A Midwinter Getaway to Yellowston​e

While in the Midwest for the holidays we found out that we’d be having an early visit from Susan’s parents for MLK weekend. They just happened to be in Southern California for business and decided to stop in Utah on their way home. With Logan in the grip of a long-term winter inversion, we decided to take a trip out of the valley and up to Yellowstone. None of us had been to Yellowstone in winter, so it’d be a new way to experience a familiar park.

Friday after work, we loaded up and drove north to West Yellowstone and the west gate. All the park roads other than the northernmost (near Mammoth Hot Springs) are closed to wheeled vehicles for the winter. Along with that only the hotels and amenities at Mammoth and Old Faithful are operational. For this reason, we had to drive to West Yellowstone, MT to catch a winterized shuttle decked out with snowmobile treads to take us to Old Faithful.

On the ride in

Our fancy ride into the park

The “express” shuttle into the park was not exactly fast, covering the ~40 miles in just under 2 hours (with a couple photo-op stops and a bathroom break en route). Despite being slow and noisy, the ride in was pleasant offering us a beautiful sunset and a chance to catch a herd of Buffalo just before night fell completely. We also had the chance to meet some of the other vacationers on the shuttle. Since we’d all be “trapped” together in the park we’d start to become familiar with the other guests.

Sunset

Bison along our drive

On arrival Friday night, we checked in and headed to the Snow Lodge restaurant for dinner. The rest of the evening was getting settled in and relaxing after our day of travel. The snow lodge rooms are comfortable, but bare in modern amenities (like television and free internet). Luckily I had my books and could also pass time sitting by the fireplaces in the lodge. Either way, it was an early bedtime.

Saturday morning we met in the lobby for an 8:30 breakfast before winterizing ourselves and heading to the gift/ski shop to see what we could get ourselves into. Susan’s dad, Susan and I rented XC skis (traditional) and got a crash course in technique from the shop. Then we headed out toward Old Faithful to pick up an easy trail to give nordic skiing a go.

By the time we got our equipment and hit the trail, the sun had burned off the morning fog and we had a clear and relatively warm day to work with. The three of us wandered a bit initially (some hiking, some skiing) until we picked up the correct, groomed trail…then we really got going. Our route took us past a number of geysers and thermal springs before ending at the Morning Glory Pool. Here, us three along with a lady from Chicago who had been skiing the same path as us took a quick break.

Susan’s dad in front of Old Faithful

Skiing along

Cross-Country Skiing Trip

At morning glory

From Morning Glory, I split from the group wanting to push a little further and try climbing/descending a hill on XC skis. Susan and her dad backtracked to the lodge the way we came. The next stretch of trail I encountered wasn’t as groomed, but had enough tracking to be usable. I also encountered some wildlife (mainly Bison) before meeting the road and Biscuit Basin where I had to do some light hiking before finding a parallel trail to loop back to the lodge. All told, I skied and hiked a total of 6.5 miles and it was a blast…I can’t wait to give it a go in the Logan area.

Some bison along the trail

A little more wildlife

The rest of Saturday afternoon was spent reading and relaxing in the lodge. Susan and I made an afternoon trip over to the Visitor’s Center to see the exhibition and to watch Old Faithful erupt. That evening was another dinner at the Obsidian Restaurant (the only full-service dining option) before bed.

Sunday morning started with checking out of the rooms and an early breakfast before catching our snow shuttle out of the park. This coach was larger than our bus in and moved a little more quickly. However, this not being the express ride we had a stop at the Fountain Paint Pots and a guided walk in the cold and fog to see the thermal features. Our guide throughout this trip (Landis) was knowledgeable and very passionate, as most NP employees are. He gave us a lot of background on the early history of park tourism as history was his primary area of interest. Along the route out we also had the chance to see more wildlife including Bison, coyote, trumpeter swans, bald eagles, and elk among others (mainly bird species).

A near bison attack!

Fountain paint pots

It was so cold, any exposed hair froze!

Trumpeter Swan
  
Elk and Eagle

Beautiful!

We pulled into West Yellowstone just before lunch time and grabbed a bite before hitting the road back to Logan. Susan’s parents are in town until Monday night so we will get a chance to visit with them a little longer. It was a nice winter getaway.

There were far too many great photos to fit in one blog, so here’s a bonus photo album!

More Yellowstone Photos VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

There’s No Place Like The Road for The Holidays–New Year’s Edition

After our (too) brief visit with the families for the holidays, it was time to make the trek back to Logan.  We left from Delphos and caravanned with our friend Jenna until we stopped for the night in Topeka, KS.  Jenna was driving to Denver and decided to make the drive non-stop…we’re not that hardcore.

The next morning I explored some of the outskirts of Topeka during a run, then it was back to the road as we drove to Estes Park, CO.  Since we knew we’d have to be making our way back to Logan around New Years, we decided to take a side trip to Colorado to hole up in a small cabin for the holiday before finishing the trip home.

