Denali Backcountry Hiking Photography Workshop
July 16-19, 2017
During this special 4-day wilderness adventure in the heart of the Alaska Range, you’ll have the chance to learn and practice your outdoor photography skills and explore the rugged and remote beauty of Denali National Park in a way that very few people every get to experience.
Beginning with a breathtaking floatplane ride up the massive Ruth Glacier through The Great Gorge, we’ll enjoy spectacular views of some of America’s highest and most impressive peaks, (weather permitting, of course), including Denali, Mt. Dan Beard, and Mount Dickey, before being dropped off by on a small lake nestled right in between the Ruth and Tokositna Glaciers. (A 35-mile long landscape of ice, rock and fast flowing rivers, the Ruth is truly one of most impressive glaciers on earth.)
This is where we’ll set up our base camp for exploring the surrounding terrain. From here, we’ll spend 4 days and 3 nights camping and day hiking over vast expanses of tundra, rocks and ice as we explore and photograph the incredible landscapes of this humbling mountain environment. You’ll actually trek on a glacier and see firsthand the effects of glacial activity on the landscape. After breaking camp on the last morning and being flown back to Talkeetna, where we’ll board the Alaska Railroad and enjoy a 3-hour scenic train ride back to Anchorage. This will give us a chance to relax and reflect on our trip before returning to civilization.
With unparalleled views and rugged terrain, this remote wilderness trip is set in a virtually unexplored part of Denali, and it provides the ideal setting for a true adventure photography workshop. We'll have incredible photo opportunities each day, and a variety of lighting conditions for capturing the scenery around us. Weather permitting, we can take advantage of the midnight sun and catch Magic Hour on the Alaska Range, and we can even practice shooting "adventure subjects" by setting up scenarios with each other and our willing guide.
With only a light daypack, you'll spend your days hiking over vast tundra and exploring massive, endless glaciers, and photographing in the shadow of the highest, most rugged peaks of the Alaska Range. Each night, you'll return to basecamp for a delicious lakeside dinner and share stories, take pictures and congregate with your fellow participants under the midnight sun. In short, you'll see and experience Denali up close in a way that few people have.
Our small group setting will allow you nearly constant one-on-one opportunities for mentorship and instruction with me, as well as the camaraderie of the other photographers on our trip. We’ll be able to learn and practice together and taylor to the techniques YOU want to learn and talk shop in camp every evening, and hopefully make this an unforgettable Denali National Park photography workshop.
DETAILS
- Group Size: Max of 7 Photographers (Minimum of 3)
- Dates: July 6-19, 2017
- Starting/Ending Location: Max Anchorage, Alaska
- Price: $2,495 USD
A deposit of $1000.00 (or payment in full of the trip price is less than $1000) per person is required to reserve a spot on this trip. The remaining balance is due 60 days prior to the start of the trip. Reservations made within 60 days of the trip starting date require payment in full. If the participant cancels a reservation earlier than 60 days prior to the starting date, the deposit will be refunded, minus a $100.00 administration fee. If the participant cancels within 59-31 days of the starting date, 50% of the trip balance will be refunded. If cancellation is made within 30-0 days of the trip starting date, there will be no refund of any costs.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Photographing mountain and glacier landscapes during long summer days and under the midnight sun.
- Camping on the shores of a glacier lake. True solitude in a remote Alaska wilderness setting.
- Hiking over active glaciers, rocky mountain landscapes and tundra.
- Bush plane ride into the heart of the Alaska Range and over the massive Ruth Glacier.
- Professional instruction in a small group setting from an experienced outdoor professional outdoor photographer.
- FUJIFILM X Series cameras and lenses for you to try out.
- ITINERARY
- WHAT WiLL I Learn?
- What Should I Expect?
- What Should I Bring?
