It's a major milestone regarding management of Yellowstone National Park bison: the Stephens Creek pastures are empty, as 700 or so bison have been released back into the Park, though some remain penned in Corwin Springs for testing.

We've already told you about the delays related to snow on the Beartooth Pass, but there are more snow-related delays in Yellowstone National Park over the next two weeks, including a tardy opening of the Dunraven Pass and a temporary closure of the Craig Pass.

The opening of the Beartooth Highway between Pilot Creek and Red Lodge has been delayed a week past the traditional Memorial Day weekend launch, as heavy snow on the Beartooth Pass is hampering plowing efforts by the National Park Service.

A meeting designed to address the possibility of plowing Hwy. 212 between Cooke City and the Chief Joseph Highway, allowing winter access to Cody and better Yellowstone National Park access, didn't accomplish much as the facts needed to make an intelligent decision -- like the cost of plowing or the potential economic impact -- weren't presented.

The Yellowstone National Park East Entrance will be open nights from 8 p.m. to 10 a.m., beginning Sunday (May 22), as weather conditions allow for the expanded hours overnight.

The heavy snowpack in Yellowstone National Park continues to impact operations, as the spring opening of the Norris campground has been pushed back a week because of high snow and water levels.

The Sylvan Pass and the East Entrance will be open for business at 6 a.m. tomorrow (Wednesday) morning on a limited basis, as snow has been cleared from the roads, but folks could experience delays when the road narrows to one lane thanks to a washout.

No one seems particularly happy with the proposed Winter Use Plan put forward by Yellowstone National Park officials earlier this month -- and that may be good news for those who actually want to see it implemented.

For those needing an alternate route from Cody to Yellowstone National Park: Highway 212 between Cooke City and the Chief Joseph Highway has been plowed and is now open.

The Sylvan Pass will remained closed indefinitely as Yellowstone National Park road crews work to clear four significant snow slides and more than 20 feet of snow; meanwhile, officials are also finding the heavy snowpack caused more damage in Park buildings as well.