Sunrise on the Cirque of the Towers: Wind River Range, Wyoming

I am a very fortunate individual, in far too many ways to list on this blog. However, in regards to my upcoming photo tour in the Wind River Range, there is one thing that stands out.

That is, I live in a beautiful mountain town in the Rockies… Crested Butte, Colorado.

This charming town and its surrounding wilderness areas are a photographers paradise. I’ve been here almost 20 years and to be completely honest, I have barely scratched the surface. Life in the outdoors is a daily thing for most out here, myself included. I am lucky to spend on average, 5 days a week Mt. Biking, cross country skiing, or hiking. Point being, I spend a lot of time outdoors, and have had a lot of amazing experiences in the wilderness over the years.

My last Photo Tour in the Wind River Range was by far, one of the best outdoor experiences I have ever had.

Sunrise on Lizard Head Peak,  200 feet from our camp of 3 nights.

The Wind River Range, located in Wyoming is famous for its pristine granite peaks, countless high alpine lakes, and untouched beauty. The ‘Winds” are very remote, often taking a couple days of hiking to get to the famous Cirques. Due to this remoteness, it keeps visitors down to just a few hearty souls.

Soon ill running another trip into this incredible wilderness. Like this last tour, I have hired an outfitter with over 30 years of experience guiding in this area.

Llama Train

This trip is about making new friends, photographing pristine alpine environments, exploring amazing wilderness areas, and reconnecting with nature.

We use llamas to pack all the gear in, meaning you only have to carry a light daypack. The llamas will pack in: tents, sleeping bags, pillows, sleeping pads (comfortable thick ones!) chairs, all photographic gear, all personal gear, and of course food.

As for the food, I’m not talking about freeze dried camp food. We will be enjoying fresh fruit, pork chops, fish, pancakes with fresh blueberries, tasty sandwiches, and steak and shrimp (no joke)…all cooked for us by one of our fantastic guides.

Campfire at Lizard Head Meadows (Photo By: Geoffrey Van Beylen)

We will be camping next to pristine rivers, lakes, and high alpine meadows. Beautiful and dramatic photographic subject matter lies literally feet from your own personal tent. The night sky out here is unbelievably clear, which makes for some amazing star photography.

View of the Cirque of the Towers from Pinto Park. Lizard Head is the large peak just off center to the right. Our camp of 3 nights is at the base of that beautiful monolith.

This trek is an experience, one that I’m sure you will remember for the rest of your life. I’m offering you some concentrated time to explore nature, yourself, and have a camera in hand while doing it. Breathtaking moments help to generate extraordinary photographs, and on this trek, there will no shortage of these.

What is it like hiking with llamas?

“Stough” and a happy hiker (Photo By: Geoffrey Van Beylen)

The fact that llamas allow you to hike with a light day pack is just the beginning. Llamas make great hiking companions, and in fact the relationship goes far beyond them being simply “beasts of burden” transporting your supplies. Llamas are naturally curious and very aware of their surroundings, often the first to spot wildlife along the trail. It’s almost impossible to approach camp without the llamas watching you. They enjoy new sights, love sampling the cuisine du jour and become very much a partner in your adventure.

“Summit” enjoying a day off

Most of the participants on the last adventure led a llama every day we moved camp, and subsequently bonded with ‘their’ llama. All the llamas have names and their own unique personalities.

This trek is a challenging adventure, and I can guarantee that this trek will be one of the most rewarding and memorable trips you will ever go on.

I will send out a newsletter with more information on this upcoming tour

I hope you can join me on this adventure!