Okay, my friends! If you look straight ahead at those mountains, that’s Avalanche Peak on the left, and Hoyt Peak on the right. And yes, you can hike to the top of either one! Check the hiking Guide in the Shaka Guide app. 

Right now, we’re about to cross the Sylvan Pass. For the next 10 minutes, we’ll continue winding our way through this sprawling Lodgepole pine forest. Or rather, what’s left of the forest. 

If you drove the Norris Canyon Road, you may recall me describing one of the park's greatest modern disasters. It was known as the Inferno of 1988, and it was the biggest series of fires in Yellowstone’s history. That summer, nearly 800,000 acres of the park were burned. That’s a whopping 36 percent of the park.

What you see now is the aftermath of just one of 1988's largest, hottest, and most deadly fires. This fire alone consumed 140,000 acres (nearly the size of chicago).

It’s worth remembering, however, that without fire, these newer saplings wouldn't be able to grow at all. In fact, it’s fire that clears the canopy, removes old, unproductive growth, and opens Lodgepole pine cones so they can spread their seeds.

Most of the young trees you can see sprouted around the time of that fire, more than three decades ago. For us, it's been a long time. But for the trees, their lives have just begun. It may take up to 200 years for these pines to reach full maturity.

I guess good things come to those who wait.

While we still don't fully understand the long term effects of massive wildfires, small fires are part of a natural process which may help prevent larger disasters. Since that time, the park’s fire management policies have adjusted to mimic the natural cycle of fire, death, and rebirth here in the park.

 As we drive through the remnants of the Yellowstone fires, let’s also remember the courage of the firefighters who protected the park, and its people. It’s hard to imagine the infernal struggle these men and women faced: smoke and ash, darkened skies, trees turned to 80 foot torches… More than 25,000 firefighters came from all across the country to battle the 1988 blaze. Tragically, two of those firefighters lost their lives. But, if not for the sacrifice and hard work of these brave men and women, the fires could have destroyed more nearby homes and property, more of Yellowstone Park, and taken even more lives.

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