2021 Backcountry Journeys Tours We’re Most Excited For: Part II

And now ‘Part II’ of an at least two-part series, of our 2021 Backcountry Journeys photo tours that we are most excited for! If you missed ‘Part I’ yesterday, click here to catch up (don’t forget to come back).

Again, these are in no particular order. 

Bald Eagles of Alaska
Our 2020 Bald Eagles of Alaska photography tour, unfortunately, fell victim to the COVID-19 quarantine, and thus did not run as planned. For this reason, and the fact that it’s just really awesome fun, we look forward to the 2021 version of this always popular wildlife photography tour. With a population estimated at 30,000 – Alaska boasts more bald eagles than any other location on the planet.

Backcountry Journeys boat-based photo safari takes place in Kachemak Bay, which is home to thousands of Bald eagles during the spring, offering one of the best opportunities in the world to get amazing and close-up photographs of the symbol of our nation.

Join us March 30th to April 3rd, 2021.

Yellowstone in Winter
As winter sets in over the vast landscape of Yellowstone National Park, nights become shorter, the air colder, and the world’s first National Park becomes a place of real inspiration for photographers. The landscape is a quiet tapestry of white, covered in blankets of deep powdery snow with its forests of lodgepole pine decorated in icy patterns of rime frost.

Yellowstone’s winter solitude is, however, very alive with wildlife as fox leap through the powder for hidden rodents, massive Elk wanders the winter wilds, and Bison keep watch. This wildlife tour always provides excitement and wonderful images for those who brave the cold, northern Wyoming winter.

The Photographic opportunities on this trip are unparalleled as we utilize a private snow coach in order to travel deep into the park’s interior where others aren’t able to go during winter. We’ll photograph iconic spots such as Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon, Hayden Valley and the Upper Geyser Basin, which alone contains nearly one-quarter of the world’s geysers. You’ll have the opportunity to photograph a misty Old Faithful (without the crowds) and Grand Prismatic, one of the most picturesque and powerful thermal features in the park. There is something about this place, at this time of year, that calls to our inner wildness. Will you answer the call of the wild?

Join us February 6th to 12th, or February 14th to 20th, 2021.

Big Island of Hawaii
Another Hawaii trip making this list? Yep. Its kinda sorta still cold in a lot of places. We’re all isolated. Hawaii makes the list twice, anyone want to argue about it? We didn’t think so. Hawaii’s Big Island is one of the most photographically interesting and strangely beautiful locations on Earth. Situated across the Pacific Ocean in the most remote and isolated archipelago in the world, this young volcanic island teems with life and beckons to be explored. The micro-climates here, as well as the sheer volume of rare flora and fauna species, are staggering – it’s hard to put down the camera!

Waterfalls, coastlines, volcanos, and even Humpback whales are ALL a part of this exciting itinerary. And, what’s even better for 2021 is that you can now pair our Big Island of Hawaii tour with Kauai: The Garden Isle so as to maximize your time in Hawaii.

Join us January 20th to 26th, 2021 (and in Kauai January 12th to 18th, 2021)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kenton Krueger grew up and spent the first 33 years of his life in the corn country of Omaha, Nebraska. After studying aviation at the University of Nebraska Omaha’s Aviation Institute, he “conned” his way into the newsroom at the award-winning Omaha World-Herald where for 3+ years he wrote and photographed news articles on a variety of topics such as community events, travel and even mixed martial arts for the sports department. Yet something was missing. While on backpacking trips to Grand Teton and Grand Canyon National Parks in the mid-2000’s he was quick to realize that the wildlands of the western United States stoked a fire in his heart as nothing else could. This realization led to relocation to Flagstaff, Arizona, and he hasn’t looked back. He has spent the past several years guiding backpackers, hikers and photographers into the wild places of the American West such as Havasu Falls, Grand Canyon, and Yellowstone National Parks as well as in the Grand Staircase Escalante in southern Utah. In addition to backpacking and camping, his adventures include rock climbing, exploring the slot canyons of southern Utah, mountain biking, and bagging 14ers in Colorado’s San Juan Mountain Mountain Range. Kenton is a trail runner, former pilot, newspaper photographer, and writer. Kenton looks forward to utilizing his years of guiding experience, combined with his passion and experience behind the lens to provide memorable and unforgettable experiences at the wild places we will visit together.