“January can be a great month, but you have to be prepared for the cold temperatures.”
January 1, 2016 : Happy New Year!
New Years Celebration at Snow King Resort: Nikon D810 and Nikon 24-70mm lens: Composite of eight 3 second captures :
It can be -10°F to -30°F at daybreak! Throw in a little wind, and it can be deadly cold! I tend to stay close to my vehicle this time of the year. Hand warmers can make short periods of time in the cold at least bearable. Still, Jackson Hole offers some unique opportunities during January and February. Days are short and access is limited. The sun is low in the sky all day, so it is possible to take photos during much of it…and…the reflected light on the snow often fills in shadows with glowing light.
Winter Wildlife Opportunities:
- Moose will be shedding their antlers soon if not already. Watch for them north of Kelly and along the river bottoms.
- Elk are plentiful on the National Elk Refuge and along the east slope of East Gros Ventre Butte near the museum.
- Mule Deer are moving towards Kelly, into town and along the east slope of East Gros Ventre Butte.
- Bison are currently in mid-sized herds north of Kelly and along Gros Ventre Road.
- Bighorn Sheep spend their winter on Miller Butte on the National Elk Refuge.
- Pronghorns typically migrate to Pinedale and Big Piney, but a few have been wintering on the Refuge.
- Bears and many of the small critters are hibernating. Watch for Ermine, Squirrels, Otters, and Foxes.
- Wolves usually follow the Elk. A couple have been spotted on the Refuge.
- Mountain Goats are occasionally seen at the mouth of the Snake River Canyon, but less often in January.
Refuge Sleighs: After lunch, I drove to the National Elk Refuge to look for Bighorns, but I didn’t see a single one off the butte. Wolves must be in the area, but I didn’t see them. This image was taken from the parking area of the National Museum of Wildlife Art as two of seven sleighs were returning to the warming hut. It was 1°F at 1:00 pm today. Nikon D810 and Tamron 150-600mm lens
Elk Refuge and Winter Sleigh Rides: Nikon D810 and Tamron 150-600mm lens
One-On-One Excursions Openings: I have several open dates in January. The trips are designed to help people learn to use their DSLR cameras and help photographers find some of GTNP’s nice shooting locations. Of course, we are always looking for wildlife. Click the link for more information. (Golden Era Studios / Mike R. Jackson is an Authorized Permittee of the National Park Service and the National Elk Refuge.)
Check back on this page often! I add photos and comments (almost) daily!
