5-night Dogsled Vacation

Photo Adventure

Photo Adventure with Smithsonian/Time-Life photographer Layne Kennedy.

This great trip has a dogsledding itinerary similar to our 4-night trips and includes an extra 5th day of van travel to area sites of scenic & historic interest for photoshoots. Woven through it is a running clinic on outdoor photography facilitated by Layne Kennedy of Superior/Gunflint Photography Workshops. Layne is one of the best in his business (and you'll love his infectious humor!). His work regularly appears in Smithsonian, LIFE, Outside, and National Geographic publications. (He photographed our Greenland trek for a Smithsonian Magazine cover story.)

This trip has been a perennial favorite at Wintergreen for guests and staff alike for many years and was featured on CBS. Visit Layne's website (workshop page) and enjoy the great pics that have resulted from these trips at www.laynekennedy.com

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Clothing Options

Whether you're a professional photographer or a point-and-shoot beginner, you'll come away from this trip with outstanding photos of your dogsledding experience and a host of new photographic skills. The evenings are filled with fun presentations by Layne on such topics as the history of photography, tips for getting your images published and how to use the latest photo technology tools. You'll especially enjoy the photo fest on the final evening. We'll provide computers on which you can organize your favorite digital images from the week to share over popcorn with the group as a "slide show" a chance to reminisce about the week and gain some helpful critique from Layne.

Trip Highlights

Enjoy "mushing" a team of our friendly Eskimo dogs on a variety of beautiful trails
3 days of guided dogsledding plus a day of visits to area scenic & historic sites for photo ops
Photo shoots while sledding and skill clinics at the lodge offered each day by Layne Kennedy
Lodging involves nights at either or both Wintergreen and Timber Trail Lodges
Private single or double bedrooms as needed, private bathrooms
Indoor lunch 1st & last day; campfire trailside picnic lunches on other days, plus snack & beverage breaks
Dinners prepared & plated for individual service by our Wintergreen chef and staff cooks
Evening socializing at the fireplace or slide talks by Layne on a variety of topics
Chance to try snowshoeing, skiing, "ski-jouring" and our Finnish sauna
A special welcoming dinner on your first night and send-off breakfast on the final "Musher's Graduation" morning

2024 Trip Dates

pm Sun Feb 11, 2024, to am Fri Feb 16, 5 nights

$1975, all-inclusive package rate, per adult for pairs in double room with private bath. Singles needing private adjoining hotel room $250 more.
$100 off for ages 12-17

Check-in 4-6 p.m., check out 9-11 a.m.

Guest Instructor

Specializing in magazine features, Layne Kennedy's work has appeared in over a hundred different magazines world-wide on subjects as diverse as Wolves in the Northern Hemisphere to boat builders in the Caribbean, as well as numerous books. His strong sense of abstract design, combined with journalistic story telling imagery, makes him a favorite among picture editors. His great sense of humor and adventurous spirit make him a favorite among Wintergreen guests! "Our photographic approach to these workshops is simple," says Layne, "We cover our adventure trip as if it were a magazine assignment. Participants are given instruction on general points of coverage to document as well as specific creative assignments like the use of flash, motion, night imagery, portrait, landscape, ect., to be included with their visual story."

Photo Gear

Layne sends out a pre-trip packet that outlines the types of cameras, photo equipment and cold-weather care (batteries/cases/straps, etc.) that work best for this trip. But you don't need top-of-the-line gear, some guests shoot with hundred-dollar digital cameras. Film camera buffs are welcome but we're unable to develop the film in time for the final evening slide show. Need more photo info? Just email Layne at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Wintergreen is a featured destination among Nikon Photo’s Mentor Worldwide Photo Workshop Treks. We're a global photogenic hotspot.

Guest Profile

On past trips, the guests (8-10 total) ranged from teens to seniors with an equal mix of men/women; 80% came with a friend or family member, the others came alone. About half the guests on this trip have professional photography aspirations while the others are casual shutterbugs simply interested in improving their skills for personal enjoyment (and you're even welcome to come along just for the fun, without taking pics!)