Yellowstone Winter

A day in the life … well let me see.  Let’s start with a bit of history of who I am.  I am a Bison but a lot of people think of me as a Buffalo.  True buffaloes are my relatives but they live in Africa and Asia, the cape buffalo and water buffalo.  Only North American buffaloes are bison and two of the largest herds of bison live in Yellowstone National Park and in Canada’s Wood Buffalo National Park.  Below is a photo of me with my Mom when I was first born in Yellowstone National Park a few years back.  Am I not adorable!!

Figure 1:  Photo courtesy of Peak Photography of Montana

Anyway, back to my day.  We are a social bunch so you will typically find us in herds or groups and spend most of our day grazing.  We are the largest land animal in North America and therefore need a lot of food for energy.  We love to graze on grasses, herbs, shrubs and twigs for an hour or two and then we rest and "chew our cud" which is basically regurgitating what I have already eaten once.  I have 4 stomachs so I make sure that I get every nutrient that I can from my food before it moves along.  We are constantly eating and throughout the day can move 10 – 15 miles depending on how good the grazing area is.  If we are lucky we find a great spot and stay for a few days.

A couple of times a day I visit the local stream or pond for a drink of water, run and play with my friends, take several rests and occasionally take a dust bath which is my natural insect repellant! 

Since I live in Yellowstone National Park, I have a lot of visitors that want to view me and take my photo. I love to pose for photos but always remember that I like my space and to stay at least 25 yards away or more.  I may be big but I am agile and can run more than 30 miles per hour and pivot quickly!!  So please take photos but give me my space and stay a safe distance away.

A lot of people are curious about how our species survive what can sometimes be a brutal winter.  Well our thick, shaggy coat is so well insulated and we can have up to 2 inches of fat that snow can settle on our back without melting!  It can also help to keep us warm similar to how a blanket would.  We use our strong head and hooves in the winter to move the snow off of the vegetation below to eat. Did you know you can tell where we have been by our distinct hoof prints which look like 2 fat banana's facing each other!

Well there Old Faithful blows so better go!  If you would like to see a bison like me in our natural habitat, your best chance would be to visit Yellowstone National Park or Custer State Park in South Dakota!! 

1. Fewer Crowds.  Not only does Yellowstone take on a whole new look in the winter, there are less people there to see it, meaning more space for you to enjoy.  

2. You get to ride in a snowcoach. No doubt the frigid temperatures scare some people away from taking a Yellowstone winter vacation.  However, nothing beats enjoying this unique perspective of the park from a heated, comfortable snowcoach.  The first snowcoach was patented in 1939 by J. Armand Bombardier (hence the Bombardier Snowbus), and was first brought to Yellowstone in 1955.  While the snowcoach has been much updated, you can still see a few of the original 1955 fleet cruising around. In fact, you may even have the chance to ride in one!



3. Frosted bison.  That’s right, frosted bison.  The Yellowstone Bison are famous, and seeing them hanging out around the thermal pools, covered in a dusting of snow, is pretty darn cool, and an incredible opportunity for the professional and casual photographer alike.  

4. Bald Eagles are WAY easier to see in the winter. Bald Eagles are probably the most incredible birds we have in this country (I know that’s a statement several people might debate), and seeing them in person (or bird) is a unique and unforgettable experience.

5. Snow Shoeing the terrace loop at Mammoth Hot Springs. Take in the white, orange, and yellow limestone travertine formations, constantly changing over time, on the first day of your Yellowstone Winter trip.  It will set the tone for five days of adventure and exploration in Yellowstone’s winter wonderland!



6. Cross Country Skiing around the Old Faithful boardwalks.  Marvel as Old Faithful, surrounded by a blanket of snow, erupts, and glide past its fellow neighbors, as you cross country ski in the Upper Geyser Basin.

7. Hot Chocolate by the fire at Old Faithful Snow Lodge. After an exciting day of cross country skiing, relax, out your feet up, and get warm with a delicious cup of hot chocolate by the inviting fireplace in the lobby of the Old Faithful Snow Lodge.

8. Geysers are steamier in the winter.  Steamy geysers attract a lot of wildlife, who use the heat to keep warm in the winter.  Keep an eye out for bison, elk, coyote and foxes around these natural hot (really hot) springs.

9. Dogsledding.  Experience the exquisiteness of the Paradise Valley as you glide on a sled pulled by eight friendly huskies. Who wouldn’t want to do that??

10. Chico Hot Springs in the winter.  There’s no better way to end your trip than a night at Chico Hot Springs.  Relax in the naturally heated waters of the hot springs, and follow up your soak by indulging in one of the best dinners in Montana at the Chico Dining Room.

The idea, why…..

