Ride~About: Snowcoach to Wonderland!

Here we are, 7:30am at Mammoth Hot Springs to catch our snowcoach to Wonderland, driving to Old Faithful for a two-night stay. This winter started with warm temperatures, little snow, yet overcast skies with little sun. Then came February! Lots of snow, temperatures from -30 degrees to slightly above zero, and no sun. Unlikely we will see sun today, but you never know. We are heading to Old Faithful via the long route. From Mammoth to Canyon, along Yellowstone Lake to West Thumb, and over Craig’s Pass arriving at Old Faithful about 4pm.

Let’s go!

Ride~About: Winter Weather Hodgepodge

It is a beautiful winter day in Lamar Valley, but the clouds are foreboding. We are heading to Mammoth Hot Springs so let’s see what this winter weather holds for us this morning. We’ve had about ten inches of snow the last few days at Lamar Buffalo Ranch, but today the sun streams through the broken eastern clouds.

Come along the 29 miles to explore . . .

One Winter Day . . .

Winter in Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley can be unpredictable, frigid, scary at times, intimately closed in, and gorgeous. Each day can bring surprises of all kinds, and weather is no exception. One winter day the sun rose, the clouds gathered, the storms came, and the snow blanketed both the valley and our adventure. Come along and share winter’s embrace.

Ahhh, look over there . . .

Gorgeous Canyon Views, Scary Winter Possibilities–What a Difference a Day Makes!

Name one thing that is great about Yellowstone in October: Off-season lodge rates. Name one word of caution about Yellowstone in October: SNOW. Since I love staying at the new Canyon Lodges with steep discounts and the aspen and cottonwoods are in sparkling yellow now, I’ll take my chances. It is a gorgeous day to drive along the Gibbon River to Norris Junction then heading east to the Canyon area. The Gibbon River has thermal features along its banks and is one of only a few Yellowstone rivers flowing north to south, but that’s a story for another day. Today we are heading to Canyon’s Washburn Lodge, staying the last two nights before the Canyon area closes until next May. Tomorrow morning we will walk the northern end of North Rim Trail to explore waterfalls and canyon walls. This will be such fun.

So excited . . .