***The following itinerary includes potential tours only. The actual tours for this course will depend on prevailing snow conditions.”

DAY 1

WELCOME & ORIENTATION

The program starts with an evening orientation. Participants will get to know one another and be introduced to the program. Throughout the evening, the itinerary and seminar key concepts will be discussed, as well as what to expect to pack for the field each day.

DAY 2

Exploring the Upper Lamar. Rivers, and in particular, their confluences are ancient highways channeling wildlife and humans. We will follow this important path of important cultural and ecological significance and along the way visit an interesting geothermal site.

DAY 3

Following the Buffalo Highway. Our ski tour will follow historic buffalo trails into one of Yellowstone’s richest winter ranges. Along the way we will see ample evidence of the trophic cascade initiated by the 1995 introduction of wolve.

DAY 4

Waterfalls and animal tracks. The largest terrestrial landslide on planet earth occurred just to the east of Yellowstone’s Northern Range. This amazing geological event left an indelible mark on the landscape including box canyons and waterfalls. We will explore these features and along the way interpret tracks of abundant meso-predators and prey.

DAY 5

CHECKOUT & DEPARTURE

Dates & Times: The program begins at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, and goes through Saturday, February 21, 2026,
at 5:00 p.m.

Lodging Check-in & Check-out: Lodging check-in begins at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, and lodging check-out is at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, February 22, 2026.

Meals: This course is not catered. Participants will need to bring their own food; lunch should be able to travel in the field.

Optional Airport Shuttle: We provide an optional airport shuttle for those interested. The shuttle service is provided on the first day of the program with a 1:00 p.m. pickup and the last day of the program with a departure from the Lamar Buffalo Ranch at 8:00 a.m.

1st Day of Program | Shuttle Pickup Location:  Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport

1st Day of Program | Shuttle Drop off Location: Lamar Buffalo Ranch

Check-out Day | Shuttle Pickup Location: Lamar Buffalo Ranch

Check-out Day | Shuttle Departure Location: Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport

If you opt-in to the shuttle service, please ensure that your flight booking will allow for you to be picked up and dropped off during the above timeframes.

Whom to Contact: For any questions, concerns, or additional information please contact the following:

Program itinerary, health forms, payment, and general program questions please contact Yellowstone Forever at [email protected] or 406-848-2400 extension 3

Road updates, park conditions, and general park information please contact Yellowstone National Park Service at https://www.nps.gov/yell/contacts.htm

If running late for a program, please contact 406-641-2185.

General Information: For general information about the facilities, preparation for classes, what to expect, cancellation policies, and more, please see the Lamar Buffalo Ranch – Winter General Information document.

ACTIVITY LEVEL 5

• Be prepared for brisk aerobic snowshoeing or skiing up to 12 miles per day with climbs up to 1,500 feet; or steep, rugged, off-trail skiing or snowshoeing—including breaking trail in variable snow conditions.
• Most activities will take place at elevations between 7,200 to 8,000 feet. Participants residing at lower elevations may want to arrive a day early to adjust to the altitude.
• To learn more about how specific medical conditions can be affected by Yellowstone’s environment and our activities, please visit our site page on health information.
• All field activities will be conducted as a group. If members of the group cannot participate in the day’s activities, they need to let the educator know in advance.
• To participate in this program, each participant must fill out and sign a health questionnaire and assumption of risk waiver. These forms must be completed and returned at least 30 days prior to the program start date.

RECOMMENDED READINGS

• Schullery, P. (1995). Yellowstone’s Ski Pioneers: Peril and heroism on the Winter Trail. High Plains Pub. Co.
• Forrest, L. (1988). Field Guide to tracking animals in snow: How to identify and decipher those mysterious winter trails. Stackpole Books
• Loendorf L. and N. Stone. (2006). Mountain spirit: The sheepeater indians of Yellowstone. U. Utah Press.

*No ski gear will be provided. Participants need skis suitable for off-piste skiing on moderately rolling terrain comparable to an Advanced or Expert trail at a Nordic center, but with variable snow conditions. It will be necessary to check speed on some descents. A somewhat wider, waxless (scaled base) XC ski with metal edges, or even a scaled light SkiMo type ski with appropriate boots, is recommended. Class participants are assumed to be familiar with principles of layering for a winter environment with varying levels of activity, including a light to mid-weight down puffy coat.

*Ski equipment rentals may be obtained from Dan Bailey’s located in Livingston, MT with a 10% discount for participants: 406.222.1673 or click the logo below for the link

Whom to Contact: For any questions, concerns, or additional information please contact the following:

Program itinerary, health forms, payment, and general program questions please contact Yellowstone Forever at [email protected] or 406-848-2400 extension 3

Road updates, park conditions, and general park information please contact Yellowstone National Park Service at https://www.nps.gov/yell/contacts.htm

If running late for a program, please contact 406-641-2185.

General Information: For general information about the facilities, preparation for classes, what to expect, cancellation policies, and more, please see the Lamar Buffalo Ranch – Winter General Information document.