Yellowstone's Greatest Hits Winter Photography Tour

Chico - Old Faithful - Lamar Valley

Dates:  February 13 – 19, 2014   (7 days/6 nights)
Locations:  Chico Hot Springs, Old Faithful Snow Lodge, Gardiner
Tour size:  Cindy plus 6 people
Cost:  $ 4,785 per person double, or $5,650.00 per person single

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Optional Add-on:  February 21 – 22, 2014.  Adobe Lightroom Workflow Workshop in Bozeman.
Cost:  $350.00

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Steaming geysers, ghost trees, frosted bison, perhaps river otter, beaver, mousing coyotes, pronghorn, bull elk, fox, howling wolves, fog shrouded landscapes, icy waterfalls, fascinating abstracts and much more.  This all-inclusive tour is designed to showcase Yellowstone’s diverse wonders at their Winter best.  It includes 5 days touring different regions of the Park in our own private snow coach, at our disposal for the full 5 days, this allows us to make the best of the weather and other opportunities.  After a night at the outstanding Chico Hot Springs Resort, we spend three nights at Old Faithful Snow Lodge (OFSL) and conclude with 1½ days in the Lamar Valley, the Serengeti of North America.  As well as personal tuition, lectures and slideshows, I also ask you to bring ten images of your choice for discussion and critique on one evening.

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Details:

The Tour is guided and instructed by Cindy.  In order to maximize our chances of photographing wildlife, we will be driven by a professional naturalist and wildlife spotter while traveling in both snow coach and van.  Both vehicles are for 12 passengers, providing ample room for 6 participants and all gear.

Day 1 – Thursday February 13

1:00 pm:  I will pick up participants in Bozeman and we will travel together to Chico Hot Springs Resort.  After check-in we will meet to review camera settings and check equipment, which will be followed by a digital photography lecture and slide show.  Next on the agenda is a fabulous welcome dinner and drinks followed by a relaxing and therapeutic soak in the hot springs. 
Dinner and lodging at Chico Hot Springs.  Don't forget a bathing suit!

Day 2 – Friday February 14

7:10 am:  Depart Mammoth Terraces in our private snow coach via the east roads to OFSL for sunrise on Swan Lake Flats, Upper and Lower Falls, Hayden Valley, Mud Volcano, Lake and sunset at West Thumb.  Check into OFSL. 
7:00 pm Dinner and overnight at OFSL.

Day  3 – Saturday February 15

Following an Old Faithful sunrise and short walk around the Upper Geyser Basin, we will jump into our snow coach and spend the rest of the day photographing other thermal wonders of the Park, including Black Sand Basin, Midway Geyser Basin, Firehole Canyon and along the Madison River.
7:00 pm Dinner and overnight at OFSL.

Day  4 – Sunday February 16

We will head to West Thumb in our snow coach for a ghost tree sunrise and then work our way back to Old Faithful, stopping at Keppler Cascades.  Afternoon and sunset at Old Faithful – perhaps Castle or Riverside Geyer will erupt during sunset.
6:30 pm Dinner and overnight at OFSL.

Day 5 – Monday February 17

7:00 am:  Sunrise at Old Faithful followed by an early OFSL departure in our snow coach to work our way back to Mammoth via the west roads:  Firehole River, Midway Geyser Basin, Lower Geyser Basin, Madison River, Norris Geyser Basin and sunset at Swan Lake Flats.  Check into Super 8. 
7:00 pm Dinner at the Yellowstone Mine Co.  Image discussion and critique.

Day 6 – Tuesday February 18

6:30 am:  Depart Gardiner and travel to the Lamar Valley.  Spend the day on the Northern range, possibilities include bighorn sheep, moose, wolves, pronghorn, elk and bison along with abstracts, and winter-scapes.  Overnight Super 8.  7:00 pm Dinner at the Yellowstone Mine Co.

Day 7 – Wednesday February 19

Sunrise on the Mammoth Terraces and then head towards Blacktail Plateau or the ‘Old Road’ for wildlife until noon or so.  Depart for Bozeman after lunch and then to the airport or the Holiday Inn Express by 3:00 pm.

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Tour Includes:  Field and evening instruction with Cindy – as much or as little as you wish!  Transportation from Bozeman to Yellowstone and back; welcome dinner at Chico Hot Springs; Park entrance fees; lodging at Chico Hot Springs, Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Gardiner; private snow coaches and drivers for five days, and transportation to/from Lamar Valley for 1.5 days.  All meals and snacks are included.  A one year Yellowstone Association Membership is also included in the tour.

Tour Price Does NOT Include:  Gratuities.  Round trip transportation between your home and Bozeman. 

We suggest that you arrive in Bozeman the night before.  If you choose to do so please make reservations at the Holiday Inn Express, which offers an airport shuttle and is where I will pick you up on Day 1.  Meals and lodging are your responsibility for the day preceding the tour.