Who is ready for a story? Allow me to set the scene…. 

It’s 2016 and a brother and sister duo in their early to mid-20’s visit #yellowstonenationalpark during the regular tourist season. They do the usual tourist things like visit Old Faithful and see the icons that make Yellowstone famous until one day the brother succumbed to his death— by falling into a boiling hot spring! 

How? You might be wondering. Well, during their visit the young duo decided to leave the marked trails and go off on their own path to get a closer look. They wanted to test how hot the waters were so they could get in for a soak—and act referred to as “Hot Potting.”

As 23yr old Carl approached Pork Chop geyser he slipped,  lost his balance, and fell into the 212 degree boiling water!!! His body was instantly disintegrated leaving behind melted flip flops later found [by rangers] near the pool’s edge. 

The worst part… all of this occurred as his sister was actively filming because they wanted to capture their soak on film. 

On our way to Yellowstone this morning we had a conversation with a close friend who reminded us of this event when we mentioned visiting the geysers today: 

Her: Don’t be one of those stupid people who get to close. You know a few people have fallen in and died because of that

Us: Hell no. We know better. In fact, we have witnessed several stupid people get too close to wild life and do dumb things already. We will not be one of them 

Her: Good, because i don’t need any one of you dying today —Seriously, don’t get too close. 

Later on walking along the boardwalk of the Black Basin Geyser we witnessed a young man and woman off the trail walking around the geysers. We instantly looked at each other and questioned why they were there, if there was a trail, and if they were going to die…

A few moments later we walked by one of those educational boards that warned of the ground’s acidity and how it can burn through the soles of thick hiking boots…. 

We instantly looked at each other and said “damn, I hope they don’t end up dead.”

We are not sure what happened to those young people but we hope not to read about them in the news later. Mother Nature is a force not to be reckoned with, especially when safety signs are posted—just take in her beauty from afar. 

Best of luck to that young duo 

Nia & Dave