Essential equipment for Yellowstone?

[CaraRose]

Okay, so my trip isn't until June, but I'm making lists of equipment, both photography related and non-photography related, that I'll need/want for Yellowstone.

So what's your recommendations?

[Sushigaijin]

water. water. snacks. water.


Even if you don't get the shot, it'll be a great trip.

So much time watching life through a viewfinder, and so little time actually living it. It's the curse of the photographer.

[emiles]

I agree with sushiaijin. Water is extremely important, even though it may not get to be extremely hot you need to stay hydrated. If you don't feel like carrying around lots of bottled water, get a hydration pack. Camelbak makes some good ones, ( this hold 100 oz.) It may be a lot, but once you get going you suck right through it.

Also, depending on your schedule and how much you are going to be doing, bring gatorade (or powerade is you prefer). Walmart carries the powdered kind in containers that you just pour into water and stir. Bad things happen when your body doesn't get the electrolytes it needs. You pass out, like I did a few years ago, not a pleasant experience.

Can't really help with the photography side cause I'm still learning, but you learn a lot about hydration when you live in Texas

[frog4gators]

Bring your long lens of course... things will be so close though you probably won't need it.

Resist the urge to jump on a buffalo's back as it brushes by your car.

Hayden and Lamar Valleys are a must!

Take some extra layers... I got snowed on in July one trip.

Are you doing any hiking? I've got some hikes for you if you are.

[danpics]

One helpful item i've got is a small tripod that will also adapt for a quick window mount. they use them quite a bit for spotting scopes.

[mjs1973]

If I remember correctly from your original post about this trip, you are going to be staying in cabins, and doing day excursions from there? So we are talking day hikes, no overnight hiking/camping, correct? Either way I think you may find that a good pair of binoculars will come in handy for spotting wildlife. A good map of the park and a good guild book to help point you in the right direction are also a must.

Rain gear, as well as hot and cold weather gear because you never really know what the weather is going to do.

As far as camera gear goes, I would say extra memory cards. If you're taking a laptop with you, I would suggest a portable hard drive to back everything up with. I have a 250GB Western Digital Passport that I take with me. It's very small and runs off of the USB cord so no need plug it into a wall outlet.

Some type of beanbag may come in pretty handy if you want to shoot our of the car window. I will often keep two of them in my truck. I set one on the door or window, set my lens on that, and then set the other beanbag on top of my lens. It works great and you can make your own, if you know how to sew. Take them empty though, and buy a bag of beans or rice once you get there.

Don't forget a good blower to help keep the dust off of your sensor, and your lenses.

[Loupey]

I can't help you - I've never been there.

But I'm curious what you end up taking. Landscapes, birds, mammals, flowers, macros - that place must be a photographers' (and nature lovers in general) paradise. I can easily see myself taking too much gear

please keep us posted with your results and recommendations when you return.

[CaraRose]

Thanks everyone...

Mike... yep, I'm in cabins. 2 nights in Old Faithful, 2 nights in Mammoth, 1 night in Canyon and 1 night at Lake, then 2 nights in Grand Teton.

I think any hikes I take will be short ones, hiking alone in bear country scares me a bit.

I'm trying to figure out gear for weather. I have a rain suit (pants and jacket), and was thinking I'd pack some sweatshirts and polar fleece to layer in rather than pack a coat.

I'm not sure about food... I'm thinking either getting a collapsible soft cooler that can be smushed into a suitcase or buying a cheap Styrofoam one there if they sell them and stocking up on drinks and snacks. I won't have any cooking gear though :\

Hoping to get by with 2 checked suitcases and carry ons... not sure if that's feasible or not!

[mjs1973]

As far as layers go, I finally got it kind of figured out this winter. If you think you may have to deal with cold, stay away from cotton. I bought a base layer of Under Armour this winter and I love it. It doesn't really keep me warm, but once I start sweating, it keeps the moister away from me and dries fast which helps to keep me from getting cold. I wear a layer of fleece long johns over that and then some comfortable pants and jacket. This may be a bit too much to wear in June, but you never know what the weather is going to be line in Yellowstone. The fleece doesn't do much to stop the wind so a an outer shell for wind protection will do a lot to keep you warm if the temps drop.

I really like wool socks for hiking too.

Don't forget rain gear for your camera! Op/Tech makes a very inexpensive rain sleeve for SLR's that you may want to check out. I have a couple and they seem to work, but make operating the camera a little bit of a challenge.

I generally try to keep my food pretty basic. A loaf of bread, some lunch meat and cheese for making sandwiches, granola bars and trail mix. Eating cold food gets old after a while and you are going to want a hot meal. I would suggest picking up a small camp stove and a pot to heat up water. It doesn't have to be anything fancy or expensive but having a hot meal at the end of the day is always a welcome treat.

Something as simple as heating up a can of chili can really warm you up on a cool evening. Don't forget a can opener! I learned that one the hard way. Even a warm hot dog is a nice change of pace from cold sandwiches.

Mountain House makes some decent freeze dried meals that are great for camping, but you need to be able to boil water.

If you like Bar-B-Que, check out Bubba's Bar-B-Que Restaurant - Located at 515 West Broadway in Jackson while you're in the Tetons.

[jaimej26]

I spend a weekend in the park every month (until summer - too many people).

If you have any specific questions, send me a PM - I'll try to answer them!