Watch as we hike the Mary Mountain Trail and inadvertently put ourselves in the middle of the Hayden Valley bison herd during the August rutting season. A lot of lessons learned during this hike. Be safe out there!
Not only did you have to navigate these bison, now you have to deal with all the armchair quarterbacks. Pretty amazing family. Kids who listen to parents, parents who want their kids to experience the beauties of this earth. Yeah, it got a bit harry. But you did well, learned lessons, and are willing to go again. Two thumbs up folks!
I would have loved experiencing that I’d have found a nice place to sit and watched them for hours . My ancestral heart feels better seeing so many bison I’d dance and sing old songs of my people .
An adventure for sure. Common sense overpowers the rules of the trail sometimes. Until I can convince myself I can run 35 miles an hour, I’ll have to say that you were way too close. Glad you had a safe visit and were able to explore after the hard pass. Great country out there
Thanks Tom. And someone needs to teach those bison to follow Park rules! Ha! We are going back in July (before the rut) to finish the adventure on the Mary Mountain Trail. We know a lot more than we did before this hike. Grateful for the experience and opportunity to learn!
What an amazing family memory. I’m so glad nothing happened to you guys. Nature is unpredictable and sometimes all the preparation in the world doesn’t account for the curveball. Trails are made for hiking and nature is for experiencing. PS: Your wife (?) gets a gold star for the Labyrinth quote!!
just found this. You did all the right things giving them plenty of room and being patient. That was a very large herd. I have been to Yellowstone many times but I have not hiked on any backcountry trails.
@@jpetersoninutah I noticed you're carrying Bear bells, we had a joke in Alaska " Know the difference between Black bear poop & Grizzly bear poop? The Grizzly bear poop has bear bells in it " Excellent family outing!!!
I lived in Wyoming and it is wild and beautiful and we love to experience this. Yes, it was mating season...best to let them and their environment be at times. Everyone was so uncomfortable & so was I. (That goes for the bison also.)
You did the right thing in this situation so never look back and regret it. I'm a father too so I know what this situation is like when hiking Yellowstone.
Thanks Ram. No regrets here. Just a lot of good lessons learned. We love the bison and respect them and their environment. Our only problem was our escape route being cut off due to herd movement and geography. Onward and upwards!
They will usually go the other way unless they feel threatened or challenged. You did all the rights things, gave the Bison their space and had a wonderful nature hike. Some people just naturally freak out but they would have missed this experience. Those kids weren’t playing any video games on their cell phones were they? Hahaha
You were lucky. One other criticism: if any of your group had bear spray, I didn’t see it in the video. We NEVER get away from our truck in Bear country without bear spray readily accessible on our belt.
Indeed, several of us did have bear spray but were avoiding having to use it if at all possible. Also, the "boxing in" moment sprung on us so quickly we weren't prepared to unleash the spray. In the future we will take whistles and/or air horns. Several people we met while heading back to the trailhead had brought air horns with them.
@@jpetersoninutah I understand. I actually don’t know how bear spray would work on bison. But one other point: if you think buffalo can hem you in before you have time to unholster and use your bear spray, check out the many videos of charging grizzlies. You gotta have it immediately available, and not even have to think about the mechanics. My wife and I actually practice our "draw" whenever we head out fishing.
I have 4 cans of bear spray for me and any guests that might come up to visit in Alaska. I wouldn't go anywhere on the hiking trails or the woods here without it.
Mama, you did a great job of keeping your daughter sound like her name is Esther, calm. Great job! So happy your family got a good experience I'll be it scary at times. Great family memory! Have a blessed and beautiful 4th of July weekend. LUCRETIA
I remember a hike a friend of mine and I had back in the summer of 1965... and coming across a big bison taking a dust bath... Nothing like seeing that in person.. and a bit unnerving at the same time.. It is an experience best viewed on video.. haha
So basically, we followed almost all the bison safety tips provided by the park. We certainly didn't violate any of them on purpose. Our problem was the mating season. The bison behave weirdly which isn't what we were anticipating. But, we learned something and we had an adventure in the process.
@@careysmith9075 Which unfortunately for the immature, irresponsible braggarts perhaps won't be until someone they care about gets badly hurt or worse.
Before you go back out to the Bisons homeland you should look up Bison attacks at Yellowstone National Park if you haven't already,where they gored a lady,she did get too close,they hooked their horns on her clothes,swung her around a few times,her pants got ripped off her,she landed in the ditch unconscious,was taken to hospital.The Bison still had some of her clothes hanging off his horns.Didn't you see it on the news.You really put your family at risk & you are going to take them back out there.Bison gore ppl ,not just during Bison rut.
We are planning on hiking this trail again. Saw the video of the lady being gored. She got way too close. Bison don't want to gore people unless they are challenged or threatened. In this case, the bison were coming close to us, we weren't approaching them. We were avoiding them as much as possible until we got boxed in. Our escape route was inadvertently cut off from us due to herd movement and geography. Learned a lot on this hike and we will bring noise makers to help us keep a safe distance. We will also not go during the rut.
@@jpetersoninutah even ranchers that raised bison doesn't get that close until they really know they're bison and even then they never turn their back it's extremely dangerous even for them to ever get very close to their own bison even though they're used to humans, I have seen where they have torn off metal cages where they were being vaccinated by veterinarians. If they get mad they can go through heavy metal pens . And they will charge and attack even their owners at certain times of the year especially if they have babies, called red dogs
@@sixpackbinky Good comment. Some tourists show no common sense and just "want" the experience no matter the risk to themselves or their families. Hard to fathom the ignorance.