Day 1
We'll start with a morning 8:15AM pickup and complete an orientation and gear check at Alaska Alpine Advnetures before loading up for the 2.5 hour drive to Talkeetna, Alaska. By late morning, we’ll make our way to K2 Aviation and board a floatplane bound for the Denali National Park. This 1/2 hour scenic flight will take us over alpine tundra, braided rivers, and cascading waterfalls and the massive icescape of the Ruth Glacier. Weather permitting, we'll enjoy spectacular views of Mt. McKinley, the highest peak in North America as we travel up the Ruth to the entrance of the Great Gorge - the deepest trench on the planet. Our skilled bush pilot will land on a small lake nestled in a cleft between the Ruth and Tokositna Glaciers, which will be our home of the next 4 days. We’ll set up camp near the lake, bask in the new-found solitude, and then take a short early evening hike before dinner. We'll have plenty of time for photography sessions before and after dinner. Distance: 1.5 miles, Elevation Gain: 500'
Day 2
The hiking and photo options for our first full wilderness day are truly staggering! With almost unlimited daylight during this time of year, we’ll head for the tundra hills above camp, destined for magnificent views of the Backside Glacier, Ruth Glacier, and if weather permits, we'll be able to see 20,320 foot Denali. On the first day's hike, you’ll learn in practice the skills necessary to hike off-trail in the Alaska wilderness – including reading a topographic map, choosing the best route, using trekking poles, and traveling efficiently. We'll also have lots of time for learning and practicing our photography skills and shooting photos in our amazing environment. After a full day of exploration and photography, we’ll tally our wildlife and mountain peak sightings as we enjoy a filling meal in the wilderness. Distance: 6-10 miles, Elevation Gain: 1500-2500’
Day 3
After another hearty breakfast, we’ll grab our day-packs and again head out in search of adventure and more great images in Denali. During this day's outing, we’ll make our way up onto the Backside Glacier. This may be your first time hiking on a glacier, and you’ll quickly understand why this area draws mountaineers from all over the world. While not at all technical, your trek on the ice will give you the chance to explore and learn firsthand the glacial features of this frozen river of ice, the valley that bears the scars of thousands of years of glacial activity, and the more recent visual indications of climate change on the Alaska landscape. You'll also have another day of one-on-one personal photography instruction from Dan and plenty of time to practice your skills and capture images of our amazing landscape and the adventure around us. Distance: 8.0 miles, Elevation Gain: 2000'
Day 4
Another breakfast and hot drink will fuel us for our last few hours in the wilderness. After breaking camp, and moving our gear back to the beach, we'll await our bush ride back to Talkeena. We’ll return to Talkeetna by early afternoon, enjoy a short walk around town, and by 4:30pm will be boarding the Alaska Railroad's Denali Star train bound for Anchorage. This 3-hour trip will take us through the beautiful Matanuska-Susitna Valley, through southcentral Alaska's boreal forests and small farms & homesteads, and finally to Anchorage by 8pm. Options to stay in Talkeetna or Anchorage for an extra night are available. If departing Anchorage this evening, please book your return flights for no earlier than 10:00PM. Breakfast & lunch included. Distance: 1.5 miles, Elevation Gain: 500'
Please note: Alaska often has a way of derailing the best laid plans. Depending on weather, wildlife and other factors, there's a chance we may need to deviate from our itinerary. Our guides will continuously monitor things like weather, group preferences, individual abilities, safety considerations and potentially unforeseeable circumstances and make decisions accordingly. In any case, you can be guaranteed of a great adventure!
Our itinerary allows for up to 30 hours of wait time in Talkeetna. In the event that weather prevents us from flying into our basecamp location in Denali National Park, we will initiate a contingency itinerary.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- All group gear: Expedition quality tents, group tarp, all cooking and eating equipment and utensils
- Safety equipment: Satellite phone, maps, GPS and medical kit
- Large backpack-style drybag for transporting and storing personal gear while on trip
- Trekking poles
- Ground transportation to Talkeetna on Day 1
- Round trip scenic bush flights from Talkeetna to Denali National Park
- Scenic train ride from Talkeetna to Anchorage
- Professional guide service with a maximum 4:1 guest to guide ratio
- All meals from lunch on Day 1 through lunch on the final day of the itinerary
- Storage of your extra travel items while in the field
- The promise of adventure
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
- Round trip airfare/transportation to Anchorage, Alaska
- Lodging in Anchorage before and after the trip, or additional nights due to weather delays
- Personal gear (sleeping bags, packs, rain gear, etc...)
- Trip cancellation insurance
- Alcoholic beverages
- Guide gratuities
- Any guarantees of perfectly clear weather
Testimonials From Dan's Past Photography Workshop Participants
I Hope You Can Join Me!
Whether your interest lies with landscape photography or action adventure styles, this workshop trek promises an intensive setting for you to learning advanced outdoor photography techniques in a truly remote Alaska environment.
As I said above, this trip is limited to only 7 participants, so don't wait too long to decide! I really hope you can join me. Please email me if you have any questions.
Please note: Since the logistics of this trip are being run by Alaska Alpine Adventures, registered participants will need to agree to to their terms and conditions, and provide additional information from them in preparation for the trip.
You can pay by credit card or through PayPal below, or you can send a check to hold your spot. Contact me for this option.