We'll meet at the entrance to the park (you'll probably arrive via train [recommended] or car from Anchorage or Fairbanks). We'll spend the first day in the front country of the park, then head by private bus for the far end of the 80-mile dirt road that bisects the park. We'll be using the first-class resort North Face Lodge, near Wonder Lake, as our back country base (North Face Lodge isn't inexpensive, but it's very comfortable, provides great meals, and give us access to things that are much more difficult to do while camping and are completely unavailable from the park entrance, which most folk never get beyond).

We're far from the crowds and in August, we'll still have plenty of daylight in which to photograph, so our pace can be leisurely. The state bird, the mosquito, is usually dying down by August, though it can still be pesky around water. And, yes, we'll see Grizzly bear, though from just how far away remains to be seen. Caribou, elk, moose, goat, and fox are also quite likely to be in our viewfinders at some point. You'll want to buy, borrow, or beg a long lens for this trip, as we won't always be able to move in close to the wildlife (though that moose in the photograph, above, ended up so close to where I was sitting in the reeds that I couldn't focus on him!). If we're lucky, Denali, the highest peak in North America, will poke it's head out and give you a never ending show to photograph--this is more likely in August than earlier in the season, and the second workshop will start to see the front edge of fall in Denali, while both are likely to see many blooming flowers (though these are usually small--bring a macro lens!). If we're really lucky, we may even get a day where we can get into the air and photograph Denali and its environ from above (this involves an extra cost, though).


North Face Lodge (and it's companion, Camp Denali) are the perfect places from which to run Denali workshops. Not only do we have support from the on-site naturalists and guides, but many of the prime shots of Denali, including Ansel Adams' Wonder Lake shot are all within walking distance. NFL also has mountain bikes and canoes available to guests, so we can actually get out into Wonder Lake if you'd like. Food is, believe it or not, gourmet quality, healthy, and plentiful. While the lodge is run on generators, we'll still have plenty of power for our laptops, chargers, etc. However, note that there are no phones (other than the resort's radio phone), no Internet service, nor any television out here in the true back country. This will be a workshop where all your time and energy will be concentrated on Denali and the photographic opportunities surrounding it. Which is as it should be.

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Between Buses: read about my first time in Denali.