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YELLOWSTONE
NATIONAL PARK
Back Country
Photo Tour
By Horseback
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with John and Barbara Gerlach
and Terry Search of
Yellowstone Mountain Guides
Outfitter License #6485
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July 14-19, 2008 or July 21-26, 2008
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(Dates listed above are tentative. We are still waiting on approval from the Park on our campsites and dates. We may have to move our dates a little depending on the availability of campsites.)
5 Nights and 6 Full Days in the Yellowstone Back Country
LIMITED TO ONLY EIGHT GUESTS
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Howdy!
If Yellowstone national Park, horseback riding, superb photography, delicious food, comfortable wilderness camping, Yellowstone's most spectacular waterfalls, soaking in natural hot springs, and fun-loving wrangler guides sounds like a great time to you, then this is the perfect adventure for you!
You'll see and photograph spectacular scenery, colorful meadows carpeted with wildflowers, and numerous magnificent waterfalls. You'll get plenty of in the field instruction from John and Barbara Gerlach, great conversations with the group members and exciting stories (some of them even true) from our highly experienced wranglers. We'll fill our days leisurely riding horses to special places where wonderful photo oppertunities abound. Riding horses is a relaxing and quiet way to enjoy the back country in a way few people ever experience.
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Incredible Cascade Corner - Our Yellowstone Destination
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The southwestern corner of Yellowstone National Park is officially known as the Bechler Region, but those who have visited the area know why most call it Cascade Corner. This remote region is covered with marsh, streams, and lush forest covered mountains. The highest concentration of waterfalls in Yellowstone National Park is found here. Most park visitors have never seen or photographed them because hiking many miles or riding horses is required to reach them. In addition to wildflowers, and landscapes, we'll spend considerable time photographing the most spectacular waterfalls which include Union (considered by many to be then most beautiful waterfalls in the park), Dunanda, Silver Scarf, Iris, Colonade, Ragged, Ouzel, Twister and others.
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No, but tell your friends you plan to rough it in the back country of Yellowstone National Park anyway! There is no need to tell them that warm sleeping bags and tents are provided. And you can omit the fact that you'll have access to a solar shower. We'll spend two nights where we can all soak ourselves in a natural hot springs! The meals are so delicious that you may gain weight on this tour too. With a little imagination, you'll create some cowboy "tall tales" of your own to tell the folks back home!
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Do you need previous horseback riding experience?
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Absolutely not. Terry's horses are experienced taking good care of riders with little to no experience. They are used to carrying beginners along mountain trails and across shallow rivers. However, you must be physically able to spend a couple hours at a time in the saddle.
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Day 1, Arrive at the hotel in Idaho Falls or in West Yellowstone
Day 2, We Pick you up and transport everyone to the trail head in the morning. We'll have an orientation meeting at the trail head and meet your horse of course! Then we'll mount up and begin our horseback journey to the first campsite near Union Falls. We photograph incredible Union Falls that afternoon. That evening we'll enjoy the first night's camp in the Yellowstone wilderness.
Day 3, We begin our longest ride of the trip (taking breaks as needed) to reach our furthest destination in the park in the Bechler canyon region. We enjoy two nights at this campsite, taking short day rides to the numerous special subjects to photograph here. In the evening, we'll soak in the natural hot springs nearby so bring your bathing suit! This is a special treat.
Day 4, We make day rides in the Bechler Canyon area photographing all the special wonders this fabulous canyon has to offer. We'll be busy shooting numerous images of fantastic waterfalls, wildflowers and perhaps wildlife.
Day 5, After photographing in the morning, we'll pack up the camp and move to our third and final campsite at the other end of Bechler Canyon where we'll camp near a large wildflower filled meadow for two nights. This campsite is the perfect location for making short day rides to numerous photo opportunities that are nearby. We'll have no trouble keeping our cameras busy photographing everything our new campsite has to offer.
Day 6, We continue exploring the area around our campsite on horseback, photographing fantastic waterfalls and meadows of wildflowers as we go.
Day 7, We'll shoot photos in the morning and enjoy our final hearty breakfast together. Then we pack up our last campsite and leisurely ride out to a different trail head than the one we entered to show you as much variety of the Yellowstone back country as possible. We should reach the trail head mid-afternoon. Then you will be transferred to your hotel or parked car.
Day 8, This is a travel day for you to return home or continue your Yellowstone adventure on your own. If you have never seen Yellowstone or Grand Teton National Parks before, we encourage you to rent or drive your own car to visit the front country that can easily be accessed by road. We are happy to offer suggestions about where to go and what to see and photograph.
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The price of the tour is $2240 per person.
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* All outfitter fees which include horses, mules, tents, sleeping bags, wranglers and a camp chef
* All meals beginning with lunch on Monday and ending with lunch on Saturday.
* Transfers to and from the Island Park/West Yellowstone or Idaho Falls meeting site.
* Photographis instruction from John and Barbara Gerlach during the trip.
