Yellowstone National Park Dream Trip

Trip Rating: All Abilities Ski
Basecamp: Yellowstone National Park, WY

Yellowstone has long been considered to be the top summer vacation spot for decades; now it is considered to be the best place to go in the winter – cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, thermal features, wildlife observation, scenery, comfortable lodging, and more! ONC-PDX has satisfied our members for over 30 years and some go every year. Whether it is your 1st time or 15th time, now it is YOUR opportunity to experience the dream: YELLOWSTONE IN WINTER! Twenty lucky ONC members will have the opportunity this ski season for this Presidents’ Weekend ski trip.

We’ll carpool from Portland on Saturday, February 19, arriving Sunday afternoon, at Mammoth Hot Springs near the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park and staying at the historic Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel where we’ll meet for dinner. Accommodations are in newly remodeled rooms with two queen beds per room and private baths. On Monday morning, a snow-coach ride at 7:45 AM takes us to Old Faithful where we move into modern western cabins with two queen beds per room and private baths.

We have three days of skiing among the magnificent geysers, including those in the Old Faithful basin and Lone Star Geyser, up to the Continental Divide, the Mallard Lake Ski Trail, all while viewing elk and bison (and perhaps wolves), catching the Yellowstone that most tourists miss. We expect dry snow and clear days. On Thursday afternoon, we will return to Mammoth Hot Springs for three more nights. On Friday and Saturday, we will ski in areas accessible from the Mammoth Basin Area – either Tower, Indian Creek areas or the famous Lamar Valley. Sunday morning after breakfast, we take off for home, relaxed and full of stories of our adventures and wild animal sightings. There is a wide selection of trails available, from beginning to advanced, something for every desire.

For those who wish, there is the possibility of beginning the trip a few days early or extending the trip for one or more days at the end. It is also possible to fly to Bozeman to avoid the drive. Please contact the tour leader for information.  If online sign up (in October 2021) shows the trip as full, please join the waitlist. There are almost always cancellations so chances are very good you will be able to get on the trip.

Trip limit: 20 participants, including trip leader and co-leader
Cost: $1,615 per person. Includes 7 nights lodging, double occupancy (4 at Mammoth and 3 at Old Faithful) and guided snow-coach to Old Faithful and return to Mammoth. Breakfasts, lunches, and dinners are available in the dining rooms, but are not included in the per person cost above. We have reservations for dinners at the Mammoth and Old Faithful Snow Lodge dining rooms. Yellowstone National Park entry fees (or passes) required, but not included. Special rates are available for children under 12 sharing a room with parents.
Carpool miles: From Portland, approximately 1,800 miles. Costs for carpooling and lodging en-route are not included in costs above.
Trip Leader: Ted Scheinman, tedskier@gmail.com
Co-leader: Mark Fitzsimons, mfitzsimpica@gmail.com