Volcanic Landscapes and Abundant Wildflowers

July 29 – August 3, 2024

Ascending 14,410 feet (4,392 m) above sea level, Mt Rainier dominates the Seattle skyline. It’s capped with snow and glaciers year-round and surrounded by majestic old-growth forests, pristine alpine lakes, and rivers.

Mt. Rainier became the fifth National Park in the US in 1899, named after British Rear Admiral Peter Rainier and is known as Tahoma by native tribes. Seattle-area residents simply refer to it as “The Mountain.” Summer is a perfect time to visit and photograph Mt. Rainier. Weather is ideal by the end of July, snow has melted away at lower elevations, and a sea of wildflowers bloom in the meadows, adding to the grandeur of the scenery.

This workshop focuses on the wildflower meadows, grand mountain vistas, and alpine lakes around the Paradise and Sunrise areas of the park. We’ll also plan to visit the old-growth forest of the Grove of the Patriarchs and some lovely waterfalls in the park. Our days will start early for sunrise and end late for sunset. Weather permitting, we’ll also venture out at night to capture the stars and Milky Way over the iconic peak. We’ll hold our famous image reviews, where you’ll learn about composition and post-processing from our two instructors.

Visit two of the Pacific Northwest’s epic national parks by combining this trip with our Olympic National Park workshop.

Muench Workshops is an Authorized Permittee of the National Park Service.

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Location

Washington, USA

money
Tuition

$5,750

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Dates

July 29 – August 3, 2024

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Availability

2 Spots Left
Limited to 8 Guests

Itinerary

This itinerary is subject to change due to weather, local conditions, and other factors.

July 29, 2024: Arrive in Seattle no later than 11:00 AM. We will either pick you up at SeaTac airport or the Holiday Inn Express SeaTac. We will then drive to Mt. Rainier National Park with lunch along the way. After checking in to Paradise Inn, we’ll head out for our first sunset shoot on the trails in Paradise.

July 30, 2024: We’ll wake early for sunrise at Bench Lake, followed by breakfast at the Paradise Inn. During the day, we’ll visit trails and waterfalls around Paradise based on weather conditions. Dinner at Paradise Inn, followed by a sunset shoot at Ricksecker Point.

July 31, 2024: Early sunrise shoot at Reflection Lake, followed by breakfast at the Paradise Inn. We’ll photograph wildflowers around Paradise during the day, have dinner, and photograph the stars at Reflection Lake at night.

August 1, 2024: After a late night, we’ll have a leisurely breakfast at Paradise Inn. We then check out of our hotel and drive to lodging at Crystal Mountain ski resort to be closer to the Sunrise area of the park. Daytime shooting in the old-growth forest at the Grove of the Patriarchs. After dinner, we will photograph the sunset and the Milky Way from one of our favorite spots in the Sunrise area.

August 2, 2024: We’ll wake early for a sunrise shoot at Tipsoo Lake, then return to our hotel for breakfast and an image review. We’ll take a gondola ride at the ski resort for epic views of Mt. Rainier and lunch. In the evening, we’ll do another sunset shoot in the Sunrise area of the park.

August 3, 2024: We’ll wake early again on our last morning for a sunrise and wildflower shoot in Yakima Park. Following sunrise, we’ll have breakfast and check out of our hotel. We’ll drive back to Seattle for flights home anytime after 3:00 PM.

Gallery

Fitness

Moderate: You must be able to do hikes up to two miles on uneven and sometimes steep ground with moderate elevation gain. You must be able to carry your pack while navigating the uneven terrain.

Flights

Arrive Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Seattle, Washington before 11:00 AM on July 29, 2024. Flights out can be made after 3:00 PM on August 3, 2024. Air travel delays are common. Please arrive early, possibly even the day prior, so you don’t miss any of the workshop.

What to Bring

Please see our page How To Prepare For Your Workshop. We will send you a detailed information document 90 days before your workshop. This document will include specifics of where and when to meet, gear and clothing recommendations, and more.

What’s Included

  • Double occupancy lodging. Single available for $1,000 supplement.
  • All meals, soft drinks, and snacks during the workshop.
  • All permits and park fees.
  • All transportation during the workshop.
  • Tips for crew, drivers, and local guides.
  • Photographic guiding and instruction from 2 pros.
  • Image reviews and post-processing instruction.
  • Adventure, fun, inspiration, and a great time!

Not Included

  • Travel to and from Seattle, Washington.
  • Passport and visa fees (if applicable).
  • Any meals or accommodations before or after the workshop dates.
  • Items of a personal nature.
  • Alcoholic Beverages.
  • Medical Evacuation Insurance (required).
  • Travel Medical and Trip Cancellation Insurance (optional, but recommended).
  • Anything else specifically not listed as included.
  • Single rooming available for $1,000 supplement.

Payment Terms

  • Your deposit of $2,750 will hold your space in this workshop.
  • The balance is due not later than April 1, 2024.
  • All of our standard Terms and Conditions apply.
  • Need special payment arrangements? No problem, just ask us.

Testimonials

“Kevin, thank you for a terrific experience in Russia & Siberia. Your soft touch style was perfect for me as I am used to doing my own thing. But, I appreciated how you kept us on course and worked so well with Vladimir. He also did a phenomenal job and I personally enjoyed the mix of landscape, people, and night shooting. Siberian road adventures aside, the trip had a nice balance including a sl ice of Moscow. I enjoyed learning from your photography and travel experiences and the drone lesson too. ”

— Matt Conti, Lake Baikal and Reindeer Herders '20

“Greg Vaughn is a terrific photographer, an outstanding teacher and a superlative guide. Greg always 'knows the territory'. It doesn't matter if he 'wrote the book' for an area, as he did for both Oregon and Washington— by the way his books are easily the best in class— or if he is going to a location for the first time. In either case, you can rest assured that he will be totally prepared in every way. He will know where to go and when to be there. He will have the light figured out. He will have the iconic shot zeroed in and he'll have several variants. I have been on a number of photo trips over the past 6 years. I have done more with Greg than anyone else and he is right in the very top echelon of photography professionals. When I'm with Greg, I always have a great time, I always learn a lot about the craft of getting a great image— and I always come away with images I treasure. He is the quintessential pro. ”

— Steve Wood, Oregon Coast '16

Cyber Monday Sale!

$750 Off Any Workshop

Sign up for any workshop before midnight, November 28, 2023, and we’ll apply your $750 discount to your final balance payment.

Cyber Monday Sale!

$750 Off Any Workshop

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Hours
Minutes
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Sign up for any workshop before midnight, November 28, 2023, and we’ll apply your $750 discount to your final balance payment.