00:43:25,203 --> 00:43:27,672 {\an7}THERE HAVE BEEN TWO MORE \h\h\hFATAL BEAR ATTACKS 761 00:43:27,705 --> 00:43:30,775 {\an7}INSIDE THE PARK. 762 00:43:30,808 --> 00:43:32,810 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hAT THE SCENE OF ONE OF THESE KILLINGS, 763 00:43:32,844 --> 00:43:36,514 {\an7}\h\hPARK OFFICIALS FOUND DNA FROM THE SAME MOTHER GRIZZLY 764 00:43:36,547 --> 00:43:39,517 {\an7}THAT HAD MAULED THE MAN IN 2011. 765 00:43:39,550 --> 00:43:41,652 {\an7}\h\hTHEY ALSO FOUND DISTURBING EVIDENCE 766 00:43:41,686 --> 00:43:44,989 {\an7}\hTHAT SHE HAD FED ON HUMAN REMAINS. 767 00:43:45,022 --> 00:43:48,592 {\an7}FEARFUL THAT SHE MIGHT NOW \hCONSIDER PEOPLE AS FOOD, 768 00:43:48,626 --> 00:43:49,894 {\an7}THE PARK’S SUPERINTENDENT 769 00:43:49,927 --> 00:43:54,064 {\an7}DECIDED TO FIND THE BEAR \h\h\h\hAND PUT HER DOWN. 770 00:43:54,098 --> 00:43:58,135 {\an7}\h\h\hHER CUBS WERE SPARED AND SENT TO THE TOLEDO ZOO. 771 00:43:58,169 --> 00:44:07,045 {\an7}♪ 772 00:44:07,078 --> 00:44:09,681 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hEVERY HIKER IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK 773 00:44:09,714 --> 00:44:11,683 {\an7}WHO HAS SUDDENLY FOUND THEMSELVES 774 00:44:11,716 --> 00:44:14,485 {\an7}FACE TO FACE WITH A GRIZZLY 775 00:44:14,519 --> 00:44:18,390 {\an7}\h\hKNOWS JUST HOW TERRIFYING THESE GIANT PREDATORS CAN BE. 776 00:44:20,892 --> 00:44:22,460 {\an7}MALES LIKE THIS ONE, 777 00:44:22,493 --> 00:44:25,396 {\an7}FORAGING ON THE WESTERN SIDE \h\h\h\hOF THE HAYDEN VALLEY, 778 00:44:25,429 --> 00:44:29,033 {\an7}CAN WEIGH UP TO 700 POUNDS. 779 00:44:29,066 --> 00:44:31,902 {\an7}THEY ARE YELLOWSTONE’S \h\h\h\h\hAPEX PREDATOR 780 00:44:31,936 --> 00:44:34,672 {\an7}NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THEIR SIZE; 781 00:44:34,705 --> 00:44:38,409 {\an7}THEIR BONE AND MUSCLE DENSITIES \hARE 10 TIMES THAT OF HUMANS. 782 00:44:41,946 --> 00:44:45,049 {\an7}THEY CAN BITE, SCRATCH, AND MAUL WITH MORE POWER 783 00:44:45,082 --> 00:44:48,118 {\an7}THAN ANY OTHER PREDATOR \h\h\hIN NORTH AMERICA. 784 00:44:49,787 --> 00:44:52,556 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hBUT GRIZZLIES AREN’T JUST CARNIVORES. 785 00:44:52,590 --> 00:44:54,058 {\an7}UP TO 90% OF THEIR DIET 786 00:44:54,091 --> 00:44:58,329 {\an7}IS MADE UP OF PLANTS, \hROOTS, AND BERRIES. 787 00:44:58,362 --> 00:45:00,631 {\an7}USUALLY, THEY ONLY ATTACK HUMANS 788 00:45:00,665 --> 00:45:04,435 {\an7}WHEN THEY FEEL THREATENED \h\h\h\hOR GET SURPRISED. 789 00:45:04,468 --> 00:45:08,405 {\an7}\h\h\h\hBUT WITH AN ESTIMATED 150 GRIZZLIES IN YELLOWSTONE, 790 00:45:08,439 --> 00:45:13,010 {\an7}IT’S EASY FOR BEARS AND PEOPLE \h\h\hTO GET DANGEROUSLY CLOSE. 