The idea of an exchange visit was conceived in a unique open air “board room”, in Namibia’s great Kunene region, Omatendeka conservancy at Otjomumbonde. Otjomumbonde area is the Omatendeka conservancy’s wildlife sanctuary. The area is endowed with much needed natural springs and great vegetation making it well suited for farming; however the conservancy has set it aside for wildlife therefore its attractiveness for tourism development. In this arid area, land use and management plans involve making substantial sacrifices by the communities who are generally described as farmers and not conservationists despite their well-known successes in conservation. These sacrifices are sometimes rewarded with unique tourism developments such as the planned Otjomumbonde lodge. It is a beautiful site in a pristine environment. Serenity combined with sincerity to connect people divided by not only an ocean but also lifestyles and cultures. Despite these divides, their souls connected in a common purpose and similarities in their love, respect and appreciation of nature. More similarities came to the fore, their common fight and plight to conserve and preserve the environment; this is why it was decide to undertake an exchange visit for Namibians to the US for both nations to share in their common journey.
 

The mastermind behind the exchange visit is Dan Austin of Austin-Lehman Adventures; a passionate visionary, an energetic individual who love life and all in it, particularly the stories of people as it relates to their space and history. In Namibia he was inspired by the harmony and balance of people and wildlife and their love for the environment which manifests through their passion for sharing their story and their environment with visitors.

The composition of the invitees covered people from Namibian conservation hotspots and a combination of veteran eco-tourism practitioners both in communal conservancy areas as well as government concession areas. In its entirety the group included representatives of key stakeholders making it appropriately representative of the relationships required and in most cases responsible for the successful implementation of eco-tourism and conservation operations in Namibia.

These relationships are a web network involving the government, conservancies, non-governmental organizations, donor agencies, and private sector tourism investors, to mention but a few. Conservancies’ successes of conservation on their land are very well celebrated in Namibia over the years and continue to be the case. Amongst the selected representatives for the exchange visit is conservancy concessionaires, this is the latest government initiative to further extend natural resources management rights and benefits to conservancies neighboring protected areas. This allocation of concession rights to conservancies has not only increased the conservation foot print of the conservancies but also put at their disposal more resources from which to benefit. Unlike in the past where the concession rights were given to private sector operator, now the private sector operators are contracted only as operators and are only given rights to conduct their operations by entering into an agreement with the conservancies that hold the concession rights.   

The delegation also comprised a fair reflection of the Namibian peoples’ cultural diversity, with representation of people from the far northwest, the central north and far north east as well as people from the central heart land of Namibia giving both a rural and an urban reflection of the issues concerning sustainable utilization of natural resources.

The visit, what we saw…

Zoo Montana visit: A great welcome by the enthusiastic “Zoo Man” who has a voice that cuts through the mumblings of non-attentive visitors in the group, filled with passionate yet educational presentation of information of the various species in the collection of the zoo.

The tour through the zoo began at a well calculated significant stop for foreign visitors to see the Bald Eagle, America’s national bird appropriately welcoming visitors on a tour into the American wildlife kingdom, not only at Zoo Montana but for what was to follow during out tour of many wildlife sightings in the parks. To the delegation, a zoo is a new experience even though in Namibia there are various initiatives that operate with wildlife kept in captivity but in general parallels could be drawn especially regarding how the animals ended up in the zoo as well as their confined future in this captive environment. For majority of the group members, there was a general sense of mixed feelings regarding the freedom of the animals and their adopted constricted behavior. Nonetheless the essence and conclusions drawn are that these animals, despite their sad tales of what happened and what could have ended up in their death, have been offered a second chance at life at the zoo, maybe even a much better chance compared the their wilderness-dwelling families.

 Their new role of Zoo Montana is to serve as ambassadors of their world out there and spread the message of their plight directly to their biggest enemy, the human race. The evening was enjoyed mingling with a high profile team from Billings including the Mayor and several representatives of congress, people entrusted by the masses with championing their prosperity including that of the wildlife and the environment. They are key role players in decisions that should bring justice, equity and a harmonious co-existence of man and beast.

The Crow Tribe dance: To cap the evening, a journey down the historical footsteps of the Crow Nation/Tribe was undertaken. They passionately shared their heritage and history and brought to life their increasingly threatened rituals and infected everyone with rhythm to join in song and dance.  We witnessed how music transcend boundaries of any kind be it tribe, race or nations from far across the oceans. The motion of dance to melody is a universal language and we full well connected and melted into the Crow’s cultural pot for the evening.  

              
Meeting the Crow Tribe/Apsaalooke Nation who have a reservation “conservancy” in the rural areas of Montana State, a state fully branded by their ancestors through their connection to the land, the names of the main natural  features such as rivers and mountains and grass plains bears names with meanings and cultural significance of the Crow nation. This is a story many a people can relate to and people in the delegation can relate fully. The challenges they face are similar to the challenges many Namibians face.

