Yellowstone in winter has no equal as a nature photography destination. The collision of extreme cold, boiling thermal features, and abundant wildlife create an environment unlike any other. We will visit Yellowstone’s best winter photographic locations. We begin at Mammoth Hot Springs and the famous mineral terraces. We will photograph here by day and by night. In addition, we will have a full-day personal charter to the Lamar Valley. Known in winter as “North America’s Serengeti,” the Lamar Valley features large herds of bison and elk, as well as smaller animals such as red fox—spectacular in the snow! We may also see or hear Yellowstone’s famous wolves. The Lamar also offers sweeping landscapes and steaming rivers.
Two days of custom snow coach charters will take us to the Norris Geysers, the Canyon, frozen Lake Yellowstone and Mt. Washburn overlook. One highlight of these charters will be photographing in the mysterious Hayden Valley. While the Lamar Valley offers sweeping vistas and vast herds, the Hayden Valley offers a more intimate world. We will see swans and bison, snowy hills, flowing rivers and isolated trees. The Hayden Valley in winter is one of the most photogenic areas in the entire park, but is rarely visited due to the distance from the hotels and the difficulty in getting there.
After photographing the wildlife, we will have one of the rarest and most superlative Yellowstone experiences, visiting the frozen Grand Canyon and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone under the full moon. During the winter, the sun is far to the south and the Canyon and Falls are in shadow, making a beautiful sight but less interesting photographs. The moon in winter, however, follows the same path as the sun in summer. The result is glorious full-on illumination of the Canyon and Falls. We will arrive just after sunset and shoot for an hour after dark. Our trip is timed for the two days when moonrise is right at dusk, so that we have the best lighting possible. Standing at the edge of the vast Canyon lit up with moonlight is an experience almost beyond description. It is even possible we will hear the nearby wolf packs.
The Canyon area after dark is one of the harshest in the Park, with temperatures regularly dropping to well below zero immediately after sunset. Because of this, and long distances back to a hot dinner, very few people make the effort to visit the Canyon at night. Our tour, however, will have not one but two chances to make the trip, to maximize our chances of good weather and successful photos.
We will then move on to Old Faithful. Our snow coach transportation will take us through the Madison Valley, Firehole Canyon, the Fountain Paint Pots and on to the luxurious Old Faithful Snow Lodge. We will then spend two days photographing the geysers and hot springs. When the superheated water of the geysers hits the cold winter air, huge boiling clouds of steam result, and sometimes rainbows if the light is right! We also will photograph the geysers by moonlight, where long exposures and star trails can create eerie and unique effects.
Our last day sees a return to Mammoth hot springs, where we will depart and go our separate ways, hopefully richer in spirit and in our photography.
Price:
$2,995.00 per person, double occupancy.
Register and pay online by putting the appropriate amount in the box and then clicking the button. The $500.00 minimum deposit is already filled in, but you can pay in full, including paying your remaining balance if you already have sent a deposit, by changing the amount in the box. Don't forget to calculate your discount for early registration!
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Price includes lodging, all charters, transportation between Mammoth and Old Faithful and guide services. Meals not included, but the food at the hotels is outstanding! Transportation to and from Mammoth and gratuities for guides not included.
A word about our prices.
Our prices are slightly higher than some other tours you may see. The reason for this is simple—our tour will rely on intensive custom, both of snowcoaches and a bus, to reach and spend quality time at destinations other tours do not offer. In addition, due to the intense itinerary, our charters last for many hours, much longer than normal package charters. These charters, especially those to distant and difficult areas such as the Canyon and Hayden Valley, are complicated to arrange and, to put it mildly, expensive! The payoff of our extra effort, we feel, is a photographic and a personal experience without peer, and for only 15-20% over other tours.
A word about weather.
Yellowstone in winter is a harsh and difficult environment. Weather is often sunny and clear, but there is a very real chance of blizzards, extreme cold and other difficult conditions. This is the price of admission to this wonderland! OUR TOUR GOES NO MATTER WHAT. It is possible, however, that weather may make some of our planned activities either impossible or too dangerous to attempt in good judgment. This is especially true of visiting the Canyon at night. Your tour leaders, and our snow coach guide, will have final discretion about whether to make the planned trips.
If something has to be cancelled or cut short due to weather, we will attempt to arrange a price adjustment with the charter companies, and pass that back to you. This, however, might not be possible. We have to pay for the charters, in full and in advance, as part of arranging these unique trips, and any rebate is within the total discretion of the charter company.
For more information or to register...
For those interested and completing the attached form.
A reservation form is also available online as a pdf document.
We will post further information, including detailed suggestions regarding gear and clothing, next month.