Dates: Monday through Sunday, October 6 through October 12, 2008 (Note: Sunday arrival in Salt Lake City is necessary, see below)

Transportation: Comfortable passenger van (group size will be 5-12 people, including the trip leaders)

Accommodations: Comfortable rooms in Yellowstone National Park for two nights, one night in Gardiner, on the north edge of Yellowstone, two nights in Jackson Hole, and a final night in Logan, Utah.

Trip difficulty: None - we'll enjoy easy-paced walking to view the sights, or photograph right from the van. Most walks will be less than 1/4 mile.

The Trip: Explore, photograph and learn about the wildlife, the geysers, and the vast terrain of Yellowstone, on our annual natural history and nature photography field trip to Wyoming.  Yellowstone is the world's first national park (created in 1872), the largest such park in the lower 48 states, and it contains abundant wildlife. We will see bison and elk and quite possibly bear (black and grizzly), and many species of birds. There are also more than 10,000 geysers and hot springs in the park, far more than any other place in the world. Lakes, waterfalls and high mountains contribute to Yellowstone's setting, and we'll be able to view and photograph these beautiful natural features, too. On our journey to and from our primary location, Yellowstone, we'll have time to see and photograph Grand Teton National Park, and look for wildlife often encountered there. We'll learn about various methods to preserve the animals in Yellowstone, and their environment, including the controversial reintroduction of wolves, and relate these methods (such as the condor recovery program) to those being conducted by zoological organizations around the world. We'll also enjoy beautiful rides through wild and rural portions of Utah and Idaho. Walking: There will be opportunities to strike off on your own or with a trip leader for longer walks - but in general, we'll tour the park by van, and make short walks to view the scenery and animals. Optional walks in the geyser areas, in particular, will be available.

Weather: Should be pleasant, with mild to warm days and cool evening. Be prepared for warm and cool conditions. Cost: $1450  Deposit: $200 will hold your spot. Full amount due by August 1.  The Trip: Explore, photograph and learn about the wildlife, the geysers, and the vast terrain of Yellowstone, on our annual natural history and nature photography field trip to Wyoming. This year the trip is co-sponsored by the San Diego Natural History Museum. Yellowstone is the world's first national park (created in 1872), the largest such park in the lower 48 states, and it contains abundant wildlife. We will see bison and elk and quite possibly bear (black and grizzly), and many species of birds. There are also more than 10,000 geysers and hot springs in the park, far more than any other place in the world. Lakes, waterfalls and high mountains contribute to Yellowstone's setting, and we'll be able to view and photograph these beautiful natural features, too.

On our journey to and from our primary location, Yellowstone, we'll have time to see and photograph Grand Teton National Park, and look for wildlife often encountered there. We'll learn about various methods to preserve the animals in Yellowstone, and their environment, including the controversial reintroduction of wolves, and relate these methods (such as the condor recovery program) to those being conducted by zoological organizations around the world. We'll also enjoy beautiful rides through wild and rural portions of Utah and Idaho. Walking: There will be opportunities to strike off on your own or with a trip leader for longer walks - but in general, we'll tour the park by van, and make short walks to view the scenery and animals. Optional walks in the geyser areas, in particular, will be available. Trip Leader: Dave Wyman's photographs have appeared in various magazines and books, and he has conducted photo tours since 1982. His first book, Backroads of Northern California, was published in 2000 and his new book, Backroads of Southern California, came out in 2005. His is also the author of Yosemite in Pictures. Dave has conducted photography tours and workshops for the Los Angeles Zoo, the Death Valley and Yosemite natural history associations, the Los Angeles and San Diego Natural History Museums and UCLA, and he created and directed the travel and nature photography program for the University of Southern California.

Camera Equipment: For those who have a keen interest in photography, this is the trip to bring it all along - wide angle lenses, telephotos, and filters. Digitial, 35mm and medium format cameras will all work well. Digital telephotos in the 200mm range (which translates to about 300mm on a film camera) and up will help bring wildlife closer, while shorter lenses will work for geysers, landscapes and wildlife photographs that include the environment. In fact, we'll be close enough to elk and bison on occasion to make long telephotos impractical! If you have questions about which lenses to bring, feel free to contact Dave. The trip leader will bring along a laptop and participants with digital cameras may wish to bring along their own computers. If we're still awake at the end of the day, we'll try to look at photographs made during the trip on Dave's computer. Backup media for digital photographs: Consider bringing along some CDs (Dave can transfer fils and burn photos, time permitting), so that you have a backup of your digital photos. Feel free to bring a laptop (but you'll have to carry it), digital wallet, etc. CF and SD Cards: Have enough space to store at least a day's worth of photographs (which could run into the hundreds). Batteries: Participants need enough battery power to make it through a day. Consider bringing an extra battery; don't forget the charger. Plan to recharge batteries at night. While we'll have the ability to charge a few batteries at a time in our vehicles, this should not be the favored method.

Two filters for aficionados: the polarizer and a graduated graduated neutral density filter (digital and film cameras); an 81A or 81B warming filter that will allow you to keep a blue tone out of your photographs made in the shade or under cloudy skies (for film cameras).

Film Considerations:
- Both Fuji and Kodak have excellent print films, such as Fujicolor and Kodacolor. A good, all-around choice of print film speed for this trip would be ISO 200-400.
- Slide films: Currently, Fujichrome films offer excellent color saturation combined with very fine grain. Fuji's Sensia is a good film, as is the professional version, Provia, and Velvia, which is fine-grained and higher in contrast. Kodak also makes excellent amateur and pro films.