Yellowstone National Park can only be described as a “Must see”, seeing is believing in the truest sense of the statement. It was a visit in History, not only seeing what can arguably be the oldest park in the world but also getting the best chance or the closest chance to hear, feel, see and experience some of the most fascinating goings into grandmother earth’s belly. The park is a geological living museum, a living laboratory for academia that pursues the challenge of getting to understand the workings beneath the earth’s surface. It is a mind-blowing experience for the ordinary and it will not fail to ignite a curios debate in one’s mind about the forces of nature and the spiritual believe of divine powers of some sort. We experienced the soul healing powers of nature, the realization of how small and insignificantly young we are as humans on planet earth and how at times the forces of nature swallows our self-imposed egos over other species and our selfish dominance and exploitation of the resources of the earth all in the interest of the human species, the most destructive and harmful species to the planet.  

It is encouraging to note that this Park was set aside for conservation more than 100 years ago. Several success stories of game reintroduction in this park are visible such as the Bison and the Wolves, what is also visible is the ever unpredictable bio-diversity-balance/imbalance that in most cases is best left to nature.  The successful reintroduction of the wolves in the park seems to trigger some form of discontent with cattle ranchers neighboring the park, it appears that the wolves’ territories are spilling over on ranches and that the ranchers are experiencing losses of cattle and a reducing population of Elk that migrates seasonally from the park onto neighboring ranches. This migrating Elk onto ranches provides for a popular lucrative hunting season that provides a much needed alternative source of income during the winter period. The phenomenons above serve both as a sign of conservation success as well as in this case maybe a reminder of the possible reasons why the wolves were fiercely hunted to depletion in the first place.  At the moment, around the wolves issue in the Yellowstone Park, there is an urgent need for conservationists, government to engage ranchers more pro-actively and holistically if lessons can be drawn from our Cheetah Conservation Fund model on the fate of the cheetahs in Namibia. Meanwhile it appears that two even bigger threats to both the ranchers and the parks management and maybe to an extend to Montana and neighbouring states these are wild fires and as was explained a volcanic eruption. These are larger than life threats and therefore beyond anyone’s comprehension, hence left to grandmother nature to decide if not to divine power.

Rural Montana is “cowboy/girl” (gender equality) country; it is a culture, a heritage and a way of life of a people but more importantly an industry and its players who brave it out to rear cattle and hay fields to add their bit to feeding the nation. They are a people with character, a sense of profound pride and hospitality on their ranches and small towns. They are a community and a family, they all have “cow” blood in their veins. Yeah right they will defend their cows. Conservation in their vocabulary is grass lands management, rotational grazing methods and grass species restoration on their ranges as well as rooting out any threats to the cattle be it deceases or otherwise; that is conservation in their language. These guys represent everything tough and rough, big trucks, tough terrains, hectic chores and manual operations in stark contrast of the urban jungle life in this developed nation. They follow a history of their forbearers and continue to cherish a heritage for future generations to come. We did horse riding at a ranch and got a window into the reasons why they probably choose to remain rural, one trail “highway” single file procession, one traffic rule “follow the leader, stop when he stops”, simple “controls” to operate, speed limit is controlled by the cowboy in front. Now why would you trade this for the hustle and bustle of city life if you can eke out a living  in this serene space. After all city dwellers work very hard to earn a holiday the ranchers call their office and the activities such as horseback riding their daily chores.   

American football match: Dan Austin’s all time love appears to be football, in the short-time we spend together the word football kept popping up in conversations like some out of control pop up on a computer screen.  He sold the game to the Namibians in record time and worked tirelessly to plant enthusiasm in the group as he knew that making this group understand the game will take the same time it took Namibians to achieve conservation success. Nonetheless he put to good use every second at his disposal and within less than 15 minutes had total strangers at least memorize Andy’s number (his son who plays for the Bobcats) and the color of the Bobcats’ outfits which was necessary for the Namibians for their own safety at the stadium. Needless to say, on top of the above the game was lectured to the group in a typical Dan’s-Lewis-and-Clark version time, which simply means a story of any magnitude compressed to one breath. Determined, excited and motivated the group marched on the stadium with turbo-charged confidence to join the Bobcats’ die hard supporters in cheering the team to victory. The two distinct differences were the Made-in-Namibia chanting which was new on the scene as well as the dancing when the group took to the stage when a band played live music before the match, the Namibians’ rhythmic moves made others seem rhythm-handicapped, the Namibians shook the “stage” and attracted much admiration while at the same time doing their magic to ensure a win for the Bobcats.  As they say the rest is history Bobcats emerged victorious. Something that was must to rescue Dan from a deteriorating change in mood. An elevated Dan expressed as sigh of relieve which was echoed by the group in a typical father-to-children rubbing off energy.

