Yellowstone's Winter Wildlife
January 23-30, 2011

 

Guide: Meredith Taylor

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“African safari in America – beautiful scenery, great guides, you’ll learn more than if you went on your own.”
     - Regina Anavy

“This is like going to Africa, at our doorstep.”
     - Ralph Anavy         see more...

This journey is designed for those keen on watching wolves and finding winter wildlife in Yellowstone. Our guides have spent many years observing the packs form, and when viewing the packs you will learn their history, lineages and relationships with rival packs. We hope you will witness wolf behavior and interactions in detail! This is a quiet time of year for tourism in Yellowstone and the surrounding communities, offering less crowded conditions for viewing. Our opportunity to observe the packs should be excellent as local biologists are keeping a close watch on wolves at this time with regular air and ground observations. Keep in mind that wolves are often seen at a distance, and most viewing is done through spotting scopes, set up in viewing areas by the roadside. Wolf activity is high as packs settle into their winter territories, vying for prime space in Lamar Valley and Slough Creek, where hundreds (if not thousands) of Elk and Bison gather. With patience and good optics there is much to discover!

For those that want a tour focused on in-depth observation and understanding of wolf and other animal behavior, this is an ideal journey. Through a series of films and short lectures we give you background on the Yellowstone wolf reintroduction, its progress and current hurdles. We talk about the fascinating ecological relationships wolves brought to our attention, a phenomena known as “trophic cascade” – a dynamic connection of wolves with other species. As weather permits, we plan to be out for full days of observation, as days are not long this far north in January.

We begin the journey at Chico Hot Springs, and spend four nights at Yellowstone’s Northeast Entrance at Cooke City, Montana, a small town surrounded by majestic peaks of the Absaroka Mountains. By this time Cooke City and the Lamar Valley should have an ample winter blanket of snow. The highway through Lamar Valley to Cooke City is plowed, allowing vehicle access. The final part of our journey is a real adventure, as the park interior roads are not plowed, and we travel by special over-the-snow vehicles to a true winter wonderland.

We also highlight the remarkable beauty of winter and the extraordinary thermal features of the Old Faithful Geyser Basin. In addition to Gray Wolves, Bison and Elk, we hope to see Pronghorns, Bighorn Sheep, Mule Deer, White-tailed Deer, and possibly Beavers and playful River Otters. While birds of winter Yellowstone are not diverse, there are many interesting and beautiful species, such as Trumpeter Swans, Barrow’s Goldeneyes, American Dippers, Clark’s Nutcrackers, Rosy Finches, both Steller’s and Gray Jays and Townsend’s Solitaires.  The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is remarkably beautiful, something you can see only by venturing into the park in over-the-snow vehicles on a grand adventure.

This is a journey we can guarantee you will be thrilled with. The opportunity to travel with a knowledgeable guide, in winter in this remote and beautiful place, so full of wildlife is something you should not miss!

 

ITINERARY

Sun., Jan. 23 Arrival in Bozeman, MT. / Chico Hot Springs
Please plan to arrive in Bozeman, a lovely, small city surrounded by mountains, no later than 3:00 PM. Due to delays that can happen in winter, if you have the time we recommend that you come in a day early, enjoy the Museum of the Rockies, downtown Bozeman, time for local birding and some of the local restaurants.  This is particularly important if you are coming from overseas, or the East Coast.

By 3:00 PM today, we meet at the airport to head towards Yellowstone, following a route over Bozeman Pass and then along the Yellowstone River. Watch for Bald Eagles, Trumpeter Swans, Mule Deer and our first sightings of Elk as we drive to our delightful lodgings near the historic mining town of Emigrant, MT.  What better way to rest up from the long journey than a dip in a natural hot springs pool, followed by enjoying a fabulous welcome dinner?  
Accommodations at Chico Hot Springs, MT. (D)

