Mary and Ron ski through the upper geyser basin.
Mary and Ron ski through the upper geyser basin.
About a year ago, Mary phoned me at work. The company she works for had been bought by another company. Her new employer shut down during the week between Christmas and New Years.
Mary knew the answer, but she asked anyway, "what should we do with the week off?"
"We should go back to Yellowstone."
Ever since our first trip to Yellowstone (our honeymoon in September 1997) we'd been talking about a winter visit.
On Christmas day, 1998, Mary, Ron, my Mom and I flew to Bozeman, Montana. We spent the night in Bozeman, then drove to Yellowstone. We spent six nights in the park -- three at Mammoth Hot Springs and three at Old Faithful.
Yellowstone is a fantastic place: forests, mountains, thermal features....In the winter the park is blanketed in snow.
We spent a lot of our time exploring on skis and snowshoes. UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
Wildlife viewing is spectacular in the winter. We saw bison, coyotes, elk, deer, eagles, bighorn sheep, a fox and a weasel.
Travel in the park is largely by "snowcoach" or snowmobile. (I have written some tips for reducing the distractions caused by snowmobile noise and exhaust).
You can camp year-round at Mammoth. But, the lodges at Mammoth and Old Faithful are a more popular choice.
Taking snapshots is a hobby. I have written a bit about photography and my experiences and thoughts about taking winter snapshots in Yellowstone.
Michael Eglinski
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