Photo: Rob White Winter Wildlife and Hot Springs, Yellowstone National
Park; Montana and Wyoming Highlights:
Includes:
Trip Number: 09422A Price: $2695 Deposit: $200 Capacity: 9 Leader:
The Trip  Photo: Rob White
Join Julianne Baker, a widely recognized Yellowstone Association Institute field guide and former Yellowstone National Park interpretive ranger for this unique opportunity to see the world's first national park. This area is now International Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage site. Yellowstone National Park 's 2.2 million acres offers exceptional scenery, steaming geothermal features, diverse wildlife and plant communities, and great skiing. Each day we'll ski the trails and backcountry accompanied by Julianne, sharing her knowledge in wildlife biology and winter ecology. In the evenings, we'll retire to cozy lodges, eat delicious meals, enjoy any available NPS slide shows and discussions about the park, and share the company of our fellow skiers. The landscape of Yellowstone today reflects its dynamic, volcanic past. Three gigantic eruptions occurred in the last two million years, the most recent of which formed a huge volcanic caldera (28 by 47 miles) in the heart of the park. The forces behind those eruptions still power Yellowstone 's famous geysers, hot springs, fumaroles, and mud pots. In fact, the park has more than 10,000 geothermal features (including Old Faithful ) -- more than any other place in the world. Of these volcanic treasures, Sierra Club founder John Muir wrote in 1885: "The park is full of exciting wonders. The wildest geysers in the world, in bright, triumphant bands, are dancing and singing in it amid thousands of boiling springs. . . and hot-paint pots, mud springs, mud volcanoes, mush and broth caldrons. "  Photo: Rob White
Day 1: Arrive at the Bozeman airport no later than 2:00 p.m. Our van departs for the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel at 2:30 p.m. On our two-hour drive to the park, we'll stop for wildlife viewing if the opportunity presents itself. After arriving at the lodge, we'll check in, enjoy a delicious dinner and then have a welcome orientation/evening planning meeting. Day 2: After breakfast, we’ll head out via slowcoach to ski Indian Creek/Bighorn Trail (5.5 miles), with an option of an additional 5 miles on the Sheepeater Trail. All trails offer spectacular views of the nearby mountains. Field topics will include mammals and winter ecology. The evening will be yours to enjoy a soak in the lodge's hot tub or to take advantage of any available slide show/evening program. Day 3: We’ll travel by snow coach (4.5 hours) to the Snow Lodge at Old Faithful, stopping along the way to view the many geysers and hot springs as well as ski to Fairy Falls/Imperial Geyser. After arrival and check-in, we may have time to catch an eruption of Old Faithful or walk the geyser basin. Your evening is free for exploring the beautiful Old Faithful Winter Lodge, our home for the rest of the trip. Day 4: Today, we’ll ski the DeLacy Creek Trail to Shoshone Lake via a snow coach drop-off (6 miles). An optional 4-6 miles along the Spring Creek Trail is possible. After dinner, we’ll spend the evening relaxing around the lodge, enjoying the large stone fireplace with a beverage of your choice Day 5: We'll travel by snow coach (4.5 hours) back to the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, stopping along the way to visit the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River and ski from Inspiration Point to the Upper Yellowstone Falls (3-6 miles). After arrival and check-in, we'll tell stories around the dinner table and get reacquainted with the historic Mammoth hot Springs Hotel, our home for the rest of the trip. Day 6: After a hearty breakfast we'll depart for a trip to the Lamar Valley where wolves and wildlife abound. Known as the Serengeti of North America, the Lamar Valley is sure to be one of the highlights of your trip. After our wildlife outing, we will then ski the Baronette Trail (3.5 miles), a thickly wooded, deep-snowed wonderland. A soak in the lodge's hot tubs is available after dinner for those so inclined. Day 7: Today, we'll ski the Chittenden Loop Trail (10.3 miles) or the Blacktail Plateau Trail (8 miles). After a final dinner together, we'll spend the evening relaxing around the hotel, while enjoying the ambience of the historic lobby. Day 8: After breakfast we'll return any rented ski equipment and then depart for the Bozeman airport or the hotel of your choice. Expect to arrive in Bozeman around 10:30 a.m. Note: Ski itineraries are subject to change, depending on skiing abilities, interest, snow and weather conditions, etc.Getting There
The trip includes seven nights' lodging, all breakfasts and lunches and one dinner. We'll stay five nights at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel -- named after the nearby colorful, steaming cascades of stone known as Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces -- and two nights at the brand-new Old Faithful Snow Lodge, a five-minute walk from Old Faithful Geyser in the heart of the park. All transportation is provided on the trip: van pick-up from the airport in Bozeman, Montana ; travel by snow coach from Mammoth to Old Faithful and back; shuttle snow coach rides to various ski destinations; and a final van drop-off at the Bozeman airport at trip's end. Standard arrangements are for double-occupancy rooms for all participants. Private rooms are also available, but numbers are limited, so reserve yours early. The cost for a private room upgrade for the duration of the trip is $500. Indicate your preference for private rooms to the leader and he will inform you of options and payment details.
A minimum skiing ability of "intermediate beginner" is suggested. Skiers should be able to ski rolling terrain, and control speed and direction with a basic snowplow. Most of the terrain we'll cover is not steep, but good balance and a familiarity with varied snow and trail conditions are necessary. Participants should be in good physical shape. As noted above, there will generally be two ski options offered each day: a shorter trip of 3-7 miles and a more strenuous option of 7-14 miles. Participants may also take non-ski rest days on their own at the lodge. Conservation Yellowstone National Park and the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem are facing a number of conservation issues today. As in so many wild areas, the clash between wilderness preservation and human use is evident in many ways:
See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy. The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.
Assistant Leader:Mary Redfern-White is a grade-school teacher and a mother of two. Mary has lived in Colorado her entire life (a rare native), and spends as much of her summers as possible at a family cabin near Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Park, Colorado. Field Guide: Julianne Baker has been an educator for youth and adult audiences for over 25
years. She has been enjoying and studying the Greater Yellowstone
Ecosystem since 1974. She retired from teaching in Michigan,
where she taught environmental science. Formerly a National
Park Service interpretive ranger for Yellowstone, Julianne
is a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS),
and a certified Leave No Trace master educator. She is currently
a Resident Institute for the Yellowstone Association Institute,
teaching dayhiking, skiing, and natural history programs. General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
|
Rob White has been a member of the Sierra Club since high school and has been interested in preserving and protecting the outdoors for as long as he can remember. After obtaining a master's degree in park and recreation administration, he accepted a position at Rocky Mountain National Park as a ranger/naturalist. He now works with the Colorado State Park system as a park manager. Rob continues to hike a great deal in Rocky Mountain National Park.