TIES summit: Eco-tourism, sustainable tourism, pro-poor tourism, community based tourism are but some of the main themes and phrases coined over the years in an attempt to define an environmental friendly sustainable tourism concept that serve as the reason for yet another TIES gathering in Monterey, California. The group joined other delegations from all over the world and participated in sessions at the same level as their counterparts while in some cases it was obvious that many nations can learn a thing or two from Namibia’s conservation success as well as Namibia’s successful unique joint venture eco-tourism concept. The various presentations made where not strange to the Namibian delegation, especially the case studies that involved rural/communal/parks conservation and rural based tourism ventures. What was also evident is that Namibia has a long way to go in its application of environmental friendly practices in urban areas. Lessons on recycling and carbon emission reduction can be drawn from the developed world and maybe Namibia is best placed to do it right first time to be pro-active in order to avoid detrimental development planning. The lessons learnt by developing countries is that we must guard against developing only to end up redeveloping when it comes to making environmentally-friendly decisions, we are best placed in many ways to do it right the first time around and also to learn from the overwhelming examples and adopt systems and technologies of the developed countries proving to be good examples. Namibia has an advantage of having vast tracts of land available as well as an enabling legislation. The challenge we face is inclusive broad consultation on land use plans and prioritization of key sectors with a view to sustainability. Development of the Eco-tourism sector can lead to significant spin-offs that can stimulate a domino effect that will address socio-economic needs in rural areas where it is needed most. In our approach of development in this sector we should adopt a “Design for positive impact and sustainability approach”

Lessons and Recommendations….
•    In comparison to other countries Namibia has a conservation success story to tell of notable magnitude.
•    The importance of stakeholders’ relationships and the role that each play cannot be overemphasized.
•    It is vital for Namibia to be involved and affiliate at international level in conservation and eco-tourism sector
•    There is a need for more involvement and engagement of private sector in policy formation especially regarding tourism concessions
•    There is a need to actively engage academic institutions for both a refined documentation and thorough scrutiny of the conservation success stories and tourism operations in conservancies.
•    Donor’s continue to play a major role in the promotion and creation of needed synergies between key stakeholders for the benefit of sustainable conservation activities
•    There is a need to establish at ground level international mutually beneficial relationships with communities (conservancies), conservancy associations, local councils and regional government; such as signing twinning agreements at this level. E.g {game guard exchanges, committee exchanges and leadership mentorship etc}
    

  List of Delegates:
Ms Aisha Nakibuule (Acting Director), Namibia Development Trust
Ms Hilda Namwnyo (Manager), Sheya shUushona Conservancy
Ms Selma Nangolo (Grants Manager-Tourism), Millenium Challenge Account-Namibia
Mr Usiel Ndjavera (Tourism Business Advisor), WWF
Ms Martha Mulokoshi (Project Officer), WWF
Mr Dusty Rodgers (Investor-Tourism Ventures)
Ms Fabiola Katamila (Chief Warden, Concession Unit), Ministry of Environment and Tourism
Mr Pepe Giampietro Olivetto (Entrepreneur-Eco Lodges building and investments)    
Mr Gustaph Tjiundukamba (Chairman), Omatendeka Conservancy
Mr Rector Mbeha Kawana (Assistant Director) Namibian Association of Community Based CBNRM Support Organisations
Mr Jermain Ketji (Community Liaison Manager) Wilderness Safaris Namibia
Mr Cebens Munanzi (Manager-Tourism and Conservancy Support) Wuparo Conservancy
Mr Alex Ndango (Chairman) Muduva Nyangana Conservancy
Mr Bennet Kahuure (Manager-Tourism and Conservancy Support) Millennium Challenge Account Namibia

Itinerary
Day 1, Sept 6: Montana, Billings: Visit Montana Zoo
Day 2, Sept 7: Billings: Visit Crow Agency
Day 3, Sept 8: Red Lodge, Cooke City
Day 4, Sept 9: Cooke City, Yellowstone National Park
Day 5, Sept 10: The Tetons/ Jackson Lake
Day 6, Sept 11: Jackson Lake/ Grassy Island
Day 7, Sept 12: Yellowstone/ Upper Geyser Basin
Day 8, Sept 13: Lower Geyser Basin/ West Yellowstone/320 Guests Ranch
Day 9, Sept 14: Gallatin Canyon/ Ouzel Falls /Big Sky
Day 10, Sept 15: Bozeman/ MSU Campus
Day 11-16, Sept 16-20: Monterey, TIES Conference
Day 17-18, Sept 21-23 Traveling Back

Acknowledgements and thank you’s
•    Millennium Challenge Account Namibia
•     WWF Namibia
•    Austin-Lehman Adventures
•    NACSO
Ministry of Environment and Tourism

There’s no better time to see Yellowstone National Park than well…just about any time. Yellowstone Park is one of those destinations that offer an incredible adventure vacation any time of year. Each season in the park provides a unique experience for travelers.

As you might imagine, the busy time of the year is in the summer between June and September with the busiest months being July and August. Of course, our adventure vacation packages bring our guests to backcountry locations where crowds are few so that the magnificence of the landscapes and unique natural features can be fully appreciated.

An abundance of wildflowers greet visitors in June and July, and June, in particular, brings plenty of wildlife for travelers to see and snap photos. In September the fall flowers are in bloom and the elk come calling their mates. The winter brings an abundance of snow along with opportunities to snowshoe and glide through the trail on snowmobile.

