Washburn's Reveal

January 20, 2026  |  Yellowstone National Park
I'd been standing out in Hayden Valley for what felt like an eternity, the cold seeping into my boots. Everything was completely...

I'd been standing out in Hayden Valley for what felt like an eternity, the cold seeping into my boots. Everything was completely socked in with this thick, silent fog. You couldn't see more than a few feet, and the only sound was the soft crunch of my own shifting weight on the snow. I almost packed it in, but then, for just a couple of minutes, the fog thinned. A soft pink glow appeared, and suddenly the peaks of Mount Washburn were floating above the sea of white, catching that first direct sunlight. The air was so still. It was one of those quiet, unexpected moments that makes getting up in the freezing dark completely worth it.

Heading back to Yellowstone today, so this felt fitting. I’m always hoping for conditions like this, light breaking softly through the fog. On this particular morning, we were treated to a brief moment when Mount Washburn revealed herself in beautiful, gentle morning light.

I’ll try to keep up with my daily posting this week, but no promises. Yurt life moves at its own pace.