Winter in the west
Jul 31st, 1996, 06:31 AM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Winter in the west
Yes, you can get into Yellowstone in the winter, but there is only one road in which
to enter by vehicle. You might want to check out the national parks website at:
http://www.nps.gov
I looked at it and they have a ton of useful information about Yellowstone and a seasonal guide
that includes what to wear and how to get there. You can also call the NAtional Park Service at
(307) 344-7381
I hope this helps!
to enter by vehicle. You might want to check out the national parks website at:
http://www.nps.gov
I looked at it and they have a ton of useful information about Yellowstone and a seasonal guide
that includes what to wear and how to get there. You can also call the NAtional Park Service at
(307) 344-7381
I hope this helps!
Sep 26th, 1996, 12:31 PM
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
OK, here's what you do. Fly to Jackson Hole. Flee north as soon as possible.
Then you catch a bus up to the edge of the park. There's a snowmobiling outfit there where you
can have lunch while you wait for the park ranger to arrive in a snowcat. This is a 1930's style tank
that the park service bought from the Norwegian army. Or something like that.
The snowcat will take you in to Old Faithful. The road in is groomed for snowmobiles (and skiers, I suppose, but
you'd never run out of other trails), but otherwise isn't open. The big old lodge at Old Faithful is closed during the winter,
but you can stay in the modern addition or the cabins nearby. I have no idea how much they cost. They're not luxurious, but you're so
exhausted after a day of skiing that you don't really care.
There's a concession in the park that rents skis and one restaurant that serves decent meals and makes
box lunches for skiers. We were there for almost a week & I got a little tired of the menu, but again
who cares?
Most importantly, the skiing in yellowstone is amazing. All of the wildlife comes down into the crater area
near old faithful during the winter so you actually end up skiing around buffalo. The snowcats leave every morning to take skiers up into
the hills surrounding Old Faithful so you can ski in (and gently downhill) all day long. Also, while snowmobilers are
allowed in the park during the day, no snowmobiles are allowed in the
park overnight, so, for once, XX skiers are in the majority. It's a nice change.
Finally, bring lots of warm clothes. It was 15 below almost every morning when we started out. My eyelashes
kept freezing together.
In conclusion, you'd be an idiot not to go.
Then you catch a bus up to the edge of the park. There's a snowmobiling outfit there where you
can have lunch while you wait for the park ranger to arrive in a snowcat. This is a 1930's style tank
that the park service bought from the Norwegian army. Or something like that.
The snowcat will take you in to Old Faithful. The road in is groomed for snowmobiles (and skiers, I suppose, but
you'd never run out of other trails), but otherwise isn't open. The big old lodge at Old Faithful is closed during the winter,
but you can stay in the modern addition or the cabins nearby. I have no idea how much they cost. They're not luxurious, but you're so
exhausted after a day of skiing that you don't really care.
There's a concession in the park that rents skis and one restaurant that serves decent meals and makes
box lunches for skiers. We were there for almost a week & I got a little tired of the menu, but again
who cares?
Most importantly, the skiing in yellowstone is amazing. All of the wildlife comes down into the crater area
near old faithful during the winter so you actually end up skiing around buffalo. The snowcats leave every morning to take skiers up into
the hills surrounding Old Faithful so you can ski in (and gently downhill) all day long. Also, while snowmobilers are
allowed in the park during the day, no snowmobiles are allowed in the
park overnight, so, for once, XX skiers are in the majority. It's a nice change.
Finally, bring lots of warm clothes. It was 15 below almost every morning when we started out. My eyelashes
kept freezing together.
In conclusion, you'd be an idiot not to go.
