Distinctly Montana Magazine

QUICK WINTER TIPS FOR GARDINER Let the Gardiner Chamber of Commerce help you plan your trip. They are open Monday – Thursday 9-5, and you can call them at (406) 848-7971. Buy the ANNUAL Park Pass at Entry to Yellowstone — $50 Bucks to play… and you are supporting Yellowstone Park. Ski or Snowshoe? Contact Xanterra, the park conces- sionaire, to inquire about snow shuttles. Call ahead 307-344-7311. Local Guide Services Include Wildside Tours and Treks, Yellowstone Year-round Adventures, or The Yellowstone Association. Call the Gardiner Chamber at (406) 848-7971 for details. Checking out the Gallatin Forest for trailheads and conditions? Contact the Gallatin Ranger District Office at (406) 848-7375. Gear Rentals from spot- ting scopes to snowshoes are available in Gardiner at Yellowstone Gallery and Frameworks, Park's Fly Shop, or the Mammoth Springs Hotel. Pack a winter travel kit in your car: flashlight, flares, tire-chains, appropriate winter gear, blankets, food, water, layered cloth- ing etc. For experienced backcountry skiers planning a more arduous journey bring a topo map and compass too. And, don't forget spotting scopes, binoculars and cameras. 22 D XANTERRA If skiing or snowshoeing the Lamar Valley is today's objective, be sure to inquire at the ALBRIGHT VISITOR'S CENTER AT MAMMOTH before heading out, so as to not be disappointed. 3-4 p.m. Before dark you will want to head back down the hill from Mammoth Hot Springs to Gardiner so that you can stop at the BOILING RIVER access 2.5 miles from Gar- diner for a relaxing soak on sore muscles or just to enjoy a hot spring the way nature intended. From the parking area it is ¼ mile walk/snow shoe/ski, depending on snow lev- els when you visit, to the spring area. Brrrr… be sure to have a towel and dry clothes/socks to put on before heading back to your car. 5 p.m. Return to Gardiner and establish a comfortable camp at one of the many lo- cally owned eateries like COWBOYS LODGE AND GRILLE, OUTLAWS PIZZA, THE TOWN CAFÉ, the YEL- LOWSTONE MINE, or the TWO BIT SALOON to share stories from the day, feed your well-earned appetite, and perhaps partake in a cocktail at the RUSTY RAIL. 7 p.m. Take a casual walk around historic Gardiner and enjoy the original entrance to Yellowstone. Grab a hot chocolate at the GARDINER PHARMACY AND YELLOWSTONE PERK and peek in the gallery windows, such as ELK INC., KELLEM'S MONTANA SADDLERY, GOLDSTRIKE GIFTS, YELLOWSTONE GIFTS AND SWEETS, or YELLOWSTONE GALLERY AND FRAMEWORKS to see if there's some- DISTINCTLY MONTANA • WINTER 2013

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