Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Death Gulch, Yellowstone National Park

While researching this area of Yellowstone Park I came across this interesting spot, Death Gulch, and an old article from The San Francisco Call newspaper, June 24 1901. Poison gasses from nearby hot springs collect there and have evidently caused the demise of many a wild beast.


DEATH GULCH OF YELLOWSTONE PARK WHERE WILD BEASTS PERISH

Earth Emits Poisonous Vapors That Slay More Animals Than Do the Bullets From Hunters' Rifles. 24 June 1901

IN the northeast corner of the Yellowstone National Park, in Wyoming. Is a ravine which Is fully entitled to its name — Death Gulch. It Is a V-shaped trench, cut in the mountain side, and begins about 230 feet above Cache Creek. Apparently It forms a natural shelter for the beasts of the forest, as food, water and shelter are there, but entrance to the gulch means death to any animal, for the poisonous vapors that rl«e out of the ravine are more deadly than the bullets of the huntsmen, says the Laramle (Wyo.) correspondent of the New York Press. Various expeditions under the direction of the United States Geological Survey have reported as to the characteristics of Death Gulch, the last being by Harvey \V. Weed. He eald that he had tested the hollows in the gulch for carbonic acid gas without proving its presence. The atmosphere In the gulch, however, was oppressive. There was a strong smell of sulphur and he suffered from a choking sensation, although a. strong wind prevailed at the time. At the bottom of the gulch were the carcasses of many animals, some of which had met death but a short time before. Theso carcasses were of bear, elk, hares, wolves, etc. Mr. Weert examined the body of a grizzly which evidently had died but a day before, as Its tracks were quite distinct and the carcass perfectly fresh. There was some blood under the nose. Nothing more. Later on Charles Oeorgo and a Mr. Everett of Boston visited the gulch and made an extended examination. They declare the gulch Is a death trap which while different In many ways from the famous Death Valley of Jnva Is as certain In Its effect. At one end the gulch is comparatively open and the wind sweeps through, but at tho other, where it forms a ravine, the gases, accumulate and asphyxiate all animals that come within the walls of the rock. When Mr. George and Mr. Everett entered the gulch the gaseous fumes were so oppressive that

they had difficulty In breathing, yet they entered at the end where the gulch is practically open. They lit a wax taper and found that when placed more than forty Inches from the ground it was extinguished. This proved tho existence of carbon dioxide gas.

The bed of the gulch and ravine was littered with the bones and skins of animals long since dead. They found twentythree carcasses of bears, one big cinnamon having his nose between his paws just as if he had fallen asleep.

The two men didn't dare to go Into the ravine. What exploration they made resulted In headaches which stayed with them for hours and pains in the throat and lungs, which did not subside for a long time.

For ages this death trap in the Rocky Mountains has probably been luring the inhabitants of the forest to their doom. With the rains of spring the bones of the dead of the preceding year are carried down to tho creek and the gulch cleared for the death harvest of the summer and the winter.

What Impressed the visitors most outside of tho horror of the gulch was the danger to visitors who might unconsciously enter the gulch. There was no difference In the appearance of the gulch from other gulches above and below the mountains, and there was nothing to warn a camper. For man to enter death gulch to camp means that he has camped In eternity.

The geologists say, that the lavas which fill the ancient basin of the park at this place rests upon the flanks of mountains formed of fragmentary volcanic ejecta. Gaseous emanations are given out In great volume. They come, the scientists say, from deposits of altered and crystalline travertine mixes with pools In the creek. Above those deposits the creek cuts into a bank of sulphur. In the bottom of the gully is a small stream sour with sulphuric acid. No wonder the poor animals seeking shelter In the gulch meet death there.