Wolf Kill

Wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone in 1995, and number about 100. We saw a rare site- a kill near the road. This young bison was killed around 7AM, and by the time this photo was taken around 2:30pm was mainly eaten by the pack of ~10 wolves. There are many more photos from this kill at the end of the section

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

It's hoar frost

This occurs when moist steam from thermal pools/geysers cools and coats nearby objects with ice. This winter was not as cold as last year- my first couple of days last year saw -25 degree temps. This day was a balmy 20 degrees or so

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

At Grand Prismatic spring

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

Grand Prismatic Spring

To the left you see the runoff from Excelsior geyser, about 4,000 gallons a minute at 200 degrees

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

Biscuit basin

A small collection of hot pots and geysers not far from the massive Upper Geyser basin

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

Color in winter

One of the things I love about Yellowstone in winter is the colors that break through the white snow. Typically the color comes from thermal pools and mats of bacteria/algae but at times comes from unexpected places like this tree trunk

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

Thermal pool near artist paint pot

Water temperature about 200 degrees. Don't go in

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

Along the Madison river

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

Sunrise, Madison river

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

Circle the wagons

This group of bison are huddled tightly together and facing out to rebuff the probes of a pack of wolves, one of which is seen on the left past the herd. The wolves eventually gave up for other prey

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

... or maybe to defend from these predators

Sometimes to get closer for the shot one must wade through waist deep snow carrying heavy gear

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

Snow abstract

I really like the abstract shapes and shadows that the snow makes

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2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

Yellowstone river

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

Elk

Almost every day we would see a pair of male elk along the Madison river. This guy came down to munch on the grass at the edge of the river

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

Old Faithful

At the tail end of one of the eruptions of Old Faithful. Though it is the most famous of the geysers, the Upper Geyser basin is the largest collection of geysers in the world, and has many spectacular geysers- just less predictable than Old Faithful

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

Grand geyser

Grand, also in the Upper Basin, has the tallest geyser height at 200 feet. However eruptions occur every 7 to 15 hours so we were lucky to be standing next to it when it went off

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

Bald eagle

Our noble national symbol was trying to get a piece of the wolves kill, only to be driven off by ravens over and over

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

Norris Basin

The Norris basin is the hottest and most acidic of the Yellowstone basin, and also the most changeable. Here in the Porcelain basin segment lie pools almost aglow with color and densely packed fumaroles and steaming pots

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

Porcelain basin

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

Morning mist, Madison river

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

Red fox

Typically I only get a brief glimpse of the fox as they run across the road. This one ran then turned back to stare at us for a long time

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

Helping hand. Or rope

Our vans rode on large low pressure tires, but occasionally we would take a turnout that had not been groomed and got stuck. Good to have a large thick rope on hand

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

That's us

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

Mammoth Hot springs

At the far northern end of the park is Mammoth Hot springs, with large terraces of changing hot water flowing forming travertine formations

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

Gibbon falls

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Wolves

The alpha male begins to return to the bison carcass for another snack

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

First, the ravens

As the alpha male approaches, the ravens start to fly off

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

Though a few remain as the wolf approaches

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

Scaring off the last of the ravens

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

subordinate approaches

The other wolves let the alpha eat for a while, then tentatively approach

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

Getting closer

The wolf in the middle spent a long time cautiously approaching the alpha

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

Finally, a piece of the bison

After a long careful approach, the wolf on the left, fur raised and tail tucked under showing submission is allowed to take some of the kill

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone

2018JanuaryKentravelwinteryellowstone