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!
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