We arrived in Estes Park just after sunset on December 30th and relaxed at the cabin, making dinner in the small kitchenette before watching a movie and going to bed.

Our New Year’s Cabin (and Derby searching for wildlife)

New Year’s Eve morning, I got up early and went to town to find a gym to run in, then grabbed some breakfast and returned to the cabin.  Our plans for the day were to explore the town and to head into Rocky Mountain National Park, which was adjacent to our cabin.  Since we knew the impending holiday would probably shut down business early, we made the town the first priority.

Heading to Estes Park’s commercial district

Estes Park sits in a valley around 8000 feet, just east of Loveland, CO.  It is built around Lake Estes and surrounded by steep, rocky mountains.  Most of the area was residential or hotels/resorts, but there is a small commercial district which included mostly outdoors and arts related shops.  In the winter, the lake was not the focus since it was totally frozen over, so we turned our attention to the shopping district.  There were a lot of interesting shops, but one of the highlights was Jenna’s suggestion, The Rock Shop, where Susan found some jewelry.

After checking out town, we grabbed lunch at a local Italian restaurant before heading back West and into Rocky Mountain National Park.  Being the important National Park supporters we are, we used our annual pass to get free admission.  From the gate, we started driving UP.  We climbed into the falling snow, stopping occasionally to look back into the valley from where we came.  We climbed as far as the park would let us (the rest of the pass is closed for the winter) before turning back and exploring some of the lower lying areas.  As with all national parks, the scenery was beautiful.

 

The rest of the afternoon/evening was back to the cabin for more relaxation.  For dinner, we got takeout from a Nepalese/Indian restaurant in town and rented a DVD from the resort (Get Smart…it was enjoyable).  Once the movie was over it was 9:30, so we watched East coast coverage of the countdown until just before “midnight”, where we were greeted with the start of the 10 o’clock news instead of the ball drop.  Once we realized they weren’t going to show the ball until 12 local time, we toasted with our champagne and went to bed not too much later (yes, we’re old).

 

Susan showing off her fire making skills & our “midnight” toast

New Year’s Day was time to return to Logan.  We checked out of the hotel, crossing paths with an enormous elk on our way, then hit the road.  The weather cooperated so we made it home before sunset.  Back in the Cache Valley, we unpacked and prepared to start a new year.

There’s No Place Like The Road for the Holidays–Christmas Edition

The end of 2012 brought the holiday season and with it a trip back to Kentucky/Ohio to visit friends and family.  To allow us a little more freedom to wander, to save costs, and to bring Derby home with us, we decided to make it a road trip. 

Derby loves riding in the backseat

Thursday afternoon prior to Christmas, we packed up the Hyundai and headed East through Logan Canyon, past Bear Lake and on to Wyoming.  The weather cooperated so we were able to make good progress on the first day and found ourselves stopping for the night in Western Nebraska (North Platte). 

Logan Canyon
Bear Lake

The trip continued early Friday morning with a long drive through Nebraska.  The snowstorm we were following about a day behind had wreaked havoc on Lincoln, NE so the roads approaching the city were still iced over.  We worked through a number of abandoned cars on the sides of the road as we crawled along.  Finally, once through Lincoln we moved south and out of the snowstorm area so were able to move quickly again.  Friday night ended in St. Louis at my sister’s house where we relaxed for the rest of the night (and did doggy introductions).

Sunrise in Nebraska
Our very own doggie daycare

Saturday morning we completed the first part of the long trek by driving to Louisville.  Saturday afternoon was spent visiting with some friends in town before an open house with my relatives on Saturday night.  Kelley and Jason were only in town until Sunday, so we wanted to have a get together with as much of the family as possible with all of us around.  Pretty much everyone made it, so it was a successful night.

St. Louis

Louisville

Sunday morning we slept in before having our family gift exchange and heading out to brunch at one of our favorite spots, Wild Eggs.  After brunch, Kelley and Jason returned to St. Louis and we spent the rest of the day being lazy.

Pogo waiting for Santa

Monday brought Christmas Eve mass and a post-mass party at my aunt’s house.  Then Christmas day, after a home cooked breakfast and leisurely morning, we reconvened at the same aunt’s place for the Murphy Christmas.  Susan and I left the party a little early to visit with some other friends who we had missed over the weekend.

Christmas pic

Wednesday morning was our finale in Kentucky and we finished with visiting our friends, the Tullbane's, at their new house for another brunch.  From there, it was onto Ohio who was getting hit by a blizzard at the same time…fun!  Being the road-warriors we are, we just barreled into Ohio anyways and drove to Columbus to visit with some of Susan’s Delphos friends and a new edition to on of their families.  After a good visit and dinner, we finished the drive to Delphos and Susan’s parents’ home.

    
Highlights of the kiddos

The rest of the week was spent visiting Susan’s family with less on the agenda.  It was a relaxing couple days before starting the long trek back west on Saturday morning.