Yellowstone National Park holds the distinction of being the world’s first national park, established in 1872 by President Ulysses S. Grant. This landmark decision, made under the authority of the Antiquities Act—which allows presidents to designate federal lands as national monuments—paved the way for conservation efforts across the globe. Spanning over 2.2 million acres, Yellowstone is a vast wilderness brimming with geological wonders and scientific intrigue. While the park draws over six million visitors annually, few ever reach its most remote corners. One such place is the "Thoroughfare," a rugged, almost mythical region in the park’s southwest that remains as wild and inaccessible as it was a century ago. Don spent a week exploring this remote backcountry, surviving on freeze-dried meals and waking each morning to sub-freezing temperatures—only to experience 70-degree sunshine just hours later. For three days straight, the team encountered more bears than people, a true testament to the isolation of the Thoroughfare. While a full series on Yellowstone is in the works, this episode offers a preview: Don recounts his long, arduous, and awe-inspiring journey through one of the most untouched landscapes in America.