yosemite in winter - backcountry journeys€¦ · most meals are included during the trip dates and...

Backcountry Journeys –Yosemite in Winter 1

Landscape & Wildlife Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris 928-478-1521 | [email protected] | www.backcountryjourneys.com

Yosemite in Winter

“Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in awhile,

and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit

clean.”

-John Muir, Yosemite Valley

Pricing, Dates & Booking

For current pricing, trip dates

& online reservations please

see our website.

Trip Packets

Our PDF Trip Packets are being

updated all the time. Ensure you

have the most recent version by

clicking here.

Last Published: June 16, 2020

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.backcountryjourneys.com/

http://backcountryjourneys.com/photography-tours-workshops/yosemite-winter/


http://backcountryjourneys.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Yosemite-in-Winter-Trip-Packet.pdf



Trip Overview

Experience the beauty of Yosemite National Park during winter!

Photograph this iconic park during its least visited season when the

vastness of Yosemite is covered in pillows of white snow. Winter is an

absolutely magical time to visit Yosemite and work on some incredible

landscape photography opportunities.

This is a unique opportunity to photograph Yosemite Valley during the

stunningly beautiful winter season. Yosemite is one of the most unique

natural wonders on our planet and in winter provides jaw dropping

opportunities for landscape photography and wildlife! The light is

beautiful in the winter and the colors are vibrant making for superb

snowy landscape photography opportunities. We schedule this trip in

late February to potentially take advantage of Yosemite’s famous “Fire

Fall” event but the main purpose of this trip is to photograph the

beauty of Yosemite when the entire valley is covered in snow!





This photography excursion features full days of photography from

sunrise to sunset as we visit carefully selected locations in the best

possible light, taking our time (key for us photographers!) exploring and

photographing. We’ll hit the iconic spots such as Half Dome, El Capitan,

Bridalveil Falls, Gates of the Valley and Tunnel View as well as many

off the beaten path locations most visitors don’t know about.

This Yosemite photography tour will be based out of our quaint & cozy

lodge right inside Yosemite Valley! Each evening after our photography

session we will return to the lodge for some rest and relaxation and a

great meal at their restaurant.

You’ll get ample one on one time with your instructor and improve your

photography in one of the world’s most beautiful and iconic locations.

Aside from the fun you’ll experience with your fellow photographers

you’ll leave this trip with a highly expanded portfolio of excellent

images and a wealth of memories. Join us today for the trip of a lifetime

to Yosemite National Park in winter!

Please note: For those wishing to photograph the annual Yosemite

Firefall, park regulations require that we must walk to the site.





Highlights • Winter Landscape Photography in America’s Iconic National

Park

• Photograph dramatic winterscapes

• Cooler temperatures mean far fewer tourists

• Small Groups

• Return to our cozy lodge each night to unwind

• Top-notch meals, excellent lodging included

• Learn from & shoot alongside a seasoned pro





Noteworthy Travel Logistics • This trip begins & ends in Fresno, California

• We will meet at 5pm at the

Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Fresno Convention Center*

2233 Ventura Street, Fresno, California, 93721, USA

+1-559-268-1000

*Please note: Exact hotel is subject to change - equivalent hotel may be substituted.

If you are planning on arriving early or staying late please contact us.

• The airport to fly in/out is Yosemite Fresno International (FAT)

• We should be back in Fresno no later than 2pm on the last day of

the trip.

• Your hotel will have a complimentary airport shuttle – just give

them a call 24 hours in advance to schedule!

Transportation On-Tour • We will provide transportation throughout the trip from Fresno,

CA to Yosemite National Park and back. If you have a vehicle you

can leave it at our lodge inside Yosemite National Park, but please

be aware of Yosemite’s tire chain rules





Itinerary Please note: This is a “standard” tour so there is little to no hiking on this trip Most meals included – (B,L,D) denotes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day One (Travel Day)(D)

We will meet at our lodge in Fresno, California at 5pm the first

evening of the trip for an orientation and welcome dinner.

Day Two (B,L,D)

This morning we will arise early and head up into Yosemite Valley.

We’ll spend the morning photographing the Giant Sequoias of the

Mariposa Grove under pillows of snow and we’ll explore Yosemite

Valley. After lunch we’ll check-in to our lodge and get settled for the

next few days. This evening’s photo shoot will be at a spectacular

location overlooking the entire valley.

