Bison Encounter Cuts Short Backpacking Trip | Lamar River Trail | Yellowstone National Park

July 10, 2020
Campsite: 3L4
POTENTIAL BACKPACKERS PLEASE READ:
I asked the park office what to do in the case of a bison encounter. Their response was to give the bison a wide berth, otherwise they would not bother you. That was NOT the case for our backpacking trip. The bison came up on us from over 150 yds away and followed us close for 50 ft before we turned and ran away, getting space between us and the bison. He then crossed the river and went on his way. Coming face to face with a bison, not knowing if he was going to charge or attack was the absolute scariest moment of our lives to date. If it wasn't for the fact that it was getting dark and we were closer to the campsite than the vehicle, we would've turned back then. Even to this day (2 months later), that feeling looms over both of us, we have no regrets leaving early. We hold the belief that you get chances in life and if you don't learn from the warnings, then bad things could happen the second time around. The bison was our warning, if we would've stayed another night as planned we may have had much worse happen. Yellowstone is truly a wild place. From all of our trips in Colorado, we have never encountered threatening animals, but in Yellowstone we saw bears, wolves, and bison. Do your research throughly and don't be afraid to call it quits if something happens.
Music:
Tolo - Joybird
Analog Heart - With Heart
SVVN - Aurora