High Sierra Backpack Photography Tour: August 25-29, 2010

TOUR COMPLETED!

High Sierra Backpack Photography Tour: August 25-29, 2010

Limited to only 3 photographers; $499 per person (rate reduced by 20%!)

Come join me on an amazing backpack photography tour of the eastern High Sierra on August 25-29, 2010. We'll start our tour at beautiful South Lake (9,800'), out of Bishop, California, and begin walking in on the Bishop Pass Trail on the morning of August 25. We'll spend the next four nights moving progressively higher and over Bishop Pass (11,972') and into Dusy and Palisade Basins, photographing every morning, night, and throughout the day as time and light permit, and will return to our cars at South Lake on Sunday by mid-day (a full itinerary detailing daily mileage and elevation gains will be provided upon registration). This region contains the greatest concentration of 14'ers in the High Sierra, is filled with beautiful lakes and tarns, and has in recent years become a photographic hotspot. We'll have amazing views of High Sierra peaks and into and beyond Sequoia/King's Canyon National Park, and will enjoy outrageous sunrises and sunsets from our high elevation camps. We'll also likely be blessed with afternoon thunderstorms, which often culminate in fantastic light shows (thus giving the Range of Light its John Muir-coined name). I have spent more than twenty years hiking, climbing, and photographing the High Sierra, and few photography tour guides can offer my knowledge of weather, light, natural history, flora/fauna, and geology of the region. I'd love for you to join me on this magical tour!

General Info and Policies
This tour will take you to remote and unique field settings of Bishop Creek, Dusy, and Palisade Basins. The main focus of this tour is photographing the incredible landscapes of the High Sierra, although I'll host impromptu discussions, demonstrations, image critique/review, and technical instruction. More than anything, we'll have loads of fun and enjoy the camaraderie of a small group setting in an extraordinary world-class setting. My small group size assures that I will have adequate time to address all your questions and needs, and that we keep our environmental impact on the High Sierra to a minimum.

This is an ALL-FORMATS, ALL-EXPERIENCE LEVELS tour; 35mm film shooters; D-SLR; medium format; large format: all are welcome. Michael is an experienced photographer of all formats and can provide technical instructional regardless of your camera, film or digital.

Requirements/Prerequisites:
All participants must have previous backpacking and high altitude experience, and must be able to provide their own gear (a complete recommended gear list will be provided). Participants must also be in very good to excellent physical condition, and will be required to provide a resume of their recent backpacking and high elevation experience. Participants who have experienced any previous symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) must have a doctor's prescription for Acetazolamide (Diamox) in order to participate. Your honesty with these policies ensures a safe and uninterrupted trip for all.

Participants should be able to walk approximately 6-8 miles at altitude while carrying a heavy load (we'll be walking less most days), and should expect no more than 2000' elevation gain per day (with an option for more). A full itinerary detailing mileage and elevation gains will be provided to all registrants. Although we'll be exerting effort at altitude, this is not an extremely strenuous outing and may be rated "moderate" by most fit persons.

Your previous experience and proper conditioning will make a world of difference in the quality of your tour experience.

What is Included
Your tour fee includes location guiding and incidental instruction. Because this will be backpack tour, there will be no handouts or formal field instruction. Michael uses his private discussion forum (all tour members will be registered) to inform and introduce members, as well as to arrange carpooling (strongly recommended) and to share tour details as they develop.

What is Not Included
Airfare, car rentals, transportation, fuel, and meals are not included, nor are items of a personal nature (telephone calls, laundry, room service, etc.). Participants will be required to transport themselves (carpooling is not mandatory but highly encouraged) to and from the our meeting location in Bishop, California.

Accommodations
Lodging is unnecessary for this backpack tour, but Michael will provide Bishop lodging information to interested participants. You may wish to secure a room for the night before our meeting or the night of our tour end.

Meals
As this is a backpack tour, you are responsible for all your own meals/snacks during the duration of the trip. Michael will provide a required food and gear list to all tour members. Freeze-dried backpacking foods are recommended due their light weight and small size. Bear canisters are required by the US Forest Service and Sequoia/Kings Canyon NP! If you do not already own one, Michael will make suggestions for you upon registration.

Registration and Payment
To guarantee your space on this tour, full payment is required.

Cancellation Policy
It is impossible to predict the weather when scheduling a tour. What people consider "bad" weather often makes for good photography. Therefore, the tour will not be canceled due to weather unless extreme weather conditions make it unsafe to continue. Participants should come prepared for all weather conditions (cold, hot, snow, sun, rain).

If the tour is canceled by Michael E. Gordon for any reason, a full refund of the amount paid will be sent to each participant.

Occasionally circumstances arise that prevent a person from participating in a workshop after registration. If you wish to protect your investment in the workshop and related travel costs, please investigate trip insurance. This insurance will reimburse you in the event that some circumstance prevents you from attending the workshop.

Cancellations, for any reason, must be in writing (e-mail or postal mail).

Refund Policy