Dear Participants, Welcome and greetings from Jackson Hole, Wyoming! We re excited that you will be joining Wildlife Expeditions of Teton Science Schools for a trip into Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. We look forward to your visit and to working with you to provide an extraordinary learning experience in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Enclosed is a packet of information that will assist you in preparing for your expedition. For more information, do not hesitate to reach out to Chrissy Wolf, your multi-day trip coordinator. Kind Regards, Patrick Leary Wildlife Expeditions Program Director (307) 733-2623 info@wildlifeexpeditions.org 1
Contact Information Prior to your departure, should you have issues or questions regarding travel or the itinerary, feel free to call our office at the number listed below. Or call our Office Administrator and Multi-Day Trip Planner, Chrissy Wolf. Wildlife Expeditions M-F 9 am - 5 pm Mountain Standard Time Tel: 307-733-2623 Toll- Free: 877-404-6626 Fax: 307-733-7560 Chissy Wolf Office: 307-734-3745 (M-F 9AM -5PM MST) Jackson Hole Resources Jackson Hole Wyoming Chamber of Commerce 112 Center St. P.O. Box 550 Tel: (307)-733-3316 Email: info@jacksonholechamber.com Website: www.jacksonholechamber.com Hotels GranTree Inn 1325 North 7th Avenue Bozeman, MT 59715 Tel: (406) 587-5261 Toll-free: (800) 624-5865 The Alpine Motel 105 Main Street Cooke City, MT 59020 Tel: (406) 838-2262 Old Faithful Snow Lodge 1000 Old Faithful Rd. Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190 Tel: (307) 344-7311 Lexington at Jackson Hole 285 N. Cache Street Jackson, Wyoming 83001-1712 Tel: (307) 733-2648 2
Getting to Jackson Hole, WY & Departing Bozeman, MT You should plan to arrive in Jackson Hole on or before Day 1. You will be free to depart the final day of your itinerary. ARRIVALS Jackson For those travelers arriving on or prior to Day 1 of the itinerary and staying at the Lexington, you will need to make your own transportation arrangements to the hotel. Complimentary shuttle service is offered from the Jackson Airport to the hotel between the hours of 7 am and 9 pm. Please call the hotel upon your arrival at the airport for pick-up at 307-733-2648 (please call before you collect your baggage). In addition, passengers arriving between the hours of 6:30 and 8:30 pm may have to wait up to one hour for shuttle service. For guests arriving on Day 1, we suggest you schedule your flight into Jackson anytime between 7 am and 4 pm. If you arrive between 9 am and 4 pm your guide will pick you up from the airport in a Wildlife Expeditions vehicle. DEPARTURES On the final day of the expedition, all travelers will be responsible for getting themselves to the airport for their outbound flight. Your Expedition Leader, or the hotel staff, can help you request a taxi or shuttle. Bozeman For departures, The Grantree Inn offers a 24-hour complimentary hotel shuttle to the airport. GranTree Inn 1325 North 7th Avenue Bozeman, MT 59715 Tel: (406) 587-5261 What to Pack During your expedition, you will have a limited amount of space available in our vehicles and snowcoaches for luggage. For this reason, each guest is limited to ONE piece of luggage, in addition to one daypack or small carry on (example: small backpack, purse or camera bag). Smaller soft-sided luggage is preferred and recommended. Below is a list of general considerations for packing and a packing list. 3
General considerations for packing Soft-sided luggage that is easy to stow throughout your expedition and to carry in our vehicles from place to place. Water-resistant or waterproof bags are not required, but luggage could be briefly exposed to rain or snow over the course of your expedition. Please pack weather appropriate, casual clothing. Leave expensive jewelry or clothing at home. Winter temperatures can be extreme within Yellowstone National Park. 0 F during the day is normal for a Yellowstone winter. Please be properly prepared for these temperatures with the appropriate clothing. Check the current weather so you can be prepared for any unpredictable weather events Weather changes are common in Yellowstone National Park; unpredictability characterizes Yellowstone weather. We recommend that you follow the packing list guidelines and bring extremely warm layers of clothing Wildlife Expeditions does offer winter parkas or boots if you would like to request them. If you wish to use them, please send your size to Wildlife Expeditions. You will still need to bring all other warm clothing and layers. If you have your own gear, we highly recommend bringing it as your own gear will fit more comfortably than borrowed gear. It is encouraged that you bring warm layers with you every day during the expedition, packed in your day-pack. Gloves and Socks: Glove liners like thin polypropylene gloves can be worn underneath warm, heavy mittens or ski gloves. While wearing glove liners, you can still take off the heavy mitten to use your camera and remain protected from the cold. Packing an extra pair of mittens is always a great idea. Please bring several pairs of wool socks and sock liners. Please pack a very warm hat Wool, silk, and synthetic fabrics are superior to cotton. In potentially wet weather, we recommend polyester fill down to goose down. Sunglasses, Sunscreen, and lip balm with SPF is important to use daily while on your expedition to protect your skin and eyes from the glare of the sun on snow. High-powered Maven binoculars (Maven B.3 0830) will be provided for each traveler during the adventure along with 2-3 spotting scopes in a vehicle. Gear/Clothing Warm winter coat or parka (with a hood) - can be borrowed from WE Waterproof or snow resistant pants (like ski pants) Warm, waterproof winter boots Warm wool or other warm hat, neck gaiter, or scarf and heavy ski gloves or lined mittens (VERY IMPORTANT) Warm socks No cotton socks Small daypack Hand/foot warmers Silk or polypropylene thermal underwear (bottoms and top) Silk or polypropylene liners for hands and feet Warm sweater, fleece and or sweatshirt Warm, comfortable pants (ski pants & fleece pants to layer are recommended) Sleepwear & undergarments Extra pair of comfortable shoes Optional Equipment Water bottle 4