Day Three (B,D)

Our morning shoot will take us to a quaint beach along the Merced

River where wintry reflections of El Capitan will be our photographic

goal. There are many fantastic compositions to be had along the idyllic

mountain river – especially when the crowds are gone, and winter is

in full-swing. Magical. After our morning shoot we’ll head in for lunch

and photo reviews followed by a short break. This evening we will

shoot from another stunning location in the valley with expansive

views of the sun setting on Half-Dome as its glow is reflected in the

river. After a great shoot we’ll head in and grab an excellent dinner at

our lodge!

Day Four (B,D)

After breakfast we’ll head up to Lower Yosemite Falls and take

advantage of the beautiful mid-morning light on this famous

waterfall. Later we’ll also head over and photograph another





important Yosemite cascade – Bridal Veil Falls. We’ll spend the rest of

today in search of wildlife and take a midday break from shooting to

go over our images.

This evening we’ll head to a beautiful snowy meadow and photograph

Yosemite in the warm-glow of a winter sunset.

Day Five (B,L,D)

Our morning shoot today is an inspirational view of Upper Yosemite

Falls from the shores of the Merced River. The morning light catches

this scene beautifully just after sunrise. We’ll work on different

compositions and take some short walks around the valley. This

evening after our midday photo review session we will head to Artists

Point for one grand finale landscape composition of Yosemite before

an excellent farewell dinner!

Day Six (B)

This morning we will have one more photo session in Yosemite Valley.

After coming in from the session, we’ll warm up over a hot breakfast

and check out of our lodge by 11am. It is about a two-hour drive back

to Fresno we’ll arrive at the airport around 1 pm (we’ll drop you off

right at the airport if you want) and flights home can be booked any

time after 3 pm.

Please Note: The exact sequence of the itineraries on all photography trips will be based on weather and lighting conditions. The goal on these trips is to make sure we are at the right place at the right time for the perfect light on our subjects. Also, itineraries can change for a variety of other circumstances including floods, forest fires, national park closures, road closures and more. Due to the nature of wildlife and nature photography we do not guarantee any specific sightings or specific compositions regarding wildlife or natural phenomena.





Trip Details

Physical Requirements All participants must be in good physical condition and have the ability

to hike/ walk with camera equipment and essential hiking gear. For

example, tripod, camera, lense(s), sunscreen, water (up to 2 liters

person), snacks, and extra layers (if necessary). The weight of your pack

largely depends on what gear you choose to bring on each hike.

Typically backpacks weigh between 15 and 20 lbs. For those serious

photography buffs packs could reach 35 lbs! But remember the choice is

yours

Group Size

We keep groups small to maximize your one on one time with the

guide/instructor.

Trip Length

6 days





Meeting Time and Place

5pm on Day One at our hotel in Fresno, CA.

Trip Conclusion

Fresno, California no later than 2pm on Day Six. We can drop you off

right at the airport!

Price/Start Dates:

Please see our website for current Yosemite in Winter Pricing and

Dates

Accommodation

We will be staying in Fresno for the first night and then a cozy lodge in

Yosemite Valley for the remainder of the trip

Meals

Most meals are included during the trip dates and we typically eat at

park lodges in the evening. We often eat snacks and prepare lunch on

the trail. We typically return for a late breakfast or eat breakfast on the

road during photography trips as we are often out early to capture the

morning light. There will be one evening with dinner on your own.

Weather

Expect winter weather – cool days and chilly nights. The weather is cold

in the High Sierra during winter however it makes for breathtaking

photos. Remember some of the best photographs are made before,

during and immediately after a storm cycle. There is no such thing as

bad weather just poor layering and gear choices – please plan

accordingly! For more info on what to bring please email or call us.

Make sure you are prepared for rain!

General links to Weather Conditions: Little Yosemite Valley Weather

forecast.

We recommend checking the weather prior to your trip departure to

plan your gear and clothing packing accordingly.





http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-119.51510&lat=37.73231

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-119.51510&lat=37.73231



Price Includes

Most meals, ground transportation, accommodation during the trip

dates from the evening of Day One through the morning of Day Six,

professional photography instruction, park entrance fees, medically

certified wilderness guide, & gratuities for service personnel such as

drivers, pilots, captains as well as hotel & restaurant staff.

