I remember that morning. I came out of the Super 8 in Gardiner, Montana at 5am to make sure the car would start. I was dressed in my Yellowstone gear; lots of layers and my heavy neoprene boots with the super thick soles that keep your feet off the ice. That’s what you need to stay warm when its 25° below zero. As I made my way in the dark my small flashlight caught the eyes of a dozen or so mule deer in the parking lot. I had left the car unlocked, a lesson I’d learned the hard way the year before, and I got in. The car didn’t want to start but after a kind word under my breath, the engine caught.
Welcome to Yellowstone in winter.
Yellowstone National Park was created by Congress in March of 1972, which means March of 2022 is the 150th anniversary of America’s first national park. Yellowstone is an expansive, ever-changing landscape of mountains, meadows, geysers, boiling mud, snow, ice and the most diverse collection of wildlife in one natural place in North America. The hand of man is very discreet and Yellowstone today looks much as it did when Congress named it.
Of course, I was there to make photographs and so getting an early start is important. The sun begins to bring light about 45 minutes before sunrise and sometimes that very early morning light can be the best. Moments can happen quickly so it is important to be on the lookout at all times. For that reason its good to have a couple of other photographers in the car.