Our Montana vacations offer summer travel times to Yellowstone to experience all the nature and wildlife that this season brings. We also have a five day wintertime journey in February for those ready to hit the scenic slopes with cross country skiing and snowshoeing, and of course, no winter adventure is complete without ice skates and snow mobiles too!

Call today or visit our website to learn more about visiting Montana and Yellowstone this year.
 

If you missed our Big Sky Winter Getaway this month then it is time to definitely start planning now for next year’s Montana vacations in the winter season. Our wintertime family excursion to southwest Montana lasts 6 days and gives families all the soft power, ski slopes and stunning scenery that you could ever need for good winter fun.

This hiking vacation offers a little something for everyone. Ski or snowboard lessons from the Big Sky Resort will have your skills in tip top shape so you can make a run on the slopes or cross country in Yellowstone Park. Some in the group may want to try their luck on a snowmobile touring the picturesque winter vista of the park or snowshoe in the backcountry of Moonlight Basin.

The whole family will want to try their hand on the dogsled as it speeds through Moonlight Basin as well, and photography buffs will want to have the camera at the ready to snap shots of the indescribable big sky country that is Montana. Spending time with the family on vacation has never been so fun, and really, where else can families dine in a dinner yurt?

Learn more about winter family adventure vacations to Montana and other destinations by visiting our online travel site or giving us a call to request a catalog.
 

To celebrate my one year anniversary of living in Montana I decided to have a little winter survival test. Every winter I spend a good amount of time snowboarding in the backcountry and have gotten myself into some pretty serious situations, but lucky enough I have gotten out without having to spend the night in the backcountry. I decided it was time to put myself into a winter survival situation to be prepared if the time ever came where I really had to survive. The plan was to head into the backcountry with only the gear I would bring snowboarding: snowboard clothes, snowboard, snowshoes, space blanket, a bottle of water and a few granola bars. I headed up to the Beartooths, which is about 30 miles from Yellowstone National Park and hiked 3 miles to where I decided would be a good spot to set up camp for the night. Once I decided on the spot I found some tracks from a Lynx, that seemed like it had been following a deer. But I wasn't afraid of a little kitty so I decided to go ahead and start building my snowden. I had never built a snowden before, but I ended up building a pretty sweet one. What I did was dig a hole about 3 feet deep, then laid logs across the top and to insulate it I covered in pine branches. No doubt I have watched an episode or two of survivorman. It took me about 3 hours to build the snowden, it was a lot of energy walking back and forth in the soft snow to get all the logs and branches.

I ended up choosing a great night for this challenge since it wasn't too cold, it only got down to around 25°F and it was a crystal clear night. The Milky Way was brighter than I have ever seen it and I spent the evening stargazing by the fire. When it was time to retire for the night I crawled into my den and slept on my nice bed of pine branches. Using pine branches to sleep on kept me a little dryer and gave me some insulation from the snow. At first I was a little worried I might be cold using just a space blanket, but it worked pretty well. Definitely something everyone should carry with them incase of an emergency. When the morning came I got up and enjoyed the sunrise over the Beartooths. The only real problem I had during the whole excursion was putting my frozen boots on in the morning, that and the fact I had to hike 3 miles back wearing frozen boots...

That's it! I made it and it was a great experience. Now I am already looking forward to my next adventure! Below is a little video I made while I was out there. 

If you have any ideas for my next survival test leave a comment and let me know! I am always up for a challenge!

till then, keep exploring!

Jonathan

Montana vacations are just marvelous for those looking to experience natural beauty at its finest. The pleasant scent of pine trees, crisp, clean air, majestic mountains just waiting to be hiked and wildlife galore, Montana offers beauty and excitement for everyone in the family.

Family adventure vacations to Montana truly offer something for everyone. Whether you want to explore by horseback through nature trails or if you’re more comfortable staying on the ground and enjoying a calm day filled with fishing, Montana never sees a shortage of fun activities. Rafters will enjoy a journey down the Yellowstone River. Register the kids as Junior Rangers and explore the beautiful Yellowstone Park.  During the winter, hit the slopes and spend the day skiing or snowmobiling or just relax and take in the winter wonderland view with a nice, hot mug of hot chocolate by a crackling fireplace.  

When you return home, share pictures with your family of the erupting geyser that you had been waiting to see in person, the splendid wildlife that you were so excited to get a glance of and the beautiful scenery of Montana that will now be a memory for you to keep forever.

Call today to schedule unforgettable memories with Austin-Lehman Adventures – (800) 575-1540.
 

Austin-Lehman adventures take you on a journey that redefines style of vacations. Don’t just go on a relaxing trip, but mix it with some adventure in true Austin-Lehman style. Adventure vacations for couples are tailor made for small groups. Travel to Big Sky from Bozeman and ski on the biggest cross- country skiing resort in America. Winter makes the already beautiful landscapes of Big Sky even more wonderful. The breathtaking scenery, fresh powder and slopes of Big Sky are simply mesmerizing. Professional staff is available to give you a quick lesson and help you to go snowboarding right from your front door. Explore the magnificent landmarks and learn about the rich history of Yellowstone National Park while relaxing on a snowmobile.

