Personal Project: Anniversary Trip to Yellowstone National Park
We wrapped up a 10-day trip to Yellowstone National Park for our second anniversary last month, and it was nothing short of magical.
I took about 800 photos during our trip, and I’ve since realized I haven’t shared a personal project in quite a while - about a full year, in fact! Here are my personal favorite photos and moments from our adventure.
Where did you go?
Our original itinerary called for entering the park at the North Entrance, but Yellowstone suffered catastrophic flooding, and that entrance is closed, except for permitted commercial tours. We actually entered the park through that entrance during our Wolf Tracker tour, but we had to drive around and re-enter the park through the West Entrance.
From there, we enjoyed two nights at the Old Faithful Geyer Basin, a stay at Grant Village, a couple of nights at the Lake Yellowstone Lodge, and a final stay at Canyon Village.
How long were you there?
We had 10 incredible days in Yellowstone National Park, and it was the trip of a lifetime.
What were the highlights of your trip?
The best part, hands down, was witnessing my husband's reaction to seeing geysers for the first time. I thought he would be in awe of Mother Nature and swept away by her majesty, but he was completely freaked out and perturbed. It was hilarious.
A close second would have to be the Wolf Tracker excursion I mentioned above. It was utterly amazing, a lifelong goal for me personally, and absolutely worth every penny. During this tour, we saw 3-4 adult wolves and 4 of their pups feeding on an elk carcass, a black bear, a pine marten, pronghorn competing for mates, bison migrating, and some gorgeous trumpeter swans.
After that, it was honestly just 10 days straight of incredible scenery and magic moments.
What gear did you take?
Everyone always asks this, and they're often surprised to hear that I don't pack a ton of gear when I go on vacation. Firstly, I worry about my gear getting damaged or stolen on the road, and secondly, I honestly just love being on vacation sometimes.
For this trip, I took my new Nikon Z7II and my 24-70mm. That's it! I considered bringing a telephoto lens, but space was limited in our suitcases, and, let's be honest, wildlife photography isn't my forte anyway. I just don't have the patience!