Yellowstone in the winter is like nowhere I’ve ever seen before. The usual crowds of tourists that fill the park in the warmer months are gone, and in their place is a vast and powerful stillness.
I watched and drew as herds of bison trudged through the snow past my car,and as blizzards swept in and out across the monumental peaks and valleys.
Often, the longer I stayed in one spot, the more I saw. A coyote scampered past me while I was drawing a distant herd of bison, as did a red fox who pranced through the snow, hunting small rodents.
Several bald eagles soared overhead, and one even posed for me next to a stream.
The sense of quiet on the snow-muffled landscapes heightened every crunch of snow and grass as I drew, watching elk, deer, bighorn sheep, and bison munch away. (Always from a safe distance, watching for signs of agitation in the animals!)
The thermal streams carved their way through the snow, like emerald ribbons across the white landscapes, and the brilliant hot springs, geysers and geothermal basins steamed even more profusely in the cool air.
I even hopped into the Boiling River for a quick dip, even as snow was falling. Nearly burned myself too!
Waking up each day before sunrise, I was able to follow the cars of wolf trackers who prowl the park every morning to follow and study the resident wolf packs, and I was lucky enough to see very distant wolves on one of the tracker’s very advanced scopes. Even though they were too far to see with the naked eye, it was incredible to know that they were out there and see them moving and interacting in real life.
Although much of the park is closed due to snow-covered roads (although there are snow shuttles to take you to more remote areas of the park), the remaining areas (which are incredibly expansive) are oases, full of life, peace, beauty, and silence.
