Yellowstone is especially pretty in winter. The crowds are small, and there are only two ways to travel, via snowcoach from either Mammoth Hot Springs in the North or from West Yellowstone in the West (kinda self-explanatory there) or via snowmobile from West Yellowstone, Cody in the East, or Jackson in the South. My favorite is the snowmobiles from Cody.

We met our guide at the Pahaska Tipi near the East Entrance. After a quick safety lesson, we started through the East Gate. We wound our way through the curves that lead up to Corkscrew Bridge. We saw a couple of Bald Eagles soaring and some whitetail deer (less common that the mule deer). Stopping for a quick viewing of Corkscrew Bridge (no longer used for those of you with acrophobia), we continued our ascent to Sylvan Pass. At the top, the howitzer that is used to prevent avalanches silently saluted us as we filed through the pass. Our downward ascent, through the lodgepole pines, both growing and fire damaged, stood as silent sentinels as if saluting us is this white and green wilderness. 

When we reached Lake Butte Overlook, Yellowstone lake, in its frozen state, looking forlornly beautiful against its mountain backdrop, we saw steam rising from Steamboat Point (one of what seems to be thousands of features called "Steamboat" in Yellowstone. As we neared the bottom at Indian Creek, several bison, coats covered in ice and snow, snorted as we sledded past. Pelican Valley seemed frozen in time, lacking any of its namesake birds. We next reached Fishing Bridge Warming hut, its hearth a welcome break from Yellowstone's wintry grip. Turning right, we headed up to The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. We first encountered the steaming cauldrons of Mud Volcano belching its sulfurous steam reminding us of the gigantic volcano that lies beneath the groomed road we are on. 

Hayden Valley, The Serengeti of North America, lay frozen before us. The bison, ever mindful of conserving energy, have taken over the road. We pulled over to let them pass by. A wolf pack was barely visible to the naked eye, but, luckily, we had spotting scopes and binoculars to see them. 

After viewing the magnificence Grand Canyon, we repeated our trip in the other direction, arriving back at Pahaska Tipi, cold and knowing we'd seen the World's First National Park as few have. 

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