Steam and Snow, Yellowstone National Park

Figure 1. Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park.

Winter in Yellowstone always attracts me. While other places can claim white Christmas like scenery, none can rival the unexpected combination of fire and snow.

Although there are many thermal areas in Yellowstone, Upper Geyser Basin offers the most opportunities and is the best place to get the unique winter scenery. Wheeled vehicles are not allowed in most of the thermal areas. Visitors have to rely on snowcoach or snowmobile tours to get to the places. In addition, these tours have to be guided. Good shots take time to explore and wait, which is usually not allowed in a tour. While visitors still need to rely on a snowcoach/snowmobile tour to arrive Upper Geyser Basin, they can stay in Old Faithful Snow Lodge for days and walk to Upper Geyser Basin at their will.

This shot was taken on the trail near Biscuit Geyser Basin. The round trip from Snow Lodge is about 4 miles. Although I have been here once, I decided to do it again because I didn't really spend much time before. Yellowstone is so dynamic even without snow. Some dormant thermal features may turn active and vice versa. Including the change of snow, it is full of imagination and is never enough to go to the same place again. I am glad I came here again and I've got some good shots like this one. It is not the traditional warm style. It is not the winter wonderland type, either. My goal is to show the oddity of Yellowstone winter and this shot works for me.

The snowfall this winter is still below the average. It is not as bad as 2011-2012 winter and so the opportunity to get good winter shots is still good. You are not always guaranteed to get good winter shots in winter as snowfall may not be consistent through the years. Let's hope the snowfall next winter better than this winter!