Muench Workshop: Extreme Sierras, August 2008

[Andy]

Muench Workshop: Extreme Sierras - August 2008

Trek deep into the backcountry, for a 6 day workshop in the High Sierras, August 24-30, 2008. This workshop features a very special guest, David Muench! All the information is here. Fire your questions at Marc Muench, or me, right here Hope you can make it!

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And the photos:

- Marc's Sierras Thread
- Ian's catch
- Sarah's adventures, 2
- CatOne's Extreme Sierras
- SteveF's Sierra shots

[CatOne]

I'm in!

[Marc Muench]

Originally Posted by CatOne

I'm in!

Glad to se you can make this one Nothing better than morning coffee at ten thousand feet And the hike in is only 5 miles so we'll have plenty of time to shoot on the way.

[kitvan]

I have a noob question:

I would love to attend this dGrin workshop, but cannot afford the all-inclusive fee. I am, though, and avid hiker and backpacker and reside in California.

My question is:
Do you allow individual participants to transport themselves to the workshop location, find independent lodging (i.e. camp) , and to meet up with the group to participate in the activities?

Christian Vandervort

[ehughes]

This one looks fun.....

[CatOne]

Originally Posted by kitvan

I have a noob question:

I would love to attend this dGrin workshop, but cannot afford the all-inclusive fee. I am, though, and avid hiker and backpacker and reside in California.

My question is:
Do you allow individual participants to transport themselves to the workshop location, find independent lodging (i.e. camp) , and to meet up with the group to participate in the activities?

Christian Vandervort

Pro photographers have to eat, and leading these workshops (and paying for the guides to haul all their stuff) is a way they make a living. Given the workshop is limited to 10 people, and there are 3 photographers and guides, it's not going to be a $10 trip.

I doubt the people who are paying would be overly fond of having someone who's not paying popping in.

Note this isn't the same as the other DGrin workshops (a la Yosemite, Bryce/Zion, Glacier, and Arches). This is a smaller, more interactive workshop.

[kitvan]

Originally Posted by CatOne

Given the workshop is limited to 10 people, and there are 3 photographers and guides, it's not going to be a $10 trip...

Note this isn't the same as the other DGrin workshops (a la Yosemite, Bryce/Zion, Glacier, and Arches). This is a smaller, more interactive workshop.

Ahhhhh. I see. I didn't realize it was such a limited function- yeah I wouldn't be too thrilled either if I was a paying member and someone hiked up and dove in.

Thanks for the heads up Cat

[DavidTO]

Originally Posted by kitvan

Ahhhhh. I see. I didn't realize it was such a limited function- yeah I wouldn't be too thrilled either if I was a paying member and someone hiked up and dove in.

Thanks for the heads up Cat

Commercial use permits for this area are very restrictive. The guide only has a limited allocation of person-days per year. Part of what you're buying in your fee for this workshop is the privilege of using a chunk of that time. IOW, his annual income is based in large part by the limited number of people he can take into this area in a given year. It's the economics of supply and demand.

All this means that the answer is not a simple no, but a no-way-nuh-uh.

[CatOne]

Originally Posted by DavidTO

All this means that the answer is not a simple no, but a no-way-nuh-uh.

[Marc Muench]

Originally Posted by kitvan

My question is:
Do you allow individual participants to transport themselves to the workshop location, find independent lodging (i.e. camp) , and to meet up with the group to participate in the activities?

Christian Vandervort

Christian,
The process of backpacking for most is very time consuming, in fact as I've seen over the years besides photographers, fishermen and climbers, most spend their time fiddling with all the crap they purchased in the outfitters store Our goal on this trip is to spend our precious time on photography and Bishop Pack Outfitters will allow us such a luxury. I understand and respect your question, but just cant accommodate your wish. With viewers and the large displays on the backs of cameras we will have much to critique around t he camp fire. I believe it is this time of instant feedback from the entire group that becomes most valuable.

[kitvan]

No problemo, I completely understand. Hopefully I'll be able to attend a dGrin workshop in the future and meet some of you nice folks.

Have a great time everyone! I'm sure it will be beautiful!

btw Marc, I believe my father, Don Vandervort worked with David on home improvement projects with Sunset Books/Mag decades ago. Just thought I'd mention it after as his ears perked up when he heard your last name.

[DavidTO]

UPDATE:

4 slots have been sold for this workshop, leaving 6 still available.

[Marc Muench]

I just made one of my favorite drives of all time, HWY 395 along the Eastside of the Sierra Nevada Mountains through the lovely towns of Lone Pine, Big Pine and Independence. This is one of the best snow packs the Sierra's have had in years, which means that by August the wildflowers and waterfalls will be exceptional



From left to right, Mt Langley elev (14,026 ft) Mt Whitney (14,505 ft) Lone Pine Peak (12,944 ft)

[CatOne]

Originally Posted by Marc Muench

From left to right, Mt Langley elev (14,026 ft) Mt Whitney (14,505 ft) Lone Pine Peak (12,944 ft)

Awesome!

Are we gonna see this guy's oldest brother?



Last time I was there the road was pretty snowy so we couldn't go up to the upper grove with our 2WD car. I know your dad knows where the oldest one is, and I figure he's shared that knowledge with you as well

[Andy]

Originally Posted by Marc Muench

I just made one of my favorite drives of all time, HWY 395 along the Eastside of the Sierra Nevada Mountains through the lovely towns of Lone Pine, Big Pine and Independence. This is one of the best snow packs the Sierra's have had in years, which means that by August the wildflowers and waterfalls will be exceptional



From left to right, Mt Langley elev (14,026 ft) Mt Whitney (14,505 ft) Lone Pine Peak (12,944 ft)

w00p

I'm so ready.

[thebigsky]

Well this looks fantastic, can I ask what sort of average temperatures you would expect for this trip?

Charlie

[DavidTO]

Originally Posted by thebigsky

Well this looks fantastic, can I ask what sort of average temperatures you would expect for this trip?

Charlie

Marc may have better feedback, since he has experience up there, but this should help.

[Marc Muench]

Originally Posted by thebigsky

Well this looks fantastic, can I ask what sort of average temperatures you would expect for this trip?

Charlie

Because the lake where we stay is over 9 thousand feet in elevation the days range from 60 to 80 F with the nights dipping into the low 40s and upper 30s If sunny, shorts for the day but pants and thick jacket at night!

[thebigsky]

OK, thanks guys.

Charlie

[PHOTOempt]

Hey Charlie,
Are you going to Sierras? That's great, except I'm going to be so depressed seeing how fabulous your images are. Love the ones I've seen you post from Mull. I'm so enjoying all the photos people are posting. I got back from London last night - wow, a real change from the sublime beauty of Scotland to the noise and grime of London. You were right about tripods and police there - I now have a police record under the Terrorism Act for pointing a loaded camera at the iconic Georgian buildings of Bedford Square. Apparently Bloomsbury is under greater threat than Westminster, Big Ben etc, as I was left there to shoot happily, undisturbed. The world has gone mad, and Mull was a blessed relief. I think the Sierras will be another piece of heaven, too. Now I have a few images to sort through...see you in the mountains I hope - Sarah