Woman suffers severe burns to her leg walking near Yellowstone’s Old Faithful

(Gray News) - A woman visiting Yellowstone National Park was severely burned while walking in a thermal area near Old Faithful.

The 60-year-old woman from New Hampshire was off-trail near Mallard Lake Trailhead on Sept. 16 with her husband and leashed dog, the National Park Service reported, when she broke through the thin crust of the surface, exposing the scalding water underneath.

The woman suffered second and third-degree burns to her lower leg. Neither her husband nor their dog were injured.

The woman and her husband went to the park’s medical clinic for an evaluation and she was then transported by helicopter to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center for treatment.

This is the first known thermal injury in Yellowstone this year, according to the park service.

The park service advises visitors to Yellowstone National Park to remain on boardwalks and on designated trails in the hydrothermal areas. They are also advised to “exercise extreme caution” in thermal areas and keep children from running in these areas.

“The ground in these areas is fragile and thin, and there is scalding water just below the surface,” the park service said in a statement.

According to the park service, hot springs have injured and killed more visitors in Yellowstone than any other natural feature at the park.

They also remind visitors that pets are not allowed on the boardwalks, hiking trails, thermal areas and in the park’s backcountry. Pets are allowed in developed areas at the park, such as roads, parking areas and campgrounds, and must be “physically controlled” at all times.

The park service reported the incident remains under investigation. The victim’s name has not been released at this time.

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