WEEK 5 Run-walk across America

Segment 10 Map

THE ROUTE THIS WEEK WILL TAKE YOU ALONG THE MISSOURI, Yellowstone, and Shoshone Rivers. 
Segment 10: Helena MT to Bozeman MT
Segment 11: Bozeman MT to Columbus MT
Segment 12:  Columbus MT to Lovell WY
The Missouri is the longest or the second longest river in the United States depending on which rivers are included in its origins. This river was “believed to be part of the Northwest Passage – a water route from the Atlantic to the Pacific “ before the Lewis and Clark expedition traveled it’s entire length. They could not confirm this legend to be true, finding that no such pathway to the Pacific Ocean existed. Some of the most notable cities of the Great Plains states are found near its banks (Great Fall MT, Bismarck ND, Pierre SD, Omaha NE, Kansas City MO, and St. Louis MO).
 
This great river, which empties into the Mississippi River north of the city of St. Louis, at the border of Missouri and Illinois, “was one of the main routes for the westward expansion of the United States during the 19th century.” Fur trappers and traders first explored it in the 1700s and then pioneer families followed it westward in covered wagons in the 1800s.
 
Native Americans knew the Yellowstone River as the Elk River and used it for a long time before explorer William Clark and his group returned on it from their expedition in the Pacific Northwest in 1806. The river runs through the Yellowstone National Park and has three dramatic waterfalls (Upper Falls, Lower Falls, and Tower Falls). The majority (96%) of the Park land lies in the state of Wyoming, but very small areas also lie in Montana and Idaho. Yellowstone National Park was the first national park in the United States, established March 1, 1872 by Congress to “preserve the wildlife and showcase the unique geothermic features throughout the Park.”

Beneath Yellowstone Lake exists a “super volcano causing large amounts of geothermic activity.” Related to the volcano’s presence are hot springs, mud pots, fumaroles, and more than 300 geysers. The most famous and spectacular geysers include Old Faithful and Steamboat Springs.

This year the Shoshone River, near Cody, Wyoming east of Yellowstone National Park, “suddenly and without warning started boiling, changed color and began to emit a sulfuric odor on March 25.”  Witnesses reportedly feared for their lives at this time. The event, likely related to volcanic activity, lasted four days and led to recall of its history of smelling like sulfur two centuries ago, when it was called the Stingingwater River. Your WEEK 5 route does not take you near this part of Wyoming, but knowledge of the Park and the geological origins of its famous geysers makes virtual travel through the area rather exciting. You can take a virtual side trip without any danger to learn more!

The segments maps for this week can be downloaded by clicking here. They are part of the PowerPoint presentation for Weeks 4-6, which is posted on the RESOURCES page too, along with the Itinerary and the Calendar.
 
RUN HAPPY!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri_River

http://www.britannica.com/place/Missouri-River

http://www.yellowstonepark.com/untamed-yellowstone-river/

http://www.yellowstonepark-trip.com/history-of-yellowstone-park.php

http://mysteriousuniverse.org/2016/04/boiling-river-near-yellowstone-national-park-heats-worries/