Yellowstone Winter 2011
By Jim & Madelyn AllsmanWinter in Yellowstone is different every year. In the winter of 2011, the story was snow. It turned out to be a very difficult winter in terms of heavy snow, freezing temperatures from thirty-five below to twenty above and hardship for the wildlife in the park searching for food and shelter from the cold. However, the winter did create some outstanding scenery with beautiful clear days and pristine snow. In the wintertime, there is only one road open in the park. It takes you from the Yellowstone north gate, through Mammoth Hot Springs, to the northeast entrance, Silver Gate and Cooke City. This route allows one to travel the whole of the Lamar Valley, an area of abundant wildlife. Days consist of driving this route back and forth, spotting wildlife and other photographers who have created car jams when a special animal is seen. Sometimes you are lucky and see it first, other times you arrive just in time to miss the show by 10 minutes or less. However the case, the day is busy and fun, never at a loss to see something.
Our first good luck came our first day when we opened the door of the cottage we rent on our visits to Yellowstone. We were greeted by this young buck mule deer looking right at us. I guess he smelled breakfast.
Near the north entrance of the park is an area called Old Yellowstone Trail. Visitors are allowed the drive this trail. It offers a little different look than the park itself. The area is flatter and doesn't have so much snow. This is where we found this group of antelop taking advantage of the easier available grass.
There was a group of female elk standing bunched together. When you see elk standing like this, look for wolves in the area. This particular day we didn't see any, but they were reported by others.
The first stop into the park is Mammoth Hot Springs. There are thermal areas there. This image was taken on a very cold morning with the thermal areas creating a lot of steam.
As you drive through the park, it is common to see bison walking down the road. Park rules require cars to give them passage, regardless of how slow they are walking. Sooner or later, they will find a snow bank to climb over and they are off to a new place to hunt for food.
The bison turn their gigantic heads from side to side to brush the snow from the grass. When they finally raise their heads up, they become "the face of winter."
Elk are an important population in Yellowstone. Their numbers have been reduced in recent years by wolves, but visitors can expect to see them throughout the park. This big bull elk was seen eating twigs as the grass became more difficult to find in the snow.
This yearling female elk posed for us by the side of the road.
As you can see from this image, there is no polution in this wild area. The skies are deep blue.
While driving through the Blacktail area, we were lucky to see this Ruffed Grouse. He was doing very well because the deep snow had lifted him up so he was able to reach food he can't normally find from the ground.
Driving down the road, we saw this little coyote running toward us. We pulled into a turnout and waited for him to come our way. Apparently people had been feeding him from their cars because he wasn't afraid. We were able to photograph him from the car window. A couple of other cars pulled up to do the same. A lady in a big SUV pulled up, jumped out with her point and shoot camera and began photographing. The coyote spotted her and came after her. He chased her around the car and before she could get the door open, he nipped her in the rear. I bet she understands the difference now between the zoo and the wilds.
From the Roosevelt Junction, you enter the Lamar Valley. There was so much snow, it was a breath- taking sight.
It was easy to spot this red fox against the snow. She was hunting voles and caused quite a car jam as everyone was excited to see her.
Further down the road, we saw this coyote pair. They seem to know where they were going in a big hurry. We had to photograph them as they ran by.
The confluence of the Lamar River and Soda Butte Creek is the place to be. Bison, elk, coyotes, wolves, and bighorn sheep call this area home.
The bighorn sheep were grazing along the hillsides. We saw them there almost every day, but one day they had come down so low we were able to get some close up images. You can see how deep the snow is. They use their front leg to paw the ground to uncover grass. This particular bighorn was on a steep hillside.
The view at the confluence area is spectacular in every direction. The challenges of a winter photography trip to Yellowstone are different every day, but the experience is like none other.
