BOZEMAN to MAMMOTH to SNOW LODGE – OMG look at all that snow
Tuesday – up early to make sure that everything is packed then it is a look out the front to see what the day is like. Holy crap – look at the snow on those cars! I wonder if they will start but then again they have to get all the snow off them first.
Speaking of snow it is so exciting to be heading for Yellowstone National Park and all that white stuff not to mention the sub zero temperatures. Time for breakfast of bacon and hash browns, juice and coffee, that is enough to get me started. Kylie is still crook which is not a good thing. Back to my room to get the bags and then it is time to wait for the shuttle that will take us to Mammoth which is situated at the North end of Yellowstone. From here we get a snow shuttle but more about that later.
The lobby of the hotel is lovely with a fireplace and cosy chairs but I decide to go exploring outside.
Look at that snow! I think that will become my catch phrase over the next couple of weeks. Some parts of the roadway are a bit icy so being careful not to do the old bum in the air trick I take tiny penguin steps and manage to survive in one piece.
After enough photos have been taken (is there ever enough?) it is time to warm up again so it is back inside the hotel where the driver of the Yellowstone Special is busy getting everyone’s cases together. The man from the plane is apparently the leader of a photography group of Fakers and the driver has worked out that the bus is not big enough for all of us. K, T and I are designated to travel in our own private car which is on the way to collect us – definitely class wins out.
And here she is – much more comfortable than the bus don’t you agree?
We get our bags and all the other gear in the back and it is not long before we are on our way. The driver’s name is Evan and he lives not far from Mammoth. Today is his day off but they have called him in especially for this trip. Lucky Evan.
Heading off down the snow covered roads there are plenty of opportunities for photos out the window.
The views are incredible and we get to see our first Bison – just chomping away without a care in the world. It is such a different landscape to my Sydney – there is a lot of snow but not as much as I thought there would be – little did I know – read on!
About 12 noon we arrive in Mammoth where we have a 2 hour wait before the shuttle arrives. Apparently things are running a bit late as the weather in Yellowstone is extremely snowy and some vehicles have been blocked.
Nothing more to do except have a bit of lunch of an extremely unappetising hot dog and chips and then Kylie and I decide to be adventurous and walk up to the Mammoth Springs Terraces – just the lower ones. Tyler stays back at the Terrace Grill and not far up the trail we discover that the air is thin and dry which does not aid in good walking conditions but we persevere with the huffing and puffing and get to see some amazing things.
This is the local service station – do you think it may be closed as the cars would have a hard time getting to the bowser? I think you may be right.
In the warmer weather the Springs are incredible – the water cascades over the rocks and the colours are beautiful.
Winter has its own landscapes – everything is so quiet except for the occasional tourist shrill but mostly it is the sound of the trickling water.
Finishing our walk to the end of the trail it is time to head back down which will be easier than going up let me tell you. Not long after we collapse in our chairs the shuttle arrives and we are on the move once again. Our driver is Christie and she does a wonderful job of driving, even avoiding some shuttles that have gone off the track and are now stuck.
The further into Yellowstone we go, the more snow and more bison. I think we saw more bison on this part than the two previous journeys to this wonderful area. What a bugger of a trek for these poor things.
We stop every now and again for some viewing and photographs – and it is not until we leave the warmth and safety of the snow coach that we realise it really is cold and the snow is deep if you venture too far.
Here’s Tyler inspecting the information board at Roaring Mountain. One look at him in that snow and I decide against a first hand look – I will investigate on the web in the warmth of my room thank you very much.
GEOGRAPHY LESSON : Roaring Mountain is found midway between Norris Basin and Mammoth Hot Springs. It has an elevation of approximately 2260 meters and there are many fumaroles – (vents or cracks in the ground) on the side of the mountain from which steam escapes into the air. The steam results from ground water in the region being warmed by heat from the magma in the Yellowstone Cauldera. The number of fumaroles has decreased since the beginning of the twentieth century. Not surprisingly – there is very little vegetation growing in the affected area.
This is our snow coach and soon it is time to shake the snow from our boots and get back to our journey.
No sun today unfortunately, but I think the dark sky adds to the feeling of being cold. I know it is making me feel cold even now just looking at these photos.
Along the Gibbon River we see Trumpeter Swans – how majestically white they are and from the photo, you cannot gather how big they are. There are two just floating down the river and all of a sudden they decide to take to the air.
Just as well I have my settings on bird-mode eh?
There is so much to look at and appreciate. The amount of snow has to be seen to be believed and the whole place is like a Christmas Card from Mother Nature.
From towering cliffs to open fields that would be covered in grass during the warmer months – it is a sight to behold for sure.
Most of the photos are taken from the snuggly inside of the snow coach – hence a blur or a dark line every now and again but a photo is a photo eh?
The afternoon is getting late and of course we see yet more bison. During the Winter season, they head to lower ground where the snow and temperatures are milder there (oh really?) and it’s easier to feed on grass under the snow. This can mean that hundreds of bison migrate to Lamar Valley, Mammoth Hot Springs, Old Faithful area, and sometimes cross Yellowstone’s border into Montana farmland.
They shovel snow with their heads to reveal grass underneath and this is why bison often have their heads covered in snow – it can make quite a comical sight. In deep snow, bison have been known to dig as far as four feet into the snow to get to their meal – now that is being keen for a feed.
These bison are close to us so we have to get our photos from the coach as we are not allowed out. I am lucky enough to have the seat opposite the door and when Christie opens the door so that we can get a clear view I snap away for all it’s worth.
Our final stop is the Gibbon River and Gibbon Falls. What a shame we left Mammoth late – we could have spent more time here – but we seem to have enough to get some good photos.
Darkness has fallen when we arrive at The Snow Lodge and we have to be careful of the steps as they are icy in parts. Our bags have arrived OK and once we get organised it is over to the main desk to check in. We are lucky to be one of the early ones and the staff are lovely and helpful. It is not long until an obnoxious old fart starts trying to push his way in – honestly just because you are old doesn’t give you the right to rude!
Anyway we get our rooms (I am in 2023 – K&T have 2025) our vouchers for the tours and breakfasts and then we are on our way to the lifts. It is a great room – a Premium Lodge Room with a King bed. We are told that we get a free gift with our Frosty Fun package and I get all excited thinking the bear is mine. Alas, I find out that it is not and if I want it, I have to buy it. Bummer!
K&T decide on dinner – I decide to stay in my room and unpack everything, put batteries on chargers etc and get ready for tomorrow. A wonderful hot shower and then into bed and yep I am soon dreaming of those bison and their snowy faces.
Highlight of the day : well, what do you think? Yep my snowy faced friends.