Throwback Thursday

There are times when you probably think that stupidity runs rampant among some who venture into the wilderness these days. There may be proof, however, that it just might be in our DNA. In 1888, 16 years after Yellowstone became our first national park, the first valor award was given to an army soldier for rescuing a woman who climbed to the top of Old Faithful - just so she could look inside. After a shift in the wind a cloud of steam enveloped the woman, and she became disoriented and was unable to safely descend. In those days, before the advent of park rangers, U.S. Infantry soldiers were in charge of protecting Yellowstone. Private John Coyle climbed the wet, slippery cone and brought the woman to safety. However, in the process, he suffered a serious scalding of his face, and was unable to walk for four weeks. Coyle would become the first person to be formally recognized for a rescue in a national park.







Jeff

HikingintheSmokys.com