DebInTN,
What is your schedule for Glacier? We will leave Michigan on the Saturday after Labor Day and push to Glacier. We will stay there for three days and then off to Yellowstone and the Tetons. Maybe we'll cross paths!

Photogirl:

We will be in Yellowstone beginning 9/8/12. Then to West Glacier on the 11th and then on up to Many Glacier area for 3 days.

Have you found the GNP chat board yet? Loads of helpful people there: http://glacier.nationalparkschat.com/phpBB3/

We normally would be travelling later in September (my birthday) but Going to the Sun Road is closing 9/17 for construction. That's OK, though. We get to go on vacation a couple of weeks early next year!!!

Photogirl,

I was away in Banff, Victoria and Vancouver so I'm just answering about photos in GTNP.

I don't know if you have researched the layout og GTNP. There's an inside road and an outside road. You can go a little faster on the outside road. