2 Yellowstone Workers Fired For Peeing In Geyser

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Two seasonal Yellowstone National Park concession workers have been fired after a live webcam caught them urinating into the Old Faithful geyser.

Park spokesman Al Nash says a 23-year-old man on Tuesday was fined $750 and placed on three years of unsupervised probation for urinating, being off trail in a restricted area and taking items from the area. The man also was banned from Yellowstone for two years.

The second employee's case is pending.

The park's dispatch center was called after someone watching a webcam on the geyser saw six employees leaving the trail and walking on Old Faithful on May 4.

The geyser was not erupting at the time.

Xanterra Parks & Resorts general manager Jim McCaleb says the former concession workers were hired at the Old Faithful Inn and that such incidents were rare.

Comments

[ChelseaC]

Peeing on Old Faithful, why that's just gross!

[CommonSensePlz]

Anyone who is genuinely upset, and think these men should be punished, need to light a massive doobie and take a stroll.

[jaymcb]

I have seen men urinate in public before and you know what it is gross and unnecessary. Once walking out of a store a little boy was peeing right in the corner. Parent did and said nothing. So what is to keep that little boy from peeing everywhere and anywhere he wants.

Why should it be ok to do that?

[Khirad]

That geyser is monitored around the clock, of course. Like they wouldn't be caught - don't do something reckless unless you've got a good chance of getting away with it! My first question was: working as concession workers at the Inn, do you suppose alcohol was involved?!

I'm all for harmless pranks, I was the rebel myself, and so I don't quite like the idea of them going off the boardwalk when I had to stay on it! Signs are posted all over what the consequences are. Do your pranks off of federally protected land, if ya need to go, find a tree. I'm amazed they were only banned for two years. I almost wish Old Faithful had been a cheap tramp this once. There's your lesson.

Plus, few things suck more when viewing the surreal, otherwordly scenes in Yellowstone than to see footprints littering the place. Totally ruins the breathtaking effect.

FYI - I've seen OF in Summer and in late Autumn. Summer sucks because of crowds, but it's the only way you'll actually see the eruption without it being fogged out.

[WorkingClass]

If the opportunity presented itself I would most definitely pee in a geyser. Wouldn't you?

[doctorwang]

LOL !!! To be honest- yeah, I would.

[MamaBird62]

What harm did it do? That seems to be the question.
Have any of you people ever been to Yellowstone? It is one of our nation's great treasures, and it's under attack from climate change, and from too many tourists, snowmobiles, etc. These guys were walking on the geyser itself. People have to stay on the trails to protect the park's features and to stay safe. It's common sense. If these "concession employees" don't get that, then they don't deserve to work there, or visit.

[jeg]

Don't worry. When Yellowstone explodes, it'll start a whole new cycle and a new park.

Hopefully, there will be a few survivors to visit it afterwards.

[doctorwang]

thanks Mr. Sunshine.

[Nyland8]

These National Park people take things seriously - so I guess shitting in Kilauea is out of the question.

8

[Ravyn]

Too bad the geyser didn't erupt and burn off their you know what. Thank goodness for web cam to catch them in the act.

[ssfahrer]

Were they afraid that these two would stop "Old Faithful" by a mere application of their urine? If so, they're better men than me.... If not (more likely), perhaps a suspension would have been more appropriate (and as a former Federal worker, I know what it takes to get suspended for a period of time)....

[trunk65]

New meaning to pissing in the wind.

[WorldGoneWild]

Boys will be boys. I don't see the problem here. It's not like they were throwing trash in the geyser.

[mairs]

First our pizzas, now our geysers. Nothing is safe.

[moonflowerjewelry]

this is really funny. i am sure it seemed like a good idea at the time.

[American50]

how petty!!!!!!!!!

[watchTVgetSTUPID]

Yellow is not the new Green


After Wall Street has $%^t on us, they should be the ones prosecuted. not these adolescents.

[GayGrandpa]

Maybe they can get a job in a gay bar South of Market.

[elizlucinda]

Huh? Is it only Gay men that piddle outdoors....The world is a guys' urinal!