We will provide you with a Wildlife Expeditions reusable water bottle upon arrival. Sunglasses (polarized sunglasses and secure strap like Croakies) Headlamp Toiletries Prescription medications & remedies for aches and pains For headaches, colds, upset stomachs, etc. Sunscreen & lip balm (with SPF) Hand sanitizer Prescription glasses/contact lenses Gripping device for shoes (such as Yaktrax) Inclusions & Exclusions Included in the Cost of Your Adventure All accommodations described in your itinerary All land transportation as described in the itinerary (including private snowcoaches) All meals from the dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on the final day Non-alcoholic beverages at meals Purified drinking water Use of parkas and boots during the adventure (if you choose) Hand warmers (limited supply) Services of Wildlife Expeditions guides Baggage porterage Services of Snowcoach drivers All permits and park fees All taxes and service charges Gratuities for your snowcoach drivers. Free Airport Hotel Shuttle upon arrival and departure Not Included in the Cost of your Adventure Round-trip transportation between your home city and the arrival and departure cities Airport transfer upon arrival see details under Ground Transfers regarding a free airport shuttle Alcoholic beverages the consumption of alcoholic beverages is not permitted while in any vehicles during the adventure Gratuities for Expedition guides Physical Considerations: What to Expect Traveling through Yellowstone in the winter months includes traversing snowy, icy, and wet conditions, and the temperatures can be extremely cold. Participants should be able to walk short distances on uneven terrain. In addition, high elevation, allergies, dehydration, outdoor temperatures and extreme weather conditions can affect your physical performance. Please contact our office if you have any concerns. If you would like to consult with your physician, we will gladly provide you with any needed information. 5
All expedition activities are completely optional and travelers should only participate in those activities in which they feel comfortable. If you do not wish to participate in any activities, please inform your Expedition guide. Elevation Travelers should be aware that activities in the park occur at altitudes between 6,500 and 8,391 feet. Proper hydration is essential, particularly at higher altitudes. If you begin feeling mild negatives effects of the elevation, the treatment is rest and drinking fluids. Please advise your Expedition guide if you feel any symptoms of altitude sickness immediately. Guide Team Wildlife Expeditions of Teton Science Schools has a well-earned reputation of leading exceptional safari tours and locating wild animals in the wilderness in and around Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. As Jackson Hole, Wyoming's original and oldest safari provider, we offer educational tours year-round in a stunning natural environment that are fun for the entire family. Our nature guides know where to look for elk, moose, bison/buffalo, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, mule deer, wolves, grizzlies, black bears, hawks, eagles, ospreys and other wild animals. Gratuities for Expedition Guides Your multi-day expedition cost does not include the gratuity for your Wildlife Expeditions guide(s). Our guides lead expeditions in our wild spaces because they have a passion for educating people about the wonders of this natural world. Our team of guides always value and appreciate gratuities, as they take pride in making your experience unforgettable. Gratuities are entirely at your discretion and should reflect your level of satisfaction with the expeditional services rendered. Accommodations Our lodging for this adventure is selected based on comfort and access to wildlife viewing areas. Because of their remote locations, the accommodations we use are best described as rustic western. They are clean, warm, safe, and secure. Please note: all hotels are smoke-free. In addition, smoking is not permitted in Wildlife Expeditions vehicles or at Wildlife Expeditions meals. Meals You will enjoy delicious, healthy meals over the course of your expedition. Our guide staff and the restaurants that we frequent are happy to accommodate special dietary needs within their power, provided they are made aware of them before you arrive. Be sure to communicate with group leader in person about any food allergies or dietary restrictions at the start of your expedition. Vehicles We use two kinds of vehicle on this adventure--vans and snowcoaches. All of our vehicles are comfortable and have safari-style modifications. During the winter, the interior of Yellowstone National Park is accessible only by snowcoach, so during our time south of Mammoth Hot Springs and north of Flagg Ranch, we re in snowcoaches. Vans These are 15 passenger vans that are ideal for wildlife-viewing. There is a driver s seat and a passenger seat next to the driver. There are individual seats behind these, each with a headrest and its own seatbelt, 6
instead of the typical bench seats. Each row has 3 seats, so there are a total of 11 seats (including the front passenger seat and excluding the driver s seat). Snowcoaches Snowcoaches are specifically designed over-snow vehicles built for the purpose of transporting guests into Yellowstone National Park during the winter season. Our fleet of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Snowcoaches are equipped with rubberized Mattracks which provide extraordinary traction on Yellowstone s over snow routes. Internet Availability & Cell Phones Complimentary internet access will be available at your accommodations in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Cooke City and Bozeman, Montana Please note that there is no cell phone service in some areas of Yellowstone National Park (depending on your provider). There is no cell service in Cooke City, Montana. Other Programs at Teton Science Schools Summer Science Adventures School may be out for summer, but not at Teton Science Schools! We offer a variety of programs for students aged K-12 throughout the summer. These include: Nature Day Camp for K-9 students Backcountry Groups to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks for middle school students Intensive month-long courses in field ecology for high school students Visit our website for a full list of Summer Science Adventures. Conferences & Special Events The Jackson Campus offers flexible meeting, dining and lodging space for intimate groups or large conferences up to 300 people. The setting is ideal for community events, professional retreats and workshops, conferences, board meetings, family reunions and weddings. Follow us on Instagram (@wildlifeexpeditions and @tetonscience), follow us on Facebook (Teton Science Schools), and visit our website for more information: www.tetonscience.org. 7