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drive in summer. So access is a challenge. Yel- features — geysers, mud pots, fumaroles, hot
lowstone shuts down from early October to springs and terraced limestone. Situated
mid November so crews can groom the roads, where Wyoming, Montana and Idaho meet, it
and when the park reopens only snow coaches is high country with an average elevation of
and snowmobiles can access much of the 8,000 feet. Winter daytime temperatures
parks. Entry is strictly controlled, as tour range from 0-to-20 degrees Fahrenheit, and
companies must have park approval to venture during our four-day stay temperatures were in
into the park, and snowmobilers must travel in single digits. The sun made rare appearances
guided groups. and wind was a constant. We wore a thermal
Yellowstone National Park is an indescrib- base layer under ski wear, and this was effec-
able adventure any time of year, but winter tive protection against the cold. The snow
magnifies its otherworldly dimension. coaches are kept warm and comfortable, and
they can go practically anywhere.
Yellowstone comprises the largest geother-
mal field on the planet, with more than 10,000 While there we booked two separate tours,
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