[Wolfman]

Just got back from my Yellowstone National Park snowmobiling trip late last night.  Words do NOT describe that place in winter, so I'll post a few pictures

That place is DEFINITELY the most awesome place on the planet.  

First is the sled I rented on the trip.  (gotta have snowmobile content right?)

 

[Wolfman]

Here is Lava Creek (accessed by car)

 

[Wolfman]

Midway Geyser Basin.  Trail was blocked above by Bison, so I was unable to walk the trail.

 

[Wolfman]

Grand Geyser erupting.

 

[Wolfman]

West Thumb Geyser Basin.

 

[Wolfman]

Steamboat Geyser, Norris Geyser Basin.

 

[Wolfman]

Another North road area photo by car access.

 

[Wolfman]

Finally a picture of Old Faithful, since no trip to Yellowstone is complete without a visit there.  

I have some 74 pictures of the area.  Once I get things back to normal, I'll build a website with all of the pictures on it.

 

[paul yarek]

wolfman,
 i hope you are a photographer, because if you are not then i am embarassed for my picture taking skills. those are nice pics. i hope you had a great time.

 

[fastcat02]

Those are some awesome pics. Looks like a beautiful place to ride. Wish I could go down there but with the price of our dollar compared to yours I'd be broke for ten years.  

 

[Wolfman]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ZRT600MtnCat @ Feb. 16, 2002, 1:47pm)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">How was the snow?
Were there any good riding areas?
Were there Rocks and dirt showing through?
I am planning to be there on the 22 Feb. Should I stay home?
I want to ride, not sight see (will do that too, but am going for the ride, and do not plan on going to the park this time).
Did you post the trail report in the trail report section?
The snow in some of the pictures in the background looks thin, How was the snow?
Please? Please?
I like the pics, Thank You, Post the location where the rest are when you are done.
Thanks again.
Paul.[/b][/quote]
Snowpack within the park is running between 28 to 33 inches on the trails.  Trails are groomed every other day, and conditions do vary depending on traffic.  I stayed strictly in the Park, so I cannot state what conditions are like within Cooke City (looked to be pretty good on my drive there and back), or West Yellowstone.  The Mammoth Hot Springs area is typically VERY thin, and the NPS is putting sawdust down on places where the bare road is showing.  Where I went, leaving the groomed trail would have been good for a $5000 fine, and an escort out of the park.

Rocky Mountain Snowpack is a bit below average this season (like everybody else), but conditions still look good enough, and more snow is on the way.  I'd say take your trip and enjoy.  I would call ahead to where you plan to visit to find out their local conditions.

I will be more than happy to post the URL to the site when it's up.  You're welcome, and thanx for the compliments on the pictures.  

 

[Wolfman]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (paul yarek @ Feb. 16, 2002, 1:56pm)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">wolfman,
 i hope you are a photographer, because if you are not then i am embarassed for my picture taking skills. those are nice pics. i hope you had a great time.[/b][/quote]
Nope, I'm not a pro.  I *am* trying to practice my way up to a professional level.  I need a better camera though.  These were taken with a fixed focus Olympus digital camera that I bought thinking that I'd only use it in the same manner as a film version.  My biggest problem is moving the camera while snapping the picture, which I seemed to have been pretty good about not doing on this trip.  I still lost a few (and a couple of VERY nice shots at that) due to the good ole finger partially over the lense routine on my last day.  Too cold to remove the gloves, and paid the price.  

Thanx for the compliments.  

 

[Wolfman]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (fastcat02 @ Feb. 16, 2002, 2:03pm)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">

Those are some awesome pics. Looks like a beautiful place to ride. Wish I could go down there but with the price of our dollar compared to yours I'd be broke for ten years.  