791 00:45:13,044 --> 00:45:20,552 {\an7}♪ 792 00:45:20,585 --> 00:45:23,321 {\an7}BEGINNING IN THE FALL, \h\h\hTHOUSANDS OF ELK 793 00:45:23,354 --> 00:45:25,489 {\an7}\h\hFROM YELLOWSTONE’S SOUTHERNMOST MOUNTAINS 794 00:45:25,523 --> 00:45:29,260 {\an7}\h\h\h\hMIGRATE DOWN TO THE VALLEYS BELOW. 795 00:45:29,293 --> 00:45:32,129 {\an7}\h\hMANY HEAD OUTSIDE THE PARK’S BOUNDARIES 796 00:45:32,163 --> 00:45:35,633 {\an7}AND GATHER HERE IN JACKSON HOLE. 797 00:45:35,666 --> 00:45:40,004 {\an7}\h\h\h\hTHEY COME TO ESCAPE YELLOWSTONE’S DEEP FREEZE. 798 00:45:40,037 --> 00:45:44,942 {\an7}IN 1912, CLOSE TO 25,000 ACRES \h\h\h\hWERE SET ASIDE FOR ELK 799 00:45:44,976 --> 00:45:48,646 {\an7}\h\hON LAND JUST NORTH OF THE TOWN OF JACKSON. 800 00:45:48,679 --> 00:45:51,815 {\an7}THIS IS THE NATIONAL ELK REFUGE. 801 00:45:51,849 --> 00:45:56,120 {\an7}IT’S HOME TO ONE OF THE LARGEST \h\hHERDS OF ELK IN THE NATION. 802 00:45:56,153 --> 00:46:00,257 {\an7}♪ 803 00:46:00,291 --> 00:46:02,593 {\an7}ONCE, TENS OF THOUSANDS \h\hOF THESE CREATURES 804 00:46:02,627 --> 00:46:04,762 {\an7}WINTERED HERE. 805 00:46:04,795 --> 00:46:07,264 {\an7}BUT ROADS, DEVELOPMENT, \h\h\h\h\h\hAND HUNTING 806 00:46:07,298 --> 00:46:12,336 {\an7}\hHAVE REDUCED THAT NUMBER TO LESS THAN 7,500 TODAY. 807 00:46:12,370 --> 00:46:15,440 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hELK BREED IN THE SUMMER AND FALL, 808 00:46:15,473 --> 00:46:17,108 {\an7}AND SO, BY FEBRUARY, 809 00:46:17,141 --> 00:46:20,578 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE COWS ARE LATE IN THEIR 8 1/2-MONTH PREGNANCY. 810 00:46:20,611 --> 00:46:22,079 {\an7}TO CONSERVE ENERGY, 811 00:46:22,113 --> 00:46:25,116 {\an7}\h\h\h\hMOST SPEND THEIR DAYS RESTING ON THE VALLEY FLOOR. 812 00:46:28,052 --> 00:46:30,955 {\an7}\hTHE BULLS ARE OFTEN THE ONES THAT HEAD UP TO THE HIGH SLOPES 813 00:46:30,988 --> 00:46:32,823 {\an7}TO FORAGE. 814 00:46:35,926 --> 00:46:37,327 {\an7}IN EARLY SPRING, 815 00:46:37,361 --> 00:46:42,266 {\an7}\h\h\hTHE ANTLERS ON THE BULLS NATURALLY LOOSEN AND FALL OFF. 816 00:46:42,300 --> 00:46:43,468 {\an7}IT’S A WAY FOR THESE ANIMALS 817 00:46:43,501 --> 00:46:45,970 {\an7}TO REDUCE THE CALORIES THEY NEED TO SURVIVE. 818 00:46:46,003 --> 00:46:53,210 {\an7}♪ 819 00:46:53,244 --> 00:46:55,480 {\an7}\h\h\h\hBY THE TIME ELK BEGIN THEIR MIGRATIONS 820 00:46:55,513 --> 00:46:58,816 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hDOWN FROM YELLOWSTONE’S MOUNTAINS, 821 00:46:58,849 --> 00:47:04,288 {\an7}\h\h\hTHE PARK’S HUMAN VISITORS START TO DWINDLE TO A TRICKLE. 822 00:47:04,322 --> 00:47:07,892 {\an7}\h\h\h\hIN WINTER, THERE’S ONLY ONE ROAD OPEN INTO YELLOWSTONE, 823 00:47:07,925 --> 00:47:11,262 {\an7}FROM GARDINER, MONTANA. 