With our cameras mounted on tripods, we sat in the warm snow coach ready to have lunch. After passing out the meals, we were about to take a bite of our sandwiches when suddenly, a guest got a glimpse of black fur weaving through the lodgepole pine trees. “Wolf!” yelled the guest.

Last January, I led the Yellowstone in Winter photography tour with Backcountry Journeys. It was a week-long expedition exploring various parts of the park. The first half of the trip took place in the interior, where we rode around on a snowcoach for about four days. The second half of the tour occurred in the northern range where the roads were plowed. The fun began when everyone boarded the snow coach in Mammoth Hot Springs.

The snow coach we utilize for this trip is like a minibus with massive tires. The tires allow for easy traction on soft snow. The majority of the roads in Yellowstone are closed to the public and covered in a few feet of snow that is smoothed out and compacted every night by a groomer. This makes it easier for folks on snow coaches and snowmobiles to enter the park.

However, during this trip, Yellowstone was experiencing a dryer and warmer winter than usual. There were many locations in Yellowstone where the pavement was exposed, and there were reports of warmer weather, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Fahrenheit, in the forecast a week after our departure. Even though the weather wasn’t as cold as usual, it still didn’t stop us from getting some great shots.

Leaving Mammoth Hot Springs, we headed south toward West Yellowstone, Montana, to our hotel where we were staying for the next few nights. During the drive, we made a few stops along the way to photograph bison and a coyote. Just south of Madison Junction, along the Firehole River, we stopped at a pull-out where a bison carcass lay in the river. This was the site of a bison kill from the day before we arrived. When we arrived, only a few ravens picked at the carcass. It was about 12:30 PM. According to park regulations, all over-snow vehicles must be out of the park by 5:00 PM, so we still had some time before we had to leave.

After a while, nothing appeared except for a bald eagle who remained perched in a pine tree. To bypass the time, we all agreed it was a good opportunity to have lunch. During the Snowcoach trips, bagged lunches containing a sandwich and other treats sated our hunger. Once all the lunches were passed around, we began to dig in when a guest yelled, “Wolf!” At that moment, the mood instantly changed. Everyone dropped

their lunches and raced off the coach to photograph the lone wolf who was trotting through the trees. Soon after, a few more appeared. After a while, nearly five wolves had emerged from the forest onto the snow-covered road. Our wishes had been granted!

The canines appeared content. Some of them lay on the road in the sunshine. A couple of the wolves waded into the river to snack on the carcass. Others appeared curious, sniffing around and studying us from a distance. At one moment, we began to hear a pack howl beyond the trees, just on the other side of a small hill. This caused the wolves we were observing to also howl. It was an eerie and magical moment as all was silent except for the echoes of the wolves and the clicking of cameras.

Seeing these wolves was definitely the highlight of the trip. Normally, when you do see wolves in the park, they are often quite far off in the distance. So having the opportunity to see these animals up close while also capturing some epic shots, was a special moment. We remained with the wolves for a few hours, until everyone began feeling cold and it was time to depart the park. We couldn't have asked for a better way to start our Yellowstone in Winter Photography Workshop.

The following two days were focused on photographing some of Yellowstone’s iconic landscapes. The Old Faithful Geyser was our first destination. Along the way, we stopped at both Midway and Biscuit Geyser Basin. In addition, we visited Kepler Cascade before checking out the iconic Old Faithful geyser. A herd of bison along the road also became a subject of interest.

Next was the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, which is the largest canyon in the park and houses the largest waterfall. The Yellowstone River flows through the canyon and plummets over a 300-foot drop before carving through the canyon which is over 1000 feet deep. After visiting the canyon, we also explored Mud Volcano Geyser Basin and scouted Hayden Valley for wildlife. For the most part, the valley was quiet and desolate.

To conclude the snow coach ride, the driver dropped us off in Mammoth Hot Springs after one last stop at the bison carcass. To our surprise, the carcass was moved to the far side of the river onto the bank. No wolves were present. A coyote tugged on the frozen hide while ravens picked at the bones. All that remained of the carcass were small scraps.

The next phase of our adventure was the northern range of Yellowstone which is the only route accessible by normal passenger vehicles throughout the winter season. A species that was on our wishlist was a fox. Up to this point, we had been lucky with other canines like wolves and coyotes. All we needed was a fox to top off the expedition. We managed to get a glimpse of one during our snow coach ride, but it vanished before we had a chance to photograph it.

During our final morning, while packing up to depart our motel in Cooke City, MT, a fox appeared in the parking lot. Everyone was very excited to finally see this elusive animal. And then, driving back toward Mammoth Hot Springs, we saw two more foxes! These fox sightings were the perfect final encounter to our week-long Yellowstone in Winter Photography Workshop.