Well we had a fun visit to the park last week. Had lots of snow, great wildlife viewing and a close encounter with a resident wolf!
We had gone down to Yellowstone which is only a few hours drive from our place to relax and have some change of scenery. Winter in Montana can sometimes make a change of scenery a necessary thing.
If you haven’t been to Yellowstone in the winter, I can say that it may be about the best time to go. The quietness that falls over the park is really something amazing. Not only is Yellowstone absent of people, but the snow and frigid temperatures turn it into an even more primitive place to be.
On this trip we had the fortune of seeing a lot of wildlife and even some wolves. On the last morning I spotted a couple as I headed into the park and a few more with them on my way back out.
When I returned with my wife an hour later they were still out roaming around and just as I was getting my tripod set up, my wife yells “Ones running straight at us!” Sure enough one of them was making a bee line right at us and didn’t slow down until he was crossing the road a few feet from me.
Its always a treat to see wolves in the park, but a few feet away was really awesome.
This trip we had great wildlife up close. Lots of Bison, Elk and even a playful coyote. It’s always hard to leave after being in this place, but living so close I know I will be back soon.
If your are planning to visit, there are plenty of places to stay in Gardiner or West Yellowstone. However the only road open to drive is the one from Gardiner to Cooke City, but it does yield plenty of wildlife.
If you are packing your gear already, I usually have a long telephoto attached and ready to go. Also pack some smaller focal lengths, because there are plenty of abstract landscapes and interesting thermal features to capture.
Hope to see you there.
Leave a Reply