The Great Alaska Grizzly Adventure II - September 8 - 14, 2024

 

From all the places we’ve visited and all the states in which Mountaineer Photo Excursions has led photography workshops, one location has been mentioned again and again…Alaska!  We are excited to offer this opportunity once again to photograph this amazing destination and the grizzly bears that make it their home! 

 

Ron Gaskins and Amanda Haddox scouted our Alaska destination in fall of 2020, our first workshop for September 2023 sold out in days!  So now we are offering a SECOND Great Alaska Grizzly Adventure in 2024! 

 

If you’re interested in this photo adventure with us, here are a few questions you need to answer… 

 

Would you like to wake up every morning to stunning sunrise over the Alaskan mountains right outside your door?
 

On a rainy overcast morning, would you like to board a plane and fly over the brilliantly colored autumn Alaskan tundra to sunnier skies?

Would you like to go to those “iconic falls” that you’ve seen in magazines and watch grizzly bears fish for salmon?

Would you like to sit and safely watch grizzly bears leisurely grazing for blueberries just yards away?

 

Would you like to raft down a calm river and watch grizzly bears lazily lounging and feeding from the sides of the banks?

Would you like to eat lunch and watch grizzly bears swimming in glacier-fed lakes right in front of you?

 

Would you like to get images of young grizzly bear cubs frolicking and rolling over one another in the fall foliage, while bigger yearlings challenge their siblings and learn how to fight all under the watchful eye of their mothers?

 

Are you looking for dramatic landscapes like no other...with colorful tundra, broken by ponds and rivers; fast moving clouds in front of snow-capped mountains and waterfalls? 

Would you like to come back to a hot gourmet dinner, then sit by the fireplace and discuss the day’s adventures?
 

If you answered “YES” to these questions, then this photo excursion…this wildlife adventure like no other…is for YOU!    

 

How Do I Sign Up? And the Details of the Trip…..

Guides and Transportation.  How do we put you in front of all this wildlife and wild country?  We have engaged an experienced Alaskan outfitter to provide not only direction, but also transportation.   Our guides have identified well over 100 specific locations where the various wildlife can be found.  To take us where the “wild things” are, we can take advantage of multiple aircraft and watercraft.  With their four aircraft and 14 boats staged in different locations, we can go wherever the wildlife may be. 

 

Lodging and Meals.  In addition to experienced local guides and transportation, this workshop will also include on site lodging and meals!  The Lodge is located on Lake Iliamna, the largest lake in Alaska.  It is equipped with guest cabins, each with two full-sized beds and a bathroom.  You should expect double occupancy.  Our lodge is powered by a local hydro-electric plant, so we have plenty of power for heat and lights, unlike some other locations.   Meals are prepared fresh each day, and accommodations can be made for special diet needs.  You can look forward to a hot breakfast and dinner each day, as well as a freshly prepared bag lunch in the field.  We will be located between Katmai and Lake Clark National Parks, a wilderness area rich in beauty and wildlife.

 

Safety.  We will work closely with our guides, who will make the decisions on how close we will be to various animals.  This outfitter has been operating for over 40 years, and no clients have been seriously injured.  In addition to our standard Liability Waiver, participants will also be required to sign an Assumption of Risk form for the guide service.  Even with a perfect safety record, there are risks involved when traveling in wilderness of Alaska.      

 

When:  This workshop is scheduled for 2024!  We will be in Alaska for a week; arriving at the lodge on Monday, September 8, and departing on Saturday, September 14.   Your commercial flights to/from Anchorage must be planned to accommodate this schedule. If it is necessary to spend a night in Anchorage, we can recommend hotels. 

 

Registration:  The full workshop fee has been confirmed, and is $7980.00.  This amount is firm, not an estimate.  Please keep in mind, this fee will include photography instruction, professional guides/pilots, local transportation by plane, boat, and vehicle, lodging and meals for the week. We are only accepting 10 participants for this workshop.  

 

An initial $1000 deposit is required to confirm your spot. This is to reserve your spot for the 2024 season. Due to the relatively short season and the inability to fill empty spots with short notice, the deposit is non-refundable*.  We recommend you pay your deposit as early as possible. 
 

The deadline for registration is August 28, 2023.  A second deposit of $2990.00 (also non-refundable; totaling 50% of the full fee) is due by January 31, 2024.  The balance of the registration fee is due 60 days prior to our arrival, $3990.00 (non-refundable after that date).  For this workshop, we would prefer a check instead of a credit card.  We will send a PayPal invoice if you prefer, but their charges will be added to the workshop fee. We do recommend trip insurance to cover your expenses, should you be unable to participate. 

 

Contact [email protected] to make payment arrangements.

Other Expenses:  You are responsible for your own flight arrangements and expenses to Anchorage, AK.  In addition, there is a second local flight from Anchorage to Iliamna.  We will provide you with contact information for the local flight, but the arrangements and expenses are yours.  Mountaineer Photo Excursions is not responsible for your travel arrangements to Anchorage and/or Iliamna, AK. 

 

The Lodge employs a full staff, which includes not only the guides and pilots, but the support staff of the kitchen, housekeeping, and maintenance.  While a gratuity is optional and is dependent on your opinion of the services you have received, a recommended gratuity for the Lodge staff is $500.  This will be distributed equally among the staff and may be paid to the Lodge Manager. 

 

*Clarification on “non-refundable:”  The $1000 and $2990.00 deposits are forwarded directly to our outfitter and are non-refundable. "IF" you must cancel after these deposits are paid, and IF we are able to fill your vacancy, we can refund your deposits after completion of this event. This possible refund is NOT guaranteed. The balance payment of $3990.00 (plus PayPal fees) must be paid no later than 60 days prior to the event, on July 8 (11:00 pm), 2024. After this date, it is unlikely we would be able fill any cancellation vacancies. Please note that PayPal fees will NOT be refunded in any case.

 

Questions:  This is a very unique excursion, and there are many details.  If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].  You can also see some of our photos at our Alaska gallery.