Tom Baker

February is a good time to visit Yellowstone because the bitter cold deters most humans, giving you the sense that you have the park mostly to yourself. On a previous visit in the summer, my predominant memory was that of watching the back of an RV while we were caught in a snarl of excessive traffic.

This trip, however, brought me close to wildlife and allowed me to enjoy broad vistas without the commotion of thousands of people. Day One was a guided snowmobile tour that lasted more than five hours (burr). Many of the park roads were closed due to heavy snow but on a sled, we could go pretty much anywhere we wanted. Day Two was spent in Lamar Valley where I saw wolves, coyote, otters, buffalo and bald eagles. 

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Not a National Park but a spectacular landscape that covers six million acres. That’s almost three times the size of Yellowstone. I flew into Syracuse and drove 4 hours to Lake Placid (photo above) and enjoyed the village that once hosted the Olympics in 1980. Driving through the Adirondacks was engrossing, despite the stubborn rain. Dozens and dozens of tiny villages with olden cemeteries with markers dating back to the early 1800s.

Outside of the Adirondacks, I stayed in the tiny town of Inlet and explored the Fulton Chain Lakes, a string of eight lakes connected by canals. These photos of lake fog (collection at bottom) came from one of those lakes. I found this spot just as the sun was breaking the horizon and settled in for a spectacular show. My trip was a few weeks early to see the full brilliance of the fall colors, so next time I will plan my trip for October 10^th or so. 

Finally, I visited Watkins Glen State Park (pictured just below) and the Finger Lakes, a collection of 11 long, narrow lakes formed by receding glaciers. This is great wine country with a rich history of being a vacation destination for the New York elite in years gone by. If you choose to explore upstate New York, be sure to include the Finger Lakes on your agenda.

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Glacier is fairly difficult to visit. There are only so many rooms available within the park, and the season is only 4 or 5 months long. This means you have to plan at least a year in advance, but it is worth all of your preparation. My trip in September of 2018 was in jeopardy as a fire closed much of the park for most of the summer. The weather did not cooperate entirely as rain, snow and extended cloud cover hampered some of my plans, but I was fortunate to experience these sights first hand and I look forward to returning.

While this is a spectacular place, expect on lots of driving as the Go to The Sun Road winds through the park for over 50 miles with several treacherous drop-offs and panoramic turn-outs.

Apgar is a town at the south end of Lake McDonald and the Inn at Apgar is a simple motel right on the lake, a spectacular place where your porch looks across the lake onto the mountains in the horizon (pic one below).

Many Glacier Lodge is fairly remote but it offers one of the most unique destinations I have witnessed. The lodge resembles a Swiss Chalet and it brings you up close and personal with spectacular mountains. Put this one on your list sooner rather than later as the season is short and the glaciers are receding.

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By this time, I’m starting to get more serious about my photography and how to be more gooder at my hobby. Advance research revealed spots where Ansel Adams stood for his epic photos and I tried to walk in his footsteps. This four-day trip stands out as one of my most favorite park excursions, based on my reverence for the scenery and the good fortune I was afforded in weather and dumb luck of photo opportunity (see the moose and the valley fog below).

These images also represent my first adventure into the wild with my first serious camera and it was difficult to trim the top 10 photos from the 500+ images I took in this magnificent valley. This is another unique place that never fails to surprise and inspire. We are all so fortunate.

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Blessed to share this trip with my brother, Jay Baker, we saw some of the greatest landmarks on the west coast. There is something about the Golden Gate Bridge that is unlike any other landmark. You don’t want to leave.

As is true with the Grand Canyon, most pictures of Yosemite simply do not convey the grandeur of the valley or the high peaks. Here we see Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and Tunnel View. Get here as soon as you can.

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Just an hour’s drive from Palm Springs, CA, Joshua Tree is a remote park that is unlike any landscape you’ve likely seen. Twisted and bristly Joshua trees and rugged rock formations provide an unfamiliar experience that draws you in deeper at every turn. This park is remote enough to offer exceptional star gazing and plenty to explore during the day. Bring plenty of water, your best camera, and some good hiking shoes.

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