* All the "tall tales" you want to hear!
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* Tips to (2) wrangler/guides and camp cook (about $175 total suggested) Gerlach's do not accept tips.
* Items of personal nature
* Motel lodging before or after the tour
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In the past, many participants have driven their own vehicles to join our photographic trip by horseback since it is popular with our local Idaho, Wyoming and Montana clients. However, we do not want to pack the trail head with lots of vehicles for a week. This is discouraged by the park service and the potential for vandalism by bears or possibly humans is too great. Instead, for those who have their own vehicle, we would like to meet at John and Barbara Gerlach's home near Henry's Lake in Island Park, ID where your vehicle will be safe. You will then be transported from their home to the trail head.
For participants who wish to fly in for the photo tour, there is no sense renting a car just to leave it sitting for six days. Instead we would like you to fly into the airport in Idaho Falls. Stay at the Best Western Cotton Tree Inn in Idaho falls. We'll pick you and your gear up early Monday morning and return you to the hotel late Saturday afternoon. (The exact time will be arranged.) Lodging at the Cotton Tree is on your own and you should make your own arrangements by calling them directly. The Inn offers a free airport shuttle. You will need a room for Sunday night (before the tour) and perhaps Saturday night (after the tour).
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Best Western Cotton Tree Inn
900 Lindsay Blvd
P.O. Box 470
Idaho falls, ID 83402
(208) 523-6000
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It is possible to fly into West Yellowstone, Montana too. A small airport near town services the city during the summer months. The Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort Hotel offers free shuttle service to and from the airport. Contact them directly to make any room reservation you might need. We'll be happy to pick you up at the hotel Monday morning and return you to the hotel Saturday evening.
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Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort
315 Yellowstone Ave
P.O. Box 470
West Yellowstone, MT 59758
1-800-646-7365
(406) 646-7365
Fax: (406) 646-4433
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Remember that we are using horses and a few pack mules, so we need to pack light which includes both clothes and camera gear. That means you won't be able to take everything. I am already thinking about what I need to take in the way of equipment.
Here's my thoughts:
1 Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II digital body
1 Canon 100-400mm zoom lens
1 Canon 24-85mm zoom lens
1 Canon 180mm macro lens for close-ups
1 small Gitzo Tripod (smaller than I normally use to save on weight)
1 Kirk BH-3 ball head (smaller than my BH-1)
1 Electronic Cable release
Polarizing filter for each of my lenses
Two SanDisk 8GB cards for the digital camera
1 Plamp for holding wildflowers
1 Canon 580 Electronic Flash
Extra batteries for both camera bodies (you can't recharge in the field)
All of this should weigh less than 20 pounds.
We know you may still have questions, so please Email them to gerlachjb@aol.com. Our outfitter, Yellowstone Mountain Guides, will send you complete pre-departure information when you enroll. We are really looking forward to this fantastic photo tour of Yellowstone by horse. It's a wonderful way to see the Yellowstone backcountry and take spectacular images of places few people have seen.
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How to Enroll in This Tour
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Please contact Terry and Angela Search who own Yellowstone Mountain Guides. They will send you all of the paperwork. A deposit of 50% of the trip price which is $1120 is required to hold your spot. The balance of $1120 is due two weeks before the start of the trip.
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Terry and Angela Search
Yellowstone Mountain Guides
P.O. Box 70
West Yellowstone, MT 59758
Phone/Fax 406-646-7230
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John and Barbara Gerlach are professional nature photographers who live in the rugged mountains near West Yellowstone, Montana. Barbara grew up on a horse farm in Ohio so she has owned and ridden horses her entire life. She is a skilled mountain rider who enjoys teaching others how to ride. John also loves riding horses. Together they ride at least 100 times a year into the back country finding wonderful subjects to photograph, like wildflowers, mountain scenery, moose, blue grouse, waterfalls and much more. John and Barbara agree that the best way to see the back country is from the back of a horse. That's why they call it back country (I think). It's a quiet way to travel so you can hear the birds sing, creeks babble, leaves rustle in the breeze and all the other pleasant sounds of nature. The height advantage of riding horses provides a wonderful viewpoint for spotting wildlife and wildflowers alike. John and Barbara each own their own trail horse (Joker and Teton) and spoil them just like their dogs!!
Terry and Angela Search own Yellowstone Mountain Guides. Terry has been leading back country horse pack trips for more than 20 years, His experience and love for Yellowstone country is readily apparent when you meet him. He is a long-time licensed tour operator (#6485) in Yellowstone National Park. He is considered to be one of the finest outfitters in the entire Yellowstone ecosystem!
Please consider joining us to explore the Yellowstone back country. It's certain to be a unique trip that offers a tremendous amount of fun and fantastic photo possibilities! Remember we can only accept eight participants, so space is limited. Call Terry Search now at (406) 646-7230 to enroll.
Happy Trails Partner,
John and Barbara Gerlach
Terry and Angela Search
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