2009 Schedule of Natural History Tours
Yellowstone in Winter
January 18 - 23
Those of you who have seen Yellowstone in winter understand what an incredible experience it is. The crowds are gone as a blanket of white covers the land and wildlife is everywhere. Seeing Old Faithful in the winter is like going back in time, except that we stay in a beautiful lodge with heat and indoor plumbing! This tour is with National Geographic Expeditions, through Off The Beaten Path.
Greater Yellowstone Predators Research Expedition!
February 26 - March 2
This is possibly the most special tour we will do this year. In conjunction with the National Wildlife Federation we are offering a chance for folks to join us in the field for several days, tracking wildlife in the Gallatin Mountains of Montana. You don't need to be a great athlete for this one, the pace is mellow and we take breaks for a hot lunch every day. We spend our first day in Yellowstone's Lamar Valley looking for wolves and other wildlife, then travel north of the park to the amazing Tom Miner Basin to stay at the B Bar Ranch, in a setting that words can't begin to accurately describe. For two days we will look for wildlife in the early mornings and evenings, then snowshoe or cross country ski during the day to check our remote cameras and look for wildlife tracks and other sign. This trip is pure magic - come join us! Offered through Off The Beaten Path.
Springtime in the High Sierra - National Parks Conservation Association.
April 19 - 24
Come with us to visit Sequoia and King's Canyon National Parks as they are shedding their winter coats and beginning to welcome spring. The magnificent Sierra Nevadas will still be covered with snow and the great sequoia groves standing steadfast in their thousand year old glory. We will walk, try snow shoes, and explore this beautiful area, staying in the lovely Wuksachi Lodge at night. Through Off The Beaten Path.
Wolves, Bears and Wild Things
May 31 - June 5
Can you think of a more appropriate title?? Even our friends from Alaska admit that the only place with more wildlife than Yellowstone in the spring is Africa. Yellowstone is much easier to get to, and spring is unbelievable in its abundance. We can expect to see wolves, grizzly bears, black bears, bighorn sheep, elk, bison, pronghorn antelope, bald eagles, golden eagles, sandhill cranes, osprey, peregrine falcons, possibly moose, and who knows what else? The wildflowers are out in profusion and all of the park is bursting with life. Come see for yourself! Through Off The Beaten Path.
Hummingbirds and Mountains of Southern Arizona
June 23 - 28
This is a tour we put together by special request. Our five days will be spent south of Tucson, in the Arizona highlands where it is considerably cooler than in Tucson or Phoenix. In this region, numerous bird species from Mexico come to nest in the southern most sliver of the US, and we will visit the top birding spots including Madera Canyon, Ramsey Canyon, Patagonia and the San Pedro River. We will be staying in lovely lodges, a working ranch, and a lovely B & B, and this trip will be a lot of fun. Exclusive offering by Wild Things Unlimited.
National Geographic Expeditions: Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks
August 2 - 8; August 23 - 29; September 6 - 12
Join us as we explore two the crown jewels of our national park system. These two parks are linked by much more than geography, they are the mainstay of an amazing ecosystem unlike any other. From geysers and bubbling muds pots to towering mountains, from the least chipmunk to the American bison, these two parks are not to be missed. And if you have already been here - come visit again because it's always different and exciting! Through Off The Beaten Path.
Contact Information
Off The Beaten Path: 1-800-445-2995
Wild Things Unlimited: 1-406-522-9825;
wtu@mcn.net