824 00:47:11,295 --> 00:47:13,364 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS OF THE YEAR, 825 00:47:13,397 --> 00:47:14,999 {\an7}FROM OCTOBER TO MAY, 826 00:47:15,032 --> 00:47:20,204 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hMUCH OF THE PARK IS COMPLETELY INACCESSIBLE. 827 00:47:20,237 --> 00:47:25,042 {\an7}\h\hMOST OF ITS HOTELS AND LODGES ARE CLOSED. 828 00:47:25,076 --> 00:47:28,780 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hDEEP SNOW BLANKETS THE NORMALLY CROWDED BOARDWALKS 829 00:47:28,813 --> 00:47:31,516 {\an7}THAT LINE MANY OF THE PARK’S \h\h\h\h\hMOST VISITED SITES, 830 00:47:31,549 --> 00:47:32,683 {\an7}LIKE THIS ONE-- 831 00:47:32,717 --> 00:47:34,586 {\an7}NORRIS GEYSER BASIN. 832 00:47:35,886 --> 00:47:36,954 {\an7}DURING THESE MONTHS, 833 00:47:36,987 --> 00:47:38,755 {\an7}\h\h\hSOME VISITORS GET AROUND THE PARK 834 00:47:38,789 --> 00:47:42,026 {\an7}ON GROOMED SNOWMOBILE TRAILS. 835 00:47:42,059 --> 00:47:44,628 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hOTHERS USE OFFICIAL SNOW COACHES, 836 00:47:44,662 --> 00:47:46,297 {\an7}\hWHICH ARE REALLY JUST SHUTTLE BUSES 837 00:47:46,330 --> 00:47:49,500 {\an7}THAT RIDE ON GIANT SNOW TIRES. 838 00:47:49,533 --> 00:47:53,971 {\an7}BUT WITH SO FEW HUMAN NOISES IN \hYELLOWSTONE DURING THE WINTER, 839 00:47:54,004 --> 00:47:57,908 {\an7}THIS IS THE TIME WHEN THE PARK’S ANCIENT SOUNDSCAPE 840 00:47:57,942 --> 00:48:00,144 {\an7}CAN BE HEARD IN ITS PUREST FORM. 841 00:48:02,546 --> 00:48:06,283 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE SILENCE OF ITS VAST OPEN SPACES 842 00:48:06,317 --> 00:48:08,786 {\an7}MUFFLED BY SNOW... 843 00:48:08,819 --> 00:48:10,888 {\an7}[WIND HOWLING] 844 00:48:10,921 --> 00:48:16,527 {\an7}THE HOWL OF WINTER WIND WHIPPING AROUND JAGGED PEAKS... 845 00:48:16,560 --> 00:48:19,563 {\an7}[BIRD CHIRPING] 846 00:48:19,597 --> 00:48:23,468 {\an7}\h\h\h\hVALLEYS THAT ECHO WITH CALLS OF THE WILD... 847 00:48:23,501 --> 00:48:26,404 {\an7}[WOLF HOWLING] 848 00:48:26,437 --> 00:48:27,538 {\an7}[CRACKLING] 849 00:48:27,571 --> 00:48:30,674 {\an7}AND THE CRACKLING SOUNDS \h\h\h\h\hOF SHIFTING ICE 850 00:48:30,708 --> 00:48:32,643 {\an7}ON YELLOWSTONE’S STREAMS. 851 00:48:32,676 --> 00:48:38,882 {\an7}[CRACKLING] 852 00:48:40,418 --> 00:48:43,955 {\an7}BUT ALSO, THE ENDLESS SPUTTER \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF MUD POTS, 853 00:48:43,988 --> 00:48:46,557 {\an7}\h\h\h\hBUBBLING AWAY IN THE WILDERNESS... 854 00:48:46,590 --> 00:48:48,358 {\an7}[HISSING] 855 00:48:48,392 --> 00:48:51,462 {\an7}AND THE SUDDEN RUSH OF GEYSERS, 856 00:48:51,495 --> 00:48:53,831 {\an7}EXPLODING INTO THE SKY. 857 00:48:55,566 --> 00:49:00,871 {\an7}♪ 858 00:49:00,905 --> 00:49:02,940 {\an7}SOUNDS LIKE THESE 859 00:49:02,973 --> 00:49:06,844 {\an7}\hHAVE BEEN ECHOING ACROSS THE GREATER YELLOWSTONE ECOSYSTEM 860 00:49:06,877 --> 00:49:09,079 {\an7}FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS \h\h\h\h\hOF YEARS... 