2008 Schedule of Natural History Tours

In addition to conducting wildlife research, Wild Things Unlimited founders and biologists Steve Gehman and Betsy Robinson also lead natural history tours in the American West. These tours include not just wildlife watching, but hiking, and cultural history of the region being explored. Steve and Betsy have a combined 30 years experience leading natural history expeditions in a variety of locations, for groups including the National Parks Conservation Association, Audubon, Predator Conservation Alliance, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, World Wildlife Fund, Smithsonian, and National Wildlife Federation.

The following is a list of the tours which the will be leading in the year 2008. All tours are open to the general public, you need not be a member of the sponsoring organization. If you are interested in further information, please contact us at 406-522-9825, wtu@mcn.net, or OFF THE BEATEN PATH at (800) 445-2995. Or visit their web site at http://www.offthebeatenpath.com/.

Betsy Robinson and Steve Gehman

National Geographic Expeditions: Winter Wildlife in Yellowstone, February 3 - 8. For National Geographic Expeditions. Betsy Robinson & Steve Gehman. Explore Yellowstone during the heart of winter, when life has slowed its pace and pristine snow blankets the landscape. The first two nights we base in the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, and from there we spend a day looking for Yellowstone's newly returned wolves, as well as elk, bison, pronghorn antelope, coyotes, bald eagles and other wildlife. We take a snowcoach to Old Faithful, exploring the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone along the way, and spend two nights at the beautiful Snow Lodge. We have a full day to explore the Upper Geyser Basin, including Old Faithful, with opportunities to cross country ski or snowshoe. A last snowcoach ride will take us to West Yellowstone, and our last night at the 320 Ranch, along the banks of the Gallatin River. This trip begins and ends in Bozeman, MT

Smithsonian Journeys: Winter Wildlife in Yellowstone, February 9 - 15. For Smithsonian Journeys. Betsy Robinson and Nathaniel Dodge. Explore Yellowstone during the heart of winter, when life has slowed its pace and pristine snow blankets the landscape. The first three nights we base in the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, and from there we spend a day looking for Yellowstone's newly returned wolves, as well as elk, bison, pronghorn antelope, coyotes, bald eagles and other wildlife. We take a snowcoach to Old Faithful, exploring the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone along the way, and spend two nights at the beautiful Snow Lodge. We have a full day to explore the Upper Geyser Basin, including Old Faithful, with opportunities to cross country ski or snowshoe. After a snowcoach ride back to Mammoth Hot Springs, we spend out last night at the wonderful Chico Hot Springs Resort. This trip begins and ends in Bozeman, MT. Explore Yellowstone during the heart of winter, when life has slowed it's pace and pristine snow blankets the landscape. The first three nights we base in the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, and from there we spend a day looking for Yellowstone's newly returned wolves, as well as elk, bison, pronghorn antelope, coyotes, bald eagles and other wildlife. We take a snowcoach to Old Faithful, exploring the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone along the way, and spend two nights at the beautiful Snow Lodge. We have a full day to explore the Upper Geyser Basin, including Old Faithful, with opportunities to cross country ski or snowshoe.

NEW! Greater Yellowstone Predators: A Research Expedition, February 28 - March 3. Betsy Robinson, Steve Gehman and Wild Things Unlimited staff Mike Porco and Annie Sisk. With National Wildlife Federation. Join us this winter for a wonderful expedition into the winter wonderland that is the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. After we rendezvous in Bozeman, MT, we depart for Yellowstone where we spend our first night at the Alpine Motel on the Northeast boundary of the park. Early in the morning we head into the park to look for wolves, spending the day looking for wolves, coyotes, bison, elk and Yellowstone's astonishing array of wildlife. In late afternoon we arrive at the B Bar Ranch, located along Yellowstone's northern boundary. This privately owned 9,000 acre paradise will be our home for the next three nights as we work together to record wildlife sightings, tracks and other animal signs as part of an on-going Rare Carnivore Surveys Project. There will be opportunities to snowshoe, cross country ski or walk here at this gracious working ranch. The accommodations are very comfortable and the food is excellent. This is a unique opportunity to participate in wildlife research and immerse yourself in one of the most beautiful and productive wildlife regions in North America.