Sit and relax on a tram trip and marvel at the snow capped scenery of Yellowstone Park and amazing mountain ranges filled with soft snowy powder all around you. Your adventure trip is not complete without going on a dogsled. Discover the enchanting Moonlight Basin and challenge yourself by taking reins of the dogsled in your hands. Cruise through the fresh snow and explore the backcountry of Yellowstone that is mostly unknown by tourists. Savor a glass of wine and cheese while you take in the view of Big Sky while at Ryan Turner Photography Gallery.

Learn more about our Yellowstone National Park vacation packages by giving us a call at 800.575.1540.
 

Plan your family adventure vacations with Austin Lehman and explore the Big Sky country with a winter getaway. Spend time with your loved ones and dig into oodles of fun and entertainment.

Montana Vacations offer snow boarding, skiing and hiking through snow capped mountains. Big Sky skiing is very popular for its fresh powder and for being the biggest skiing country in America.

Yellowstone Park is only an hour away from Big Sky, and you can spend a day on snowmobiles cruising through the marvels of Yellowstone while learning the history and interesting facts about the place. Take a tram and admire the breath-taking view of majestic mountains covered with snow. Moonlight Basin offers world class skiing terrain for all types of skiers from beginners to professionals.

Your family will also want to take a ride on the famous Yellowstone snow coach and visit the Old Faithful geyser as it becomes even more beautiful with snow all around it. Your adventure travel won’t be complete without dog sledding.  Dog sleds venture to rarely visited spots and unexplored back country landscapes. The calmness and serenity of this natural wonder is over powering and absolutely unmatched. After a freezing cold day of playing in snow, everyone will be ready for some heavy duty relaxing by soaking in the historical Chico Hot Springs. You’ll all have a blast leaving Yeti size prints from snowshoes as you walk around the Upper Geyser Basin Trail.

Find out about this winter getaway and other exciting destinations by visiting us online today.
 

Montana provides the perfect spot for family adventure vacations. With its mountains, wildlife and world-famous national parks, there is an abundance of activities to experience and endless natural beauty to see.

Montana vacations are magnificent if you’re looking for something for everyone in the family. Fishing, horseback riding and camping provide fun, bonding experiences for everyone. Tackle a rapid if you’re daring enough to go rafting down the Yellowstone River. Have an unforgettable picnic outside with a green and brown mountain view and be reminded that everything tastes better when you eat outside, as you inhale the delightful aroma of pine trees and fresh air. If you decide to travel during the winter, skiing and snowmobiling are exciting ways to enjoy the fresh powder that looks like a blanket covering the beautiful hills, then relax in your luxurious hotel room with a mug of hot chocolate.

Register the kids as Junior Rangers before exploring Yellowstone Park. Watch Old Faithful erupt under a sea of shimmering stars. Take a dip in a natural hot spring and talk with your family about the fantastic wildlife, including elk, eagles and bison, you saw during the day and share pictures of the spectacular views that can only been seen in Montana.

Schedule your adventure with us by visiting our online catalog or giving us a call at (800) 575-1540.
 

For those looking for a visit to Big Sky Country, Austin Lehman Adventures has you covered with perfect Montana adventure vacation packages.

Unexplored trails, mountains and wildlife surround you as you embark on your adventure. Animals outnumber people. Some of the cleanest air in the country can be inhaled as you hike one of the 70 plus named snow-capped mountain ranges. Rivers are filled with a fresh abundance of trout. Travelers will discover nature at its finest.

For those who choose to visit during the winter, skiing classes are offered, and geysers steam out of the snow-covered ground. It is as clear as the star-studded sky, which is why Montana is one of the best Adventure Trips out there.

See one of America’s beloved national parks and take one of our Yellowstone Tours.  Bike and hike through some of the most beautiful land on Earth.

When you’re ready to relax, take a dip in a peaceful natural hot spring and soak your stresses away. While your senses are submerged in the delicious scent of clean, fresh air and the view of a stunning paradise, it’s almost possible to forget your appetite. Visit Chico Hot Springs Resort and indulge in some of the most delicious gourmet cuisine in all of Montana.

Contact us today to start planning your well-deserved trip to the wild side.
 

Jonathan taking on the mountain

Whether you’re a skier or a snowboarder, fall is when your anticipation for winter is at its peak! The snow starts to blanket the mountains white and you can feel the crisp winter air blowing in. I have been snowboarding for 15 years and snowboarded all over the world, but this will be my first winter living in Montana and I couldn’t be more excited about it. Montana is home to Big Sky Resort, which is home to “the BIGGEST skiing in America” and is where Travel + Leisure Magazine has chosen their “Trip of the Month”, but T+L didn’t chose any trip for their trip of the month; Austin-Lehman custom built a exclusive Big Sky Winter Getawayitinerary for them!