Mon., Jan. 24 Yellowstone’s Mammoth Hot Springs / Winter Wildlife
Enjoy a sunrise soak in the hot springs or if conditions are right with rime ice and frost, venture out at dawn to capture scenic images or find a flock of Cedar, possibly with Bohemian, Waxwings. After breakfast, we depart for the day, following the Yellowstone River towards the North Entrance to Yellowstone National Park. High peaks of the Gallatin and Absaroka Mountains frame a wide valley as we approach. We follow a back road into the park, along which we have excellent chances to observe and photograph Bighorn Sheep, Pronghorns, and Coyotes, Common Mergansers and other wintering waterfowl, Elk, Mule Deer and other species. Enjoy lunch and a chance to walk at Mammoth Hot Springs, known for its several colorful hot springs and famous terraces. As we continue towards Cooke City, we pass an Elk herd particularly acclimated to the presence of humans residing near Mammoth and we hope to find some magnificent bulls close to the road in good light. We travel through Lamar Valley, stopping for views of wildlife. As days are short, we are likely to arrive to neon lights of this small town of a few hundred people, all welcoming us for our four-night stay. Dinner is at a favorite local restaurant.
Accommodations at the Alpine Motel, Cooke City (B,L,D)  

Tues., Jan. 25 Wolf and Wildlife Watching in Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley
This morning we eat breakfast and head out for the day. We drive through arching branches of conifer trees, often clad in snow. As we reach Lamar Valley, fantastic vistas open up and it is here that we can scan a wide variety of terrain.  If wolf packs have had success the night before hunting, we may happen upon a carcass – likely in the distance, but with a steady stream of scavengers coming in such as Black-billed Magpies, Common Ravens and both Bald and Golden Eagles. Our route follows prime wolf habitat for the entire day.  We find ample evidence of Yellowstone’s massive fire event of 1988 and the polished tree trunks with their understory of recovering pines make for interesting images. If some of the group is interested, we can offer a cross-country ski outing to scenic Tower Falls (rental equipment available in Mammoth or possibly Cooke City).  If weather conditions are favorable, we stay out for the full day, with a tailgate lunch. If it is cold or stormy, we return to Cooke City for a hot lunch and break, then venture out closer to Cooke City in search of Moose, frozen waterfalls, scenics and local winter birds.  Dinner is at your choice of several local restaurants.
Accommodations at the Alpine Motel, Cooke City, MT  (B,L)

Wed., Jan. 26 More Wolf and Wildlife Watching in Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley
Wake to find rugged twelve-thousand foot mountains frame form the backdrop to this colorful village of 300 people.  It’s quite an extraordinary place! We have 2 additional full days to explore wildlife rich areas of Yellowstone. Most of our viewing will be from the road, but some of you may want to venture out on snowshoes to investigate lush forest areas. A local wildlife photographer accompanies us to share his expertise. He and his family reside in a small log cabin where Pine Martens, Moose, Red Squirrels and a variety of winter birds, including Rosy Finches and Pine Grosbeaks, come in to the yard and feeders. As his schedule allows, Dan Hartman will share a program of his images, many of which are captured as he scouts for BBC filmmakers. We also network with local biologists to know where wildlife can be encountered.

Every day we see American Bison and Elk in abundance. Other species we hope to find include River Otters, American Beavers, Bighorn Sheep, Red Foxes and birds such as Barrow’s Goldeneyes and American Dippers. Wolf activity is most likely encountered at dawn and dusk. Depending on weather we may stay out for much of the day with a picnic lunch, or we may return to Cooke City to warm up and then return. Dinners are at your leisure – some enjoy pizza at the local bar (or carry out to your room) and others time to relax and dine. One evening, our local guide Meredith Taylor will provide background information about the wolf reintroduction, with a highlight on understanding what has been learned in the dozen years that have passed since wolves returned. She will also share a DVD made about her and her husband Tory Taylor’s work surveying Native American artifacts along what is now known as the Path of the Pronghorn, a migratory route for humans and hoofed mammals that rivals routes of the Serengeti.
Accommodations at the Alpine Motel, Cooke City, MT  (B,L,D)

Thurs., Jan. 27 Lamar Valley / Bozeman / West Yellowstone
We have one more pass through Lamar Valley, leaving early to hopefully spot a pack of wolves or the magnificent Bull Elk in morning light en route back to Bozeman. For those that must leave, we plan to arrive Bozeman at 11:30 for flights out 1:00 PM and afterwards.  We highly encourage you to stay on for the next segment of our journey – an adventure into Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, from West Yellowstone. 

Those bound for the Park’s Interior will discover panoramic winter wonderland.  We travel into the Interior in over-the-snow vehicles known as Bombadiers. Roads are packed, but not plowed. All around us will be a magical world of geyser basins, frozen waterfalls, ice-clad river home to Trumpeter Swans and other waterfowl.

