Fox News Had An Interesting Story About Pierce Bronson in Yellowstone National Park

He pleaded guilty to stepping off a trail in a thermal area during a visit to Yellowstone National Park.

This was not interesting because a celebrity went to court and got fined, but because I didn’t know much about thermal areas and had to dig deeper.

I’m sure the $500 fine and the $1000 donation to Yellowstone Forever, a non-profit organization to support the national park, didn’t hurt his bank account.

When they said he violated closures, I thought the closures were for fear of people getting lost. His violations were listed as petty offenses.

So when I read something I don’t know about, I’ve got to learn.

“In thermal areas, the ground may be only a thin crust above boiling hot springs, and there is no way to guess where a safe path is,” the park’s website states.

“New hazards can bubble up overnight, and pools are acidic enough to burn through boots, so you must stay in designated walking areas. The park service has established boardwalks for an easy and safe approach to thermal features.”

Pierce Bronson said he stepped over to take a picture and didn’t see the ‘no trespassing’ sign.

As Paul Harvey would say, “Now you know…the rest of the story.”