It doesn’t matter if you’re an expert skier/snowboarder or just starting out, Big Sky Resort has terrain for all levels and if you’ve never skied/snowboard opt for a lesson from their knowledgeable staff. With eight square miles of runs and 4,350 vertical feet laid out before your wide eyes you’re sure to find some open turns and fresh tracks. With an average snow fall of 400 inches, Big Sky Resort has plenty of snow to fulfill your winter dreams.

Don’t ski or snowboard? Austin-Lehman offeres a lot more than just a ski trip up to the mountains on this exclusive T+L itinerary. They offer 6 days/5 nights of the perfect winter getaway, Ski in/ski out hotels, dog sledding, a snow coach ride up to Montana Dinner Yurt, cross-country skiing in Yellowstone Park, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and a evening featuring a ride to dinner in a horse-drawn sled up to a cozy cabin.

Dog sledding is something I have always wanted to try and ALA’s winter getaway gives you the chance to channel your inner-Iditarod champion and take the reins of the sled yourself! Another great activity ALA is offering is snowshoeing and cross-country skiing into Yellowstone National Park. See Yellowstone as very few do in the heart of winter and maybe catch a glimpse of a wolf pack on the hunt!

No matter what your favorite winter activity is join Austin-Lehman and Travel + Leisure for this exclusive winter getaway at Big Sky Resort in beautiful Montana. You can find more details, photos and video about Travel + Leisure’s “Trip of the Month” by checking out our Big Sky Winter Getaway page.

See ya on the slopes!

Jonathan

Back from my recent trip to Big Sky and I have to tell you that Big Sky is unbelievable! First off as a snowboarder or skier you will be blown away by the terrain, 3,832 acres - 155 named runs covering over 85 miles on three separate mountains. Also If you are looking for that sweet sweet powder then look no further, Big Sky gets an average of 400+ inches! I was lucky enough to see what our Big Sky Winter Getaway trip was all about while I was there and I must say that it could be the perfect adventure vacation for couples! Besides including a snowcoach ride into Yellowstone Park, snowmobiling, ski in ski out accommodations and dog sledding, the kicker of it all might be the snowcat ride up to a private yurt for an amazing night of fun. The Montana Dinner Yurt provides an extraordinary experience, imagine a dinner where after each course you have a sled break!!! 

Although this trip could be quite the romantic getaway, I feel at the same time it could be the perfect family adventure vacation! This trip is way more than just a family ski trip, it is the total adventure vacation package, an absolute immersion into a winter wonderland. Families have the chance to get ski or snowboard lesson, cross-country ski on a Yellowstone tour and maybe spot a pack of wolves on the hunt. 

Alright enough from me for now! All this talk about Big Sky and snow is making me want to get back out there!!!

see ya on the slopes,

Jonathan

P.S. Check out my video from my trip!

Montana is truly a traveler’s playground for all four seasons.  Different adventure trips can be enjoyed all year round.  During winter, Montana’s mountains are blanketed in snow and its slopes await skiing enthusiasts’ different moves. Yellowstone Park has different trails for cross-country skiing.  

There are snow coaches that will comfortably tour you around the landscape without risking frost bite and the various ill-effects of the harsh winter weather. Snow coaches will keep you warm from the below-zero temperature. If you can stand low temperatures and are ready for a new kind of sport, try snowshoeing.  Snowshoeing is basically walking on snow using special shoes. While it may look like an easy sport to enjoy, snowshoeing is great way to lose weight.

Snow mobiles are available for rent so you can explore the area in a faster way. Riding the snowmobiles requires a permit.  Because winter can be harsh, it is important to follow snowmobile safety procedures so you can enjoy an accident free ride. You can try sleigh rides for a more relaxing way to explore the scenic outdoors.  At the end of the adventure filled day, relax your muscles by soaking them into hot springs.  Share wonderful stories with the family over the fireplace while sipping hot chocolate.

Austin Lehman offers Yellowstone National Park Vacation Packages for a great winter vacation experience. Give us a call to learn more or visit our online catalog to book your trip today.

For those who want to view waterfalls, lakes and wild life, Yellowstone National Parks is the place to visit.  Our Yellowstone National park packages allow you to spend your vacation with everything planned and taken care of – all you need to do it take it all in.  

Vacationers to Yellowstone have lots of opportunities for photography. From wide open vistas to spraying geyser waters, the captivating magic of this destination will provide an unforgettable experience for travelers and families. With over 2.2 million acres to explore, there’s something for everyone whether camping, backpacking or cycling. Our adventure trips are meant to provide something for everyone in attendance.

Whether you start your trip in Montana or Wyoming, we offer plenty of itineraries that cover every type of adventure. Yellowstone tours, family hiking and even winter skiing and snowshoeing will allow vacationers to experience the park in every season.

Because these tours fill up quickly, it is important to plan ahead for whichever season you choose. Visit our online travel catalog today to view the many available packages for solo travelers, couples and families to this beautiful region of the United States. If you would like to speak with someone, our live support line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at (800) 575-1540.
 

