Fast Tracks in the Cold Smoke

Winter snow accumulates fast and deep across Yellowstone’s Hayden Valley and temperatures can dip to minus 44 F.  Here a cow bison in Yellowstone National Park breaks the trail for the rest of her herd in Hayden Valley on a crisp January evening. When confronted with deep snow Bison will travel single file with a lead cow breaking trail and the rest of the herd following in her tracks.  This photograph was taken in early February as the sun began its descent and the temperature plunged to minus 10 degrees.