[Geysers] Fw: Portion of Yellowstone's Artists' Paintpots Area Reopened

[Lee_Whittlesey at nps.gov]

----- Forwarded by Lee Whittlesey/YELL/NPS on 08/08/2008 08:45 AM -----
                                                                                                                             
                      YELL Public                                                                                            
                      Affairs                  To:                                                                           
                      Sent by: L J             cc:       (bcc: Lee Whittlesey/YELL/NPS)                                      
                      Miller                   Subject:  Portion of Yellowstone's Artists' Paintpots Area Reopened           
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                      08/01/2008 04:42                                                                                       
                      PM MDT                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                             



(See attached file: 065-Portion of Artists Paint Pots Reopened.pdf)

National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior

Yellowstone National Park
P.O. Box 168
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 1, 2008     08-065
Al Nash or Stacy Vallie (307) 344-2015

----------------------------------------------------
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK NEWS RELEASE
----------------------------------------------------

Portion of Yellowstone’s Artists’ Paintpots Area Reopened

The western portion of the Artists’ Paintpots Trail will reopen to the
public at 7 a.m. Saturday morning, August 2.

In May of this year, a visitor was injured when the surface crust along the
edge of the trail unexpectedly gave way and she broke through into a
previously undiscovered pool of hot water.   She received burns to her
ankle and lower leg.  Since that time, park geologists and other staff
members have been evaluating the area.  Boardwalk and trail crews put forth
an extensive effort to construct new trails and boardwalks in order to
mitigate safety hazards and reopen the area.

Visitors will enjoy the upgrades and increased safety offered by 150 feet
of new boardwalk and railed viewing platform adjacent to the large paint
pot.  The hillside trail has also been greatly improved with the addition
of 100 feet of masonry steps, log railing, and upgraded earthen trail.

The eastern portion of the trail is expected to open later this month after
new boardwalk and viewing platforms are completed at the top of the hill,
providing a view of newly forming mudpots and overview of the thermal basin
below.

While boardwalks and designated trails help protect park visitors and
prevent damage to delicate formations, Yellowstone National Park is a
dynamic, geologically active place.   Scalding water can lie underneath
thin, breakable crusts.  Many geyser eruptions are unpredictable, and
thermal features are near or above boiling temperatures.  Four people were
treated for thermal burns in the park in 2007.

- www.nps.gov/yell -
,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,


Public Affairs Office
Yellowstone National Park, WY  82190
(307) 344-2013
Yell_Public_Affairs at nps.gov
www.nps.gov/yell
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