24-May-2013 -- Coincidentally - or perhaps not so coincidentally - the boundaries of Yellowstone National Park form a rough rectangle between two lines of latitude (44 and 45 degrees north) and two lines of longitude (110 and 111 degrees west). Therefore, four degree confluence points lie close to the corners of the park. Two of these confluence points - [45,-111] and [44,-110] - are very difficult to reach; each requiring a very long hike. However the other two confluence points - [44,-111] and [45,-110] - are quite easy to reach. A few days earlier, I visited [44,-111] from eastern Idaho. Today, I visited [45,-110] while vacationing in Yellowstone National Park.

I followed the same route as the previous visitor - Shawn Fleming - almost 8 years earlier. I parked at the "Bannock Trail" - just 0.6 miles from the confluence point (and 1 mile outside the eastern boundary of Yellowstone). The trail passes through the North Absaroka Wilderness, in the Shoshone National Forest. Even though the hike was short, I made sure to carry bear spray! At this time of year (Spring), the trail had a couple of tricky creek crossings, using makeshift 'bridges' made from downed logs. The trail passed just 400 feet north of the confluence point. The final 400 feet hike - although very short - was rather frustrating, because I had to cross a large number of downed trees. The confluence point itself lies in a small clearing, on top of some of the downed trees. The view to the south is quite spectacular, with the snow-capped Absaroka Range in view.