Packing Suggestions: Winter Wolf Watching in Yellowstone
Yellowstone National Park is a Spectacular Place,
But Unforgiving in the Winter.
The average March temperatures in the Lamar Valley range from 10F degrees at night to 40F degrees in the afternoon, but some days may get much colder. That does not sound too bad, but here are a few things to consider:
● The 10F low and 40F highs are averages. But in the Rocky Mountains, temperatures can vary widely, and morning wolf-watching sessions can easily see temperatures below 0F.
● Everyone is familiar with windchill, but the Wyoming winter winds are something special. If they are not blowing down from glacier-covered mountains, they are blowing off the high plains. Unless you get very lucky, there will be at least one morning when it will feel below zero.
● Unless you are a crossing guard, you usually move when it is frigid outside. But wolf-watching involves a great deal of waiting and standing still, which makes a huge difference in how cold you feel.
● The coldest part of any day is usually right before dawn. The best wildlife viewing is usually around dawn. Do the math.
The clothes that may work fine as you ski or hike in the New England winter or scurry through NYC will not keep you warm standing on an exposed mountain outcrop in a biting wind watching wolves in the valley below.
There will be a vehicle to retreat to if you get too cold. But every minute in the vehicle may be a lost sighting. You really want to be comfortable regardless of what Mother Nature throws at you. The key is good clothing. As the headline says, there is no bad weather, only bad clothing.
INTRODUCTION
As you leave the hotel in the morning with the wind stinging your face and the “diamond dust” floating in the air, you will be thankful for all of the warm clothes you are wearing, even if you do look like the Michelin Man or his wife. But five hours later, as you stand nestled into a copse of trees, the 30-degree temperature will be a veritable heatwave.
You want to bring plenty of warm clothes, but you want clothes that can be layered and easily added or removed, keeping you comfortable throughout the day.
I am a fan of REI for outdoor clothing, but any outdoor-specific retail outlet should be able to provide everything you need. And the folks who work at these establishments tend to use the products. Here are some general guidelines.
BASELAYERS
Although expedition parkas get all the press, good quality baselayers are essential to staying warm in extreme cold. Contrary to popular belief, the most important task of this layer is not keeping you warm but transporting moisture away from your skin. Moisture on your skin leads to chilling.
A few notes on base layers:
● No cotton. Cotton holds water and can cause significant chilling. Baselayers should be one of the synthetic materials specifically developed for outdoor pursuits or merino wool. Silk works, but it is less efficient at wicking; you must regulate your heat carefully.
● You need tops and bottoms. I like tops with zips because the zippers help with ventilation if I get too warm.
● Moisture Wicking: Because the most important task of this layer is to wick moisture, close-fitting base layers work better in most cases.
● Layering the Base: Some believe the best approach is a light base layer with heavier insulating layers, while others adhere to the heavier base layer with a medium insulating layer philosophy. For most people, a medium-weight base layer is a good place to start.
● How Many Sets? Bring two to three sets of base layers. That way, you can wear the second set while you wash the first set. If you wash them by hand in the evening, they will be dry the next afternoon at the latest.