9 Spaces Available See Trip Report 2024
Location: Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska
Dates: March 5-12, 2026 Cost: 2025 rates were $6975 double occupancy, single supplement $1100 Expect a modest increase for 2026.
Details: The Iditarod Sled Dog Race is called the “Last Great Race” in Alaska. Tom and Cree spent 10 years photographing and volunteering at the race when they lived in Alaska. Now they want to share that experience with you. On this workshop you will attend and photograph the Iditarod Musher Gala, the Ceremonial Iditarod start in downtown Anchorage, the Iditarod Restart in Willow, Alaska. We will fly in a small plane to the Iditarod checkpoint of Rainy Pass to photograph sled teams along the route.
For the second part of the workshop we will 4 different sites to try and photograph the Northern Lights. We will travel to Talkeetna, and two locations in Fairbanks. While in Fairbanks we will photograph colorful ice sculptures at the International Ice Carving Championships.
What you will learn:
- How to create a picture story of the Iditarod
- How to photograph sled dogs in motion
- Editorial photograph at a large event
- Portraits of mushers and sled dogs
- How to photograph and edit images of the Northern Lights
Lodging:
Our group will be staying in several hotels including Copper Whale Inn in downtown Anchorage, Springhill Suites in downtown Fairbanks, and the Talkeetna Alaska Lodge in Talkeetna
Closest Airport: Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport ANC to arrive and fly out of Fairbanks International Airport
We will meet for the first time in Anchorage at 3:30 pm in the Copper Whale Inn on March 5. The workshop ends on March 12 in Fairbanks. This gives you plenty of time to fly to Anchorage and then on to the lower 48 the same day.
Recommended camera gear:
- 1-2 camera bodies (back up body recommended)
- Lenses ranging from wide angle 24mm to 70-200mm
- Wildlife telephoto lens – 300mm or more (200-500mm or similar works great)
- Tripod
- Polarizing filter
- Laptop for editing and critique
- Photo Backpack (with extra room)
Included in the fee:
- Lodging for all nights of the workshop
- Most breakfasts and dinners during the workshop
- Transportation during the workshop
- Musher’s Gala dinner in Anchorage on March 5
- Airplane service to and from Rainy Pass from Anchorage
- 3 nights of aurora viewing if weather coorperates
- Entrance to the International Ice Carving Championships
Participants will provide their own:
- Hotel accommodation in Anchorage if spending the night before the workshop
- Some meals including most lunches and all alcoholic drinks
- Transportation to Anchorage, Alaska and departure from Fairbanks, AK
- Gratuity for guides and driver
Alaska Weather: Occasionally the weather in Alaska will cause travel delays. This time can be used for editing images or photographing the area. This is a regular part of photographing in Alaska and may result in rescheduling flights or hotel stays at the participants’ expense. If the flight to Rainy Pass is canceled due to weather, we may reroute the flight or refund participants for that portion of the fee.
Know Before You Go: Rated Moderate. This trip involves walking from 1-3 miles per day in snowy icy conditions and extreme cold. A wildlife lens and cold weather attire will be needed.
Deposit for Northern Lights & Iditarod 2026
March 5-12, 2026
$1,000.00