Wolves, Bears, and Wild Things, June 1 - 6. For Off The Beaten Path. Steve Gehman & Betsy Robinson. Beginning and ending in Bozeman, MT, this trip is the premier wildlife watching experience. The spring is when all the babies are born and life is at its peak in Yellowstone. Most of our viewing is done from places close to the road in very early morning and after dinner. We have the chance to see wolves, grizzly bears, black bears, elk, antelope, bison, and many species of birds including bald eagles. The wildflowers are also making a spectacular showing at this time of year. There will be some hiking opportunities during the late mornings and afternoons when we are not wildlife watching. Acommodations include the Lake Yellowstone Hotel. The Alpine Motel in Cooke City and Chico Hot Springs Lodge.

Exploring Wonderland - A Week-long tour of Yellowstone National Park, August 2 - 8, 2008. With Betsy Robinson & Steve Gehman. This will be a wonderful week, dedicated to exploring all the many wonderful facets of Yellowstone. We will spend one night at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, two nights at the lovely Lake Hotel and two nights at the famous Old Faithful Inn, topping off with a last night at Chico Hot Springs resort. Along the way we will visit famous and not so well-known geothermal features including the Upper Geyser Basin, the Fountain Paint Pots and Midway Geyser, as well as the Mammoth Terraces. This trip coincides with bison rut, so we will spend time watching bull bison courting females in Hayden Valley. Each day we will also offer different levels of walking and hiking as well as sightseeing. This tour begins and ends in Bozeman, MT. Only four spaces left on this tour! (maximum group size is 14.)

Alaska Wildlife Adventure, August 10 - 17 and August 17 - 24. For National Geographic Expeditions. Steve Gehman & Betsy Robinson. This amazing Alaskan adventure begins in Fairbanks, and from there we depart for three nights in the very heart of Denali National Park, truly a special experience. We spend two full days exploring the tundra, looking for wildlife and enjoying the heart of the Alaskan wilderness while staying in the comfort of a full service, charming lodge. From Denali we head south to Anchorage for a night, then fly to Katmai National Park for a day at the world-famous brown bear viewing site at Brooks Falls. This is a place beyond compare, and really beyond describing - you have to see it for yourself. From Katmai we fly back to Anchorage and base out of the Prince Hotel Alyeska in Girdwood for the next two nights, with our final day spend on a full-day cruise on spectacular Prince William Sounds, watching for seals, whales, otters, sea birds and calving glaciers. This trip is truly a sampling of Alaska's very finest. The trip ends with flights out of Anchorage.

National Geographic Expeditions: Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, August 31 - September 6. For National Geographic Expeditions. Betsy Robinson & Steve Gehman. This tour encompasses the highlights of these two wonderful parks, the anchors of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and home to more wonders than just about anywhere else. We will visit the Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Old Faithful and a host of other geothermal features in Yellowstone, in addition to looking for the park's famous wildlife. In Jackson Hole, we will marvel at the stunning, cathedral-like Teton Mountains, and explore this breathtaking area by boat and on foot, all while enjoying wonderful accommodations and great food. Fall is the perfect time of year to visit, the crowds are diminished, the elk herds are preparing for the rut, and the days are long and golden.

Smithsonian Journeys: Bryce, Zion and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, September 23 - 30. Betsy Robinson, for Smithsonian Journeys. This is a wonderful exploration of the stunning Southwest. Our arrival and departure point is Las Vegas, so the contrast when we leave the bright lights behind and head into the red rock wilderness is even more striking. We spend two nights on the Grand Canyon's remote and beautiful North Rim, hiking and exploring different views of this magnificent chasm. From there we travel to the lovely and intimate Bryce Canyon National Park, spending the night on the rim of the amphitheater in the national park lodge. Our last stop is Zion National Park, one of the national park systems treasures. We stay in Springdale, Utah, a lively little town with outstanding cuisine, and spend our days exploring the canyons and wonders of Zion. Graduated levels of activities will be offered, so you need not be a strong hiker to enjoy this trip, which is a feast for the eyes!

New Year's in Yellowstone, December 28, 2008 - January 3, 2009. For National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA). Steve & Betsy. Beginning and ending in Bozeman, we spend a week exploring Yellowstone during a time of year when the animals outnumber the people and are the first to see Old Faithful erupt in 2009! Search for wolves in Lamar Valley, travel by snowcoach into the heart of this wilderness, and spend our last night at Chico Hot Springs Resort. Pure magic!