Basic Itinerary: Arrive on Sunday in Salt Lake City (please see below). On Monday we'll transfer to a comfortable van, then head north on a leisurely drive along scenic highways in Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming, with photography stops along they way. We will spend the night in Jackson Hole. On Tuesday, we'll be off early to view the Tetons, look for moose at famed Oxbow Bend, and enjoy breakfast at the Jackson Lake Lodge. We'll arrive by mid-day in Yellowstone, where we will view the Old Faithful geyser, and look for bison (buffalo) and elk. We will spend the night at the Old Faithful Inn, in the amazing Upper Geyser Basin, and a 30 second walk from the viewing area of the Old Faithful geyser. On Wednesday and Thursdaywe'll tour along the Grand Loop, the road that leads to the major points of interest in the park. We will visit other geyser basins, view the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and watch for wildlife, including bison, elk and moose. We'll spend the night in the cute tourist town of Gardiner, Montana, after looking for pronghorn antelope, elk big horn sheep near the north entrance of the park. The next morning, Friday, we will make a drive well before dawn to look for wolves and bears. A leisurely drive back through Yellowstone and the Tetons will bring us again to Jackson Hole. On Saturday, after a final session of early morning photography in the Jackson Hole area (we'll look for moose), and time for some sight-seeing in colorful Jackson, we will begin to head for home via pleasant backroads, before reaching our accommodations in the town of Logan, north of Salt Lake City. On Sunday morning, we'll drive into Salt Lake City, and end the trip at the airport.

What Will be Provided: - Ground transportation by comfortable passenger van - Accommodations in Yellowstone National Park and Jackson Hole, in Wyoming, Gardiner, in Montana, and in Logan, Utah - Entrance fees - Guided photo walks - Picnic lunch for the group - AC chargers that can charge camera batteries, laptop batteries, etc, on the road. What You Need To Bring: - Clothes for warm and cool conditions, including comfortable walking shoes - Money for meals - Small to medium sized suitcase, camera bag and/or purse - Tripod (optional, recommended) - Transportation to our meeting point in Salt Lake City (arrive no later than the evening before, Sunday, October 1)

CF and SD Cards: Have enough space to store at least a day's worth of photographs (which could run into the hundreds).

Batteries: Participants need enough battery power to make it through a day. Consider bringing an extra battery; don't forget the charger. Plan to recharge batteries at night. While we'll have the ability to charge a few batteries at a time in our vehicles, this should not be the favored method.

Two filters for aficionados: the polarizer and a graduated graduated neutral density filter (digital and film cameras); an 81A or 81B warming filter that will allow you to keep a blue tone out of your photographs made in the shade or under cloudy skies (for film cameras).

Film Considerations:
- Both Fuji and Kodak have excellent print films, such as Fujicolor and Kodacolor. A good, all-around choice of print film speed for this trip would be ISO 200-400.
- Slide films: Currently, Fujichrome films offer excellent color saturation combined with very fine grain. Fuji's Sensia is a good film, as is the professional version, Provia, and Velvia, which is fine-grained and higher in contrast. Kodak also makes excellent amateur and pro films.

Basic Itinerary: Arrive on Sunday in Salt Lake City (please see below). On Monday we'll transfer to a comfortable van, then head north on a leisurely drive along scenic highways in Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming, with photography stops along they way. We will spend the night in Jackson Hole. On Tuesday, we'll be off early to view the Tetons, look for moose at famed Oxbow Bend, and enjoy breakfast at the Jackson Lake Lodge. We'll arrive by mid-day in Yellowstone, where we will view the Old Faithful geyser, and look for bison (buffalo) and elk. We will spend the night at the Snow Lodge, in the Old Faithful area. On Wednesday and Thursdaywe'll tour along the Grand Loop, the road that leads to the major points of interest in the park. We will visit other geyser basins, view the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and watch for wildlife, including bison, elk and moose. We'll spend the night in the cute tourist town of Gardiner, Montana, after looking for pronghorn antelope, elk big horn sheep near the north entrance of the park. The next morning, Friday, we will make a drive well before dawn to look for wolves and bears. A leisurely drive back through Yellowstone and the Tetons will bring us again to Jackson Hole. On Saturday, after a final session of early morning photography in the Jackson Hole area (we'll look for moose), and time for some sight-seeing in colorful Jackson, we will begin to head for home via pleasant backroads, before reaching our accommodations in the town of Logan, north of Salt Lake City. On Sunday morning, we'll drive into Salt Lake City, and end the trip at the airport.

Note: Although the trip officially begins on Monday, our group needs to be in Salt Lake City no later than Sunday evening. This is so that we can make a morning start on the following day, and not have to worry about late plane flights into Salt Lake City. Dave Wyman will stay at the Super 8 - inexpensive and clean, near the airport and away from downtown, with internet connectivity and shuttle transporation from the airport. Click here for a list of other Salt Lake City accommodations near the airport (the Comfort Inn, e.g., is a stone's throw from the Super 8). If you like, Dave will make the reservation and can secure a group rate (approximately $72 per person, half if you can share with another participant). 

Stay at the Super 8 or in the immediate area and Dave will pick you up on Sunday. If you decide not to stay at the Super 8 or in the immediate area, contact Dave to arrange a pick-up point on Monday morning. 

If you would like help with reservations for accommodations or a plane flight to Salt Lake City, contact Dave.

When you send payment: We'll send back a receipt and any additional information about the trip.

Cancellations: $200 cancellation penalty, unless another participant takes your place, in which case there will be a $25 processing fee. Cancellation on or after August 24 will incur a full penalty, unless another person takes your place, with a $25 processing fee.

Remember: You need to make your own plane reservations for arrival in Salt Lake City anytime on Sunday, September 24 (see above).Or contact the trip leader if you would like help making reservations.

If you have more questions, call Dave at 323 377-7565, or send him e-mail at  mr.yellowstone@imountainman.com.