When Malou Anderson-Ramirez left her family ranch in Wyoming for an East Coast boarding school at age 15, she felt like she鈥檇 landed on another planet. Suddenly, she was surrounded by kids who spent their nights and weekends practicing piano or playing team sports. Meanwhile, she was used to spending her spare time feeding animals or birthing lambs.
鈥淢y parents taught us that you can鈥檛 sit down to dinner or breakfast if there are hungry animals outside,鈥 Anderson-Ramirez says. 鈥淲e were raised with the notion that they鈥檙e kin, and kin take care of each other.鈥 That sense of connection drove her to pursue a career in animal-assisted therapy, then, eventually, back to her family鈥檚 ranch on the border of Yellowstone National Park.
In 2009, Anderson-Ramirez and her husband dedicated themselves to transforming the ranch into a center for education and regenerative agriculture. Her 鈥攁nd the animals that call it home鈥攈as never been stronger. 鈥淚 try to be a voice for the wildlife who need someone to speak for them,鈥 she says.
Boots on the Ground
Get to know the park inside and out on these top five hikes.聽
Trout Lake Loop (1.2 miles)
For a short-but-sweet loop hike just off the main road, target Trout Lake, an alpine tarn north of Soda Butte Canyon. Go early in the morning, when the water鈥檚 glassy surface reflects the peaks of the Absaroka Range.
Avalanche Peak (4.6 miles)
This 10,568-foot summit offers sweeping vistas of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, including a bird鈥檚-eye view of Yellowstone Lake. Start at the peak鈥檚 eponymous trailhead and switchback straight up to the iconic summit.
Fairy Falls (5.6 miles)
Experience all the park鈥檚 greatest hits in a single afternoon on this half-day romp. A gently rolling trail will carry you past the neon marvel of Grand Prismatic Spring, 200-foot Fairy Falls, and two geysers, Spray and Imperial.
Mount Washburn (6.4 miles)
Tackle the climb to Mount Washburn鈥檚 10,243-foot summit, and you鈥檒l be rewarded with panoramic views of the craggy Washburn and Absaroka Ranges. Pro tip: Aim to summit at sunrise, and climb the historic fire lookout tower for an even better vantage point.
Continental Divide Trail to Shoshone Geyser Basin (20 miles)
This one鈥檚 an all-day affair, but it鈥檚 well worth the sunrise starting gun. Head out from the Lone Star Trailhead and trace the Firehole River for 20 miles, winding past spouting geysers, boiling springs, and other thermal features.
Raise a Toast: Horsefeather
Celebrate a great day in the national park with this custom recipe and , which was founded in 1872 to honor America鈥檚 first national park, and which continues to the national park system today.
Glassware: Collins
Ingredients
- 2 oz Yellowstone Select Bourbon
- 4 oz ginger beer
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Lime wheel or wedge for garnish
Instructions
- Fill Collins glass with ice.
- Combine all ingredients into the glass and top with ginger beer.
- Add two dashes of Angostura bitters and gently stir.
Established in 1872, was crafted to honor the sprawling wonder of America鈥檚 first national park. It鈥檚 what first inspired us to create approachably smooth whiskey for the benefit and enjoyment of the people, and why we still do it today.