Montana vacations are a perfect getaway for those looking to be engulfed by nature and its wilderness. During winters, hot geysers steam out of the ice covered land giving the already beautiful landscape a touch of magic. You can ski with professional snow coaches on the slopes of mountains in Montana or hike through unexplored trails surrounded by numerous mud spots and hot springs that make the Yellowstone tours all the  more adventurous. Treading off the road and taking the unbeaten path in the forests of Yellowstone National Park gives you an unmatched experience of watching wildlife in its full glory. You can catch a glimpse of an elk, bison or grizzly bear playing with its cubs in the forest and observe these animals’ behavior when they are not caged or staged.

Yellowstone is one of America’s favorite national parks and can be visited anytime throughout the year. During summer, the park is blooming with a variety of bright colors due to the growth of flora and fauna in this warm season. Strolling through walking paths and picturesque gardens of this spectacular park or hiking up mountainous trails to reach the base of thundering waterfalls truly rewards travelers with all its majestic glory. The clear blue skies far away from city pollution give an amazingly clear view of the star studded night sky and the perfect ending to a long day of adventure and play.

Adventure vacation packages offered by Austin Lehman capture the true essence of active traveling. Book yours today and begin the adventure of a lifetime.
 

As we wave goodbye to 2011 and start dreaming of our next vacation with friends and family in 2012, I’d like to share something with those of you who have been fortunate enough to receive or purchase a new Apple iPhone 4 or 4s. With the excitement of getting my own Iphone 4s I decided to create a batch of travel inspired wallpapers specifically to test the new screen sizes and resolutions to see if the new Apple iPhone lived up to all the hype.

So, I’d like to invite you to enjoy some of Austin-Lehman’s Best Adventure Travel Destinations of 2011 with our adventure travel themed photo wallpapers created especially for the new iPhone 4 retina display (640 x 960 pixels at 326 DPI).

The Proof is in the Pudding.

iPhone 4 Wallpapers - from Austin Lehman Adventures

Alaska Animal iPhone Wallpaper

Alaska Landscape iPhone Wallpaper

Alaska Whale iPhone Wallpaper

French Church iPhone Wallpaper

French Steeple iPhone Wallpaper

Montana Landscape iPhone Wallpaper

Mystery Texture iPhone Wallpaper

Yellowstone Tetons iPhone Wallpaper

Yellowstone Lake iPhone Wallpaper

Yellowstone Winter iPhone Wallpaper

Made for Sharing

This photo gallery and any derivative media is provided as a courtesy to authorized and approved media representatives and our fans alike. We encourage you to share and use the photos as you see fit, in return all we ask is that you credit Austin-Lehman Adventures as the source and provide us with a link or copy of your story.

Once you’ve downloaded the photos, import the photos into Iphoto and create a new album. Once you’ve have done that, sync the album with your iphone 4 and “voila” you have the photos on your Iphone. Now all you have to do is set the photo as your wallpaper and your Iphone will be the coolest one on the block.

Hope you enjoy and keep checking back for more great wallpapers from Austin-Lehman Adventures!

Bronson here with my first guest post to the Adventure Travel Blog at Austin-Lehman Adventures.

5 Best Adventure Vacation Destinations of 2011

Dan Austin shared some interesting stats about adventure travel activity this year with us one of our annual review sessions, some stuff which I thought may make for a interesting blog post and some awesome adventure travel inspiration.

The info I’d like to share today is a list of the Top 5 Adventure Travel Destinations of 2011 ranked by popularity and also some of the awesome images from our ever growing collection of travel photography on Flickr. So, if you’re looking for reasons to put an adventure trip of a lifetime on your to-do list for 2012 then look no further than the list below.

Top Adventure Travel Destinations of 2011

Montana

Montana

• Browse more of the Best of Montana Travel Photo Gallery.
• Learn more about our Montana Adventure Vacation Packages.

Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park

• Browse more of the Best of Yellowstone Travel (Winter) Photo Gallery
• Learn more about our Yellowstone Adventure Vacation Packages

France

France Adventure Vacations

• Browse more of the Best of France Travel Photo Gallery
• Learn more about our France Adventure Vacation Packages

Yellowstone – Tetons

Yellowstone - Tetons

• Browse more of the the Best of Yellowstone – Tetons Travel Photo Gallery
• Learn more about our Yellowstone-Tetons Adventure Vacation Packages

Alaska

Alaska

• Browse more of the Best of Alaska Photo Gallery
• Learn more about our Alaska Adventure Vacation Packages

Still need more?

If you’re still looking for more then please download your free copy of our 2012 Adventure Travel Catalog or browse through the digital version to discover more interesting adventure travel and luxury adventure vacation packages in Europe, Africa and the Americas – and what makes us the leaders in worldwide adventure vacations today.

Have your say.

Join the conversation by voting for your favorite in the comments below or commenting about your experience – who knows, you may just win a custom designed wallpaper pack featuring your favorites from us to say thanks.