Our first visit to Yellowstone in the winter did not disappoint us. The challenge of traveling to the west in the winter were complicated by the lack of rental cars available in Bozeman. We booked our flight for Butte, which added about two hours to our drive into Gardiner. The roads were a bit rough and driving over the pass, at night in a winter storm made it quite a challenge for our southern driving skills. If you’re considering the winter trip, just do it. It is worth the drive, the risk and a few tense moments.
The landscaping, the wildlife, the power of simply being in the cold, all make Yellowstone in the winter one of the most remarkable destinations. Our goal was to see the wolves and we were lucky enough to see a pack of 13 in the early morning on the first day. The light, the atmosphere and the cold limited the photo opportunity but the site was breath taking. All 13 wolves working together on a cold morning, looking for food and planning for the next hunt. Awesome.