861 00:49:11,348 --> 00:49:14,685 {\an7}WHILE THE SNOW-COVERED PEAKS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE TETONS 862 00:49:14,718 --> 00:49:19,790 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hHAVE BEEN CLIMBING HIGHER AND HIGHER INTO THE SKY 863 00:49:19,824 --> 00:49:24,095 {\an7}\hAND GREAT WINTER SNOWFALLS HAVE BEEN FEEDING THE RIVERS 864 00:49:24,128 --> 00:49:27,231 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hTHAT RACE AND PLUNGE THROUGH YELLOWSTONE’S CANYONS. 865 00:49:28,833 --> 00:49:32,737 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT WHAT MAKES THIS VOLCANIC LANDSCAPE TRULY UNIQUE 866 00:49:32,770 --> 00:49:37,308 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS HOW IT SUPPORTS SO MANY DIFFERENT FORMS OF LIFE. 867 00:49:37,341 --> 00:49:39,844 {\an7}AND SOME OF THE MOST \h\hFASCINATING ONES 868 00:49:39,877 --> 00:49:43,047 {\an7}\h\hARE INVISIBLE TO THE NAKED EYE, 869 00:49:43,080 --> 00:49:45,950 {\an7}UNTIL THEY CLUSTER TOGETHER \h\h\h\h\hBY THE BILLIONS. 870 00:49:45,983 --> 00:49:48,786 {\an7}♪ 871 00:49:48,819 --> 00:49:52,256 {\an7}THE BRILLIANT YELLOWS, \h\hORANGES, AND GREENS 872 00:49:52,289 --> 00:49:54,391 {\an7}OF GRAND PRISMATIC SPRING 873 00:49:54,425 --> 00:49:57,561 {\an7}\hARE ACTUALLY THE COLORS OF UNIQUE MICROORGANISMS, 874 00:49:57,595 --> 00:50:00,465 {\an7}CALLED EXTREMOPHILES. 875 00:50:00,498 --> 00:50:03,868 {\an7}\h\h\hSINCE THEY THRIVE IN EXTREME CONDITIONS, 876 00:50:03,901 --> 00:50:06,537 {\an7}\h\h\hSCIENTISTS HOPE THEY MIGHT HOLD CLUES 877 00:50:06,570 --> 00:50:11,742 {\an7}ABOUT WHAT LIFE COULD LOOK LIKE \h\h\h\h\hON PLANETS LIKE MARS. 878 00:50:11,775 --> 00:50:14,711 {\an7}\h\hWITH EVERYTHING FROM TINY MICROBES 879 00:50:14,745 --> 00:50:16,647 {\an7}TO TOWERING PREDATORS, 880 00:50:16,680 --> 00:50:20,684 {\an7}\h\hYELLOWSTONE IS ONE OF THE GREATEST NATURAL LABORATORIES 881 00:50:20,718 --> 00:50:22,653 {\an7}ON EARTH. 882 00:50:22,686 --> 00:50:24,021 {\an7}IT’S NOT SURPRISING 883 00:50:24,054 --> 00:50:26,256 {\an7}\h\hTHAT THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY FANTASTICAL TALES 884 00:50:26,290 --> 00:50:30,494 {\an7}\hABOUT THIS STRANGE AND BEAUTIFUL PLACE 885 00:50:30,528 --> 00:50:33,931 {\an7}AND WHY EVEN THOSE LUCKY ENOUGH \h\h\hTO SEE IT FOR THEMSELVES 886 00:50:33,964 --> 00:50:38,302 {\an7}CAN HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT IT’S REAL. 887 00:50:38,335 --> 00:50:51,281 {\an7}♪ 888 00:50:51,315 --> 00:50:59,456 {\an7}♪