Let’s play out a quick hypothetical here: you’re visiting Yellowstone National Park’s hydrothermal features. Cool? Cool. You’re walking on the boardwalks among the thot springs, checking out the neat little bodies of water. What should you absolutely not do? A) Enjoy the park and its features B) Take some pictures and post them to your social media accounts C) Stick your hand in the hydrothermal water features.
If you guessed C, you’d be correct! It seems like an obvious answer, right? Don’t touch the water features known to literally dissolve human being. Unfortunately, people are stupid. REALLY STUPID.
These footage posted to the incredible TouronsOfYellowstone Instagram page (filmed and submitted by Meek Vigue) shows exactly what I’m talking about. Tourons (tourist morons) sticking their hands in the hydrothermal features.
So, just to be 100% clear, don’t touch the hot springs or any hydrothermal features in Yellowstone. In fact, stay on the boardwalks. That’s the easier (and safest, and only actually allowed) way to view the springs, as the thin crust surrounding the springs can break, almost certainly leading to some pretty major injuries if not death. Over twenty people have died in the Yellowstone hot springs. Don’t add to the add number, and don’t ruin your vacation by hurting yourself.
Caution signs exist for a reason. It’s exhilarating to break the rules, we know, but caution signs exist for a reason. If there’s one organization that’s worth listening to, it’s the National Park Service. This isn’t about being a rule follower, it’s about not taking unnecessary risks just because it makes you feel cool. Just don’t be dumb, don’t be like the people in these videos, we are seriously begging you. I promise it’s not that difficult.
Related: Partial Foot Found Floating In Yellowstone’s Abyss Hot Spring
Image Credit: TouronsOfYellowstone via Instagram