Maybe you should add that you will not hike in parks where the prey animals greatly out number the humans and then take your children with you for a walk, unprepared. We have trails for you to protect you and your family and rangers too, use them.
Commendable actually. Not treating WILDlife/animals as if sone exhibit in the zoo. A great FAMILY hike and giving RESPECT to these awesome animals they deserve.Do NOT GO CLOSE! That’s the best advice..
Very smart humans! I had no idea there were still some smart people out there. Singing was GENIUS Thank God for his universal language from heaven! Great job to the kids for not freaking out!
This looks like something I would do with my five kids. Don't think I could talk my wife into it though. Given my luck we would have traveled 90% of the way to our destination before we met buffalo and were prevented from going further and be forced to retreat back to point A. Beautiful country. I can completely understand the appeal. Thanks for sharing.
Bison vocalization sound like flatulence I always liked that aspect of them. I would frequently visit them in one of our local parks and a private farm in my county.
We did our research and spoke to several who encountered this herd on this same trail. We missed understanding the impact the rut would have on their behavior. We know now! 😁
In the video that wo.an that was attacked was being an idiot and deliberately challenging the bison because she thought she was invincible is the way I saw that particular video. She just walked right on into the herd like they would run......she was being stupid in my opinion.
I wouldn't try this at mating season those bulls get aggressive at that time of year, and mothers with babies will charge at any human or anything that makes them feel threatened. This is extremely dangerous. I can't believe this is allowed.
Well, y'all tried your best to go hiking🚶♂️ 🚶♀️ but looks like the Buffalo 🐃 were using the trail too. I didn't know herds got that big and so dispersed. Must not have a lot of predators in that area.
@@jpetersoninutah Sadly, you're one of those people that just don't get it. You put your whole family in danger...and, you just don't get it. Your children were frightened...and, you just don't get it. The only thing that saved you was pure luck. Instead of understanding/admitting the danger you were in, you make jokes and say you're going back...so, you STILL don't get it. Bison are dangerous in or out of the rutting season...and YOU don't get that. You and your family were way TOO CLOSE from the start of your hike, and your attitude is, Nah...we were on a trail...bison don't walk on the trails, the trails are for people.
If riding bison, definitely ride the calves. They are slower, easier to catch, and their mothers love to see their young calves receive this kind of attention. (sarcasm) 😄
@@jpetersoninutah Okay, thank you. Every tip helps, like we just recently found out we're going to have have pack in some meat if we want to get close enough to the grizzly bears to ride them.
I was working in yellowstone about 4 years ago when I did Mary Mountain and I have to say that was one of the coolest trails because of the Bison. Otherwise it would have been a long boring hike compared to others in my opinion.
do not understand why/how the BLM approved your group's venture into active Bison grazing land? just an observation: the youths were not equipped mentally or physically to make this trek also, there was no "leader" in charge to make decisions as to where to go, etc. suggestion: do not try this ever again.
A few things: 1) This is Nat'l Park land, not BLM. 2) The trail is open during specific dates and we traveled on those dates. 3) All of Yellowstone Park (and then some) is bison grazing land. 4) My daughters can do hard things. 5) I was leading the pack. Facts changed on the ground quickly which required adaptation and improvisation. 6) We know not to go during rut but we will do this hike again.
@@jpetersoninutah ok, but as a fellow father….let me ask you this….and it is hard to do this, I know. If you went back out there, and it went south….could you live with your decision if one of your kids got hurt or killed. If the answer is yes, then so be it. We all take risks….even letting kids play contact sports. But, it is a question you should honestly consider…..and saying “well, we will be safe…or it won’t happen” is not being honest.
Just wondering what you hope bells would help with? You need a 30-30 Winchester. At least I would. Little girl crying? For what? You nuts. Thanks from.St. Paul Minnesota.
Yeah, we rolled off the couch and stuffed a bag of cheetohs in our faces before attempting this 21 mile trail that transects the south loop. No preparation required. Pfft!
Uuummmm Who's idea was this? Those kids are traumatized for life. Did the adults tell the rangers what they were doing and where? Im sorry, but this is unexceptable. To many life altering mistakes. THE DAD SEEMS TO BE IN CHARGE. I'm sorry. But this is unexceptable. In any degree, direction, reasoning, NOTHING There was no inadvertently wondering into the heard. YOU WALKED TOWARD THEM no lady It's not ok. The kids at least had the sence to be afraid. JEEZE OH PETE'S. uuuugh we had to get off the "trail" THAT TRAIL WAS THEIR FROM COUNTLESS USSES BY THE ANIMALS. a path to avoid.
Sorry to say this was not INADVERTENT. There were so many signs that if the signs where rattlesnakes you would all be dead. The mom should take notice of younger Childs stress - She UNDERSTOOD later but earlier took a step towards the bison with her camera (not good). The parents have no knowledge of animal behavior, what to do... and did not take notice of signs and threw safety to the wind. people like this get gored and killed every summer. Also how come they are all not carrying bear spray in grizzly country... wow
I’ve learned a lot from watching Cross Timbers bison YT channel 🦬who owns a small but growing ranch in Oklahoma. That must’ve been nerve racking for some of you
