1. American Northwest National Parks: Glacier-Yellowstone-Grand Teton Shang-Da Yang Feb. 14, 2004 This project is sponsored by Shelley Chang-Chien

2. 2 Outline Focus: what can you expect (instead of practical logistics). Geographical introduction. Waterton-Glacier NP. Yellowstone NP. Grand Teton NP.

3. 3 Where are they? Waterton- Glacier 1400 miles Yellowstone Grand Teton Lafayette 1200 miles

4. 4 My own routes (June 2003) 15 days (WG:2 days, Y: 4 days, GT: 2 days); 3000-miles driving

5. 5 Waterton (Canada, 1895), Glacier (US, 1910); dedicated as World Heritage Site (1995). Rocky Mountain’s narrowest width (35 miles); convergence of ecosystems and watersheds. Geographic views: cedar/hemlock forest, prairies, glaciers (overlook), lakes, sudden mountain-to-plains transitions. Activities: sight seeing, camping, trail hiking, boating. Waterton-Glacier NP (introduction)

6. 6 Waterton-Glacier NP (overview) Lake McDonald St. Mary Lake Going-to-the-sun Road Avalanche Lake MG Hotel Camping Boat

7. 7 Camping by Lake McDonald Campground covered by a layer of “needles” Creek flowing beside Excellent lake-mountain view

8. 8 Trail of Avalanche Lake 2-miles trail, climbing 500 ft. Sudden witness the fantastic view Ice flow from the surrounding mountains Clear lake water (Photo by Doug Wilson) (Photo by John Latta)

9. 9 Logan Pass Terrains created by fault and glacier erosion Wildlife: mountain goats across the road (Photo from NP’s website) (Photo from terragalleria.com)

10. 10 Many Glacier Hotel Swiss chalet style, built in 1914 By Swiftcurrent Lake, boating (Photo from manyglacierhotel.com)

11. 11 The world’s 1st national park, founded in 1872 by President Ulysses Grant. World Heritage Site. Caldera left by a series of volcanic eruptions (~600K years interval). Geographic views: geyser basins, hot springs, lodge pine forest (recover from 1988 fire), water falls, grand canyon, river valleys, lakes… Wildlife: bison, grizzly bear, black bear, wolf, coyote, pronghorn, elk, moose, pelican, cutthroat trout… Yellowstone NP (introduction)

12. 12 Yellowstone NP (overview) Lower FallsGibbon Meadow Old Faithful Geyser Hot Springs & NP HQ, museum Lamar Valley

13. 13 Old Faithful Geyser Eruption interval: 40-120 min. (avg 90 min. lengthening) Eruption last 1.5-5 min, height 30-55 M “Steamboat” is higher (100 M), but less regular. (Photo from shebbyleetours.com)

14. 14 Gibbon Meadow Herds of elk, bison (dusk, number in tens). Bison weight 2K lb, 6 ft tall, surprising fast. (Photo by Steve Ricketts)

15. 15 Mammoth Hot Springs Water ascends through ancient limestone (not silica-rich lava), fading.

16. 16 Lamar Valley Bison recovery program (50 in 1902, 3500 in 1996). Other wildlife abounds in (wolf, coyote, waterfowl). Wonderful sight

17. 17 Lower Falls and Grand Canyon 1000 ft high, carved by ancient glacier Landmark, famous by Moran’s painting

18. 18 A Glance of Grand Teton not far south away from Yellowstone Mountain ridges, by a great Jackson lake formed by fault-Glacier (Photo from thechicagofiles.com) (Photo from winona.msus.edu)

19. 19 Teton? How do you think? poor French trapper…. (Photo by Mike Levin)

20. 20 What I saw Episcopal Chapel Church (talent architect) Jenny Lake overlook (awesome view)

21. 21 Go go go….