[/b][/quote]
I'd find a way to save the money and go.  I had been to Yellowstone four times prior to this trip, all in summer.  The place is breathtaking enough in the summer months.  I was downright awestruck by the place in winter.  You see things in there that you otherwise not know exist due to the prominence created by the steam.  There is a place called Roaring Mountain, that is viewable immediately off of the east side of the road, North of what is called Madison Junction.  The place can be known to rumble quite loudly (hence the name).  I've never heard this though.  During the summer, all you see is a break in the trees, and a grey mountainside.  Looks neat.  In the winter, ALL of the vents can be seen, and the section looks quite surreal.  I never took a picture of that area this time around unfortunately.  The whole geyser complex is like this.  Little details that would be missed in the summer, not to mention the sights of the geysers going off with scalding hot water - surrounded by ice cold snow.  I cannot get enough of the place, and HATED the day that I had to leave.

 

[midnight screamer]

Wolfman~ Sounds like this was the trip of a lifetime!  I think it would be awesome to go out there also.  I still haven't ever been snowmobiling outside of Minnesota

 Plan to soon though

  Who knows.  I might go to Yellowstone next season. Glad you had such a great trip!

 

[Wolfman]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (midnight screamer @ Feb. 16, 2002, 11:18pm)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Wolfman~ Sounds like this was the trip of a lifetime!  I think it would be awesome to go out there also.  I still haven't ever been snowmobiling outside of Minnesota

 Plan to soon though

  Who knows.  I might go to Yellowstone next season. Glad you had such a great trip![/b][/quote]
If you go, better go next season.  As it currently stands, It'll be the last one in the park.  I'm hoping that this thing gets overturned.  

 I'm already planning next winters trip.

 

[Riley]

Wolfman nice pictures.  I haven't been out there in the winter for a few years.  I was out there with the family last summer.  It is very beautiful in the winter.  How many day did you spend in the park?  We usually only spend 1 day in the park.  I was suppose to be in Dubois this week but it just didn't work out.  I hope to go back out west next year.  I am looking forward to seeing the rest of your pictures.  Riley

 

[Wolfman]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Riley @ Feb. 17, 2002, 09:57am)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Wolfman nice pictures.  I haven't been out there in the winter for a few years.  I was out there with the family last summer.  It is very beautiful in the winter.  How many day did you spend in the park?  We usually only spend 1 day in the park.  I was suppose to be in Dubois this week but it just didn't work out.  I hope to go back out west next year.  I am looking forward to seeing the rest of your pictures.  Riley[/b][/quote]
I spent four days in the park.  I still did not get to see everything that I had planned.  Oh well, now I have my "excuse" to go back next winter.  

I'll be getting started on creating the webpage on my weekend (tues/wed).  I'll post here when it is complete enough to start viewing.

 

[Mr Siv]

heres a couple from our trip to yellowstone. most of these were taken outside the park, we only went in the park for one day. we stayed in island park, idaho. close to west yellowstone.

this one is on a trail close to where we stayed.

This one is of a place called two top moutain, its cool as #### up there.  all the tree's are packed solid with snow, and the snowflakes are about an inch in diameter. very cool.

this is another of two top. it shows how the tree's get packed.

this one is actually in the park, the bufflow was just walking down the trail, and everyone was stoping to watch it. it was close enough to toutch.

this is one of our friends, it gives you an idea of how deep the snow is. she is about 5'5 or so.

we went at the end of december, so i would asume they have more snow now than they did than, and they had 3' than.  
the trails are really cool up there, but they do not keep them really well groomed, imo. we were on some trails that were 5 mph tops.
i highly recomend going, however, stay away from west yellowstone- snowmobiles are street leagl there, and its a mad house during the day. snowmobiles outnumber the cars 2 to 1.

- Jason

 

[Wolfman]

Awesome photos.  Thanx for sharing.  I hope you don't mind, but I saved a copy of the one with the buffalo on the trail.  I would like to use this with your permission as part of the debates later for keeping the snowmobiles in the parks if I can get involved somehow.

 

[midnight screamer]

Those pics are what snowmobiling is all about!  Nature is so beautiful and those guys that are trying to take it the park away from us are just depriving us of the natures beauty! Wolfman~ If there is anything I can do to help, just email me!