Taming the Snow and Ice

Amid the serene but frozen expanse of Yellowstone National Park lies a unique profession that few have heard of—a winter keeper. These individuals form part of a long tradition, tending to a landscape blanketed in snow and temperatures often plunging well below zero. It’s a role steeped in history, solitude, and the raw challenge of nature.

Living in Isolation

Becoming a winter keeper is not for the faint of heart. Early winter keepers were often seen as hermits or eccentrics, drawn to the remote beauty and isolation of Yellowstone during off-season months. Modern amenities like snowmobiles and reliable cell service have eased some of the loneliness, but the winterkeeper’s life remains solitary. There’s a deep stillness to the park during the winter — a sharp contrast to the bustling, tourist-heavy summer months.

The team at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge forms a small community within this quiet world. While the Snow Lodge hums with activity during the winter season, thanks to tourists discovering Yellowstone’s snowy wonders, other areas like Lake and Canyon are far more desolate. The camaraderie among the winterkeeping staff often provides a lifeline during the long, frozen months. Visits between teams based across different park locations are not uncommon, often breaking the monotony of endless white horizons.

Tools of the Winter Keeper’s Trade

One of the winterkeepers’ main responsibilities is clearing snow from the rooftops of lodges, cabins, and other park buildings to prevent structural damage. Yellowstone’s snowfall is extraordinary, particularly at higher elevations, where snow accumulations range from 10 to 20 feet annually. Snow that starts off as dry and fluffy can harden over time, creating dense ice blocks up to six or seven feet tall in drifted areas. With crosscut saws and flat coal shovels in hand, winter keepers tackle these icy tasks in temperatures as low as -66°F (-54°C), Yellowstone’s record low. Imagine starting your morning in conditions so cold that the snow becomes too fluffy to even make a snowball—only later hardening enough to be sawed into blocks.

Beyond clearing rooftops, winter keepers maintain trails, inspect structures, and ensure cabins and employee dormitories remain fit for use. Their role is essential to keeping the park operational for its winter guests and preserving its rich, natural heritage.

Beyond the Rooftops

But clearing rooftops isn’t their only responsibility. Winterkeepers maintain vital hiking trails and monitor the condition of cabins, employee dorms, and other park structures. Their work ensures that Yellowstone remains accessible and safe for the two hotels still operating in the colder months—Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel.

The Toll of Climate Change

While the winterkeeper’s role remains vital, there are growing concerns about the future of Yellowstone’s winters. Climate change has already begun to transform the park’s unique landscape. Studies show that average temperatures are rising, especially in spring, with the growing season in some areas of the park extended by 30 days. Snowfall patterns are changing, with fewer snow days and faster snowmelt becoming the norm.

Yellowstone’s diminishing snowpack has broader implications beyond the park itself. Much of the West depends on snowmelt from Yellowstone’s alpine areas, including the Yellowstone, Snake, and Green rivers, which feed into crucial water systems like the Missouri and Colorado rivers. Reductions in snow accumulation pose a threat to agriculture, energy production, and recreation across the region, impacting millions.

A Unique Role, a Changing Future

Tending to Yellowstone’s buildings is a critical role in the park. Through their tireless efforts, winter keepers are stewards of these cultural resources, ensuring these buildings endure for generations to come. To be a winter keeper in Yellowstone is to carry on a tradition that merges human resilience with the elemental forces of nature. But as winters evolve under the weight of climate change, so too must this unique profession. Winterkeepers will likely continue to care for Yellowstone, adapting their work to a rapidly shifting snowy landscape.

For those drawn to the solitude and challenge of a Yellowstone winter, the life of a winter keeper offers something extraordinary—total immersion in one of the world’s most stunning landscapes during its most rugged, magical season.