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Show Winter in Yellowstone By GARY BEST Winter in Yellowstone can be one of the most rewarding outdoor experiences of a lifetime. Deep snows and cold weather combine with geysers, gumaroles and hot springs to create breathtaking beauty. Even the scars of recent fires, which burned over 60 percent of the park's forests, are partially hidden by a blanket of white snow. Snowfall averages close to 150 inches annually that will eventually accumulate to an average depth of four feet. Weather observations were started as early as 1887 in Yellowstone park by U.S. Army personnel stationed there. Later, in 1903, a weather bureau station was established and maintained until 1941 when the National Park Service Ser-vice assumed observation duties at the park. The first permanent snows of winter usually fall in late October or early November. Temperatures in winter are normally well below freezing most of the time. January is usually the coldest month when temperatures average from the middle 20's during the day to near zero at night, but often dip to between bet-ween 12 and 40 below zero. The lowest temperature ever recorded at the West Yellowstone station was 66 below zero on Feb. 9, 1933. Wind makes cold temperatures feel even colder. For example, traveling at 40 miles per hour on a snowmobile at 10 degrees below zero, the wind chill factor is 37 degrees below zero, which is cold enough to freeze exposed flesh within one minute. Recommended items for snowmobilers are helmet with face mask, felt-lined boots, insulated gloves or mittens, scarf, ski mask, snowmobile suit and sunglasses. Avoid tight fitting garments that restrict circulation and increase the possibility of frostbite. If you do not want to travel by snowmobile, a snowcoach tour may be the answer, and provide a more comfortable ride. Snowcoach tours are available from the south entrance. en-trance. West Yellowstone and Mammoth Hot Springs also provide the service from mid-December through mid-March. Yellowstone also offers a variety of trails for the skier. There are approximately 70 miles of cross country ski trails in the Old Faithful area alone. Many of these provide access to vistas, geysers and waterfalls in the park that is inaccessible to snowmobilers. Winter is also a time when sudden changes in weather are typical, so go prepared. This time of year is an especially hard time on many of yellowstone's animals, a time of stress when death takes its largest toll. If your presence causes them to move or change their behavior, you are too close. Winter is a time of beauty, with breathtaking scenery and lots of wild animals, so be sure to take plenty of film for your camera. |