Price Does Not Include

Airfare, alcoholic beverages, accommodations before or after the trip

dates, souvenirs, one meal on your own, & trip leader gratuities

(industry standard is typically 10%-20% of the trip cost based on your

experience.)





Gear List

This gear list should answer a lot of your gear questions so please read

through this carefully. If you still have questions, please give me a call.

While photographing during winter your clothing is a system of layers

that you add and subtract according to the weather and temperature.

Typically, daytimes temperatures are in the 20s and evening

temperatures will often range from -5 to 10 Fahrenheit. Temperatures

during Yellowstone’s frigid winter can fluctuate drastically so be

prepared! Although cold, the weather is often sunny, but you should be

prepared for snowy, windy days as well.

A good pair of good synthetic “Smartwool” type socks under sturdy boots

works well. Clothing should be light-weight nylon pants (maybe base-

layers), a polypro shirt and either a sunhat or warm hat depending on

the weather. As weather conditions change add insulating and

waterproof layers to your base setup. Don’t bring any cotton clothing.

Cotton is not a good insulator and once it gets wet it takes forever to

dry. Absolutely no jeans!

Photo & Field Gear

Recommended Camera Gear

• DSLR or Mirrorless Camera. (Nikon, Canon, Sony, Panasonic etc.) • Telephoto zoom Lens (100–400mm zoom or equivalent) • Wide-angle Lens (10-20mm, 16-35mm or equivalent) • Normal Lenses (ranging from approximately 35mm to 100mm)

• Sturdy but lightweight tripod (must be able to carry this for hikes) • Memory Cards

• Batteries & Chargers

• Filters such as a circular polarizer and neutral density filter

• Lens cleaning pen & cloth





• Camera Day Pack (this should appropriately carry all your camera

& hiking gear and have a rain cover)

• Camera Rain Sleeve

Optional (but recommended)

• Back-Up Camera Body

• 1.4x tele converter

• Laptop Computer with Lightroom / Photoshop Pre-Installed (for

personal use in hotels for downloading images while on tour)

• External Hard Drives

• Remote Shutter Trigger

• Camera’s Instruction Manual

*please contact us at 928-478-1521 with any specific camera gear questions. We are here to help you plan the perfect trip!

Suggested Field Gear & Clothing: • Personal Field Clothing (think extra warm layers & waterproof)

• Warm top, such as a long-sleeved sweater or fleece jacket

• Insulated Down Jacket, warm, packable coat with hood

• “Softshell” Jacket lightly insulated windproof/breathable jacket for

layering and protection from wind

• Lightweight Waterproof Ski-Pants

• Lightweight gloves, light- to mid-weight fleece or wool gloves for

snowshoeing on warm days

• Insulated gloves, waterproof/breathable insulated gloves or mitts

• Balaclava or neck gaiter, midweight wool balaclava or neck gaiter

for windy and cold days

• Warm hat, thick wool Sherpa style winter hat lined with fleece

• Long Underwear (synthetic top & bottom)

• Hiking Socks (Smartwool, Darn Tough etc.)

• Sunglasses

• Insulated boots

• Casual wear, for evenings

• Waterproof/breathable jacket

• Gaiters (optional, but recommended, depending on your ski pants)





• Shooting Gloves

• Binoculars (optional) • Trekking poles (optional, but recommended) • Sunscreen

• Knee pads (for low-angle shooting - optional)

• Headlamp with spare batteries (there are short daylight hours

during the winter and lodging grounds in the park are not well lit)

• Personal toiletries, medication etc

• Money, for tipping your guide (industry standard is generally 10%-20% of the trip cost based on your experience), and for any

personal expenses not included in the tour package such as alcoholic

beverages, a few of the meals, souvenirs, etc.

Note on Packing for the tour:

Please pack your extra clothing, toiletries, extra camera gear, and other

travel items into a suitcase, duffel or travel bag. You will not bring all

your camera gear on every hike or outing. Each evening you will be

briefed on which lenses, filters, etc. you will need to carry the following

day on the scheduled tour or hike.



yosemite in winter - backcountry journeys€¦ · most meals are included during the trip dates and...

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