While we drop those departing at the Bozeman airport, those continuing on will have a couple of hours free in downtown Bozeman to browse the stores and enjoy lunch at your leisure. We then have a scenic drive, following the Madison River to West Yellowstone. We may find American Dippers, Bighorn Sheep and Moose en route.  West Yellowstone is a small town at the West entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Deep snow surrounds our motel and the local businesses and the place is buzzing with winter enthusiasts there to visit the park, snowmobile or cross-country ski. There are several local restaurants to choose from as dinner is at your leisure tonight.
Accommodations in West Yellowstone (B,L)

Fri., Jan 28 Norris Geyser Basin / Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
This morning we rendezvous with our Snowcoach drivers to visit Old Faithful Geyser Basin. These drivers have years of experience and they know where the wildlife can be found. They make the trip fun, sharing stories, the park history and their knowledge. We are out the full day, taking a picnic to eat at a warming hut near Canyon. En route we visit the hottest thermal basin in the park, Norris Geyser Basin where mist from fumeroles decorates the trees. We walk a boardwalk trail to see colorful hot springs and Echinus Geyser, a fountain type geyser that is delightful to behold. We also visit the absolutely spectacular Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, a massive and intricate canyon displaying colors of yellow, orange and salmon rock. Various viewpoints let us see and photograph the fantastic Upper and Lower Falls. It’s a full but wonderful day with scenery you cannot imagine, patterns of snow and ice, mountains, thermal features and huge cones of ice beneath the falls. With luck we may find River Otter, as well as Trumpeter Swans, Barrow’s Goldeneyes, American Dippers, Elk, Bison and more. We return to West Yellowstone where you can choose from a variety of restaurants as dinner is at your leisure.
Accommodations in West Yellowstone (B,L)

Sat., Jan. 29 Old Faithful Geyser Basin
Today we meet our Snowcoach drivers again, this time to veer south at Madison Junction, heading for the Upper Geyser, home to Old Faithful and dozens of other geysers, mud pools, hot springs and fumaroles. These features are accessible on boardwalk trails that begin at the famous Old Faithful Lodge. We hope to see Old Faithful erupt several times as we explore the Upper Geyser Basin. Other features we may observe are numerous, and subject to their cycles of eruption. Beehive Geyser, directly across from Old Faithful, shoots up over 100’ ft. in height. Castle Geyser has a cone thought to be over 4000 years old and puts out a tremendous volume of water. Grotto Geyser formed over a group of tree trunks and looks like something out of an extraterrestrial world. Riverside Geyser arcs over the Firehole River. The thermal basins attract wildlife and we often find Coyotes, Elk, Bison and other species.  Some years River Otters inhabit the Firehole River. Photographers have a grand time capturing images – thermal colors of the run-off channels, scenics, frosty wildlife faces and other shots beckon.  En route back to West Yellowstone, we visit a couple of other thermal basins, one known for a massive, colorful pool and the other for its bizarre mud pots.  Our final, celebratory dinner is in West Yellowstone.
Accommodations in West Yellowstone (B,L,D)

Sun., Jan. 30 West Yellowstone / Bozeman
This morning we return to the airport in Bozeman. We plan to be there by 10:00 AM to accommodate most flights out this day. (B)

“It is beautiful country and everything was so well organized.” - Christel Fliss

 

PLAN AHEAD! Protect yourself with Access America Travel Insurance. Offset your Carbon Footprint. Show us the receipt and we'll take 50% - up to $50.00 - of your carbon offset fee off your final payment. COST OF THE JOURNEY Cost of the main journey is $2590.00 from Bozeman, MT. This cost is based on double occupancy and includes: transportation during the journey, all accommodations, and meals as specified in the itinerary, professional guide services, park and other entrance fees, and miscellaneous program expenses. It does not include: roundtrip airfare to and from Bozeman, items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone, or drinks from the bar; or gratuities for porterage or personal services. With fewer than 8 participants, a small-group surcharge (typically $100-200 per participant) may apply. Single supplement is $405.00. Early arrival package (hotel, breakfast. lunch and optional activities 10AM-3PM on arrival day) $130.00. Short Tour Option (excludes Old Faithful and the Park’s Interior), you depart from Bozeman, Jan. 28 = $1995.00, double occupancy. Single for this short option is $210.00. TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS You are responsible for planning your travel to Bozeman, MT. Plan to depart any time convenient for you on Jan. 30th.     Naturalist Journeys, LLC is an equal opportunity service provider and committed to the goal of ensuring equal opportunity for all in employment and program delivery. PHOTO CREDITS: All photos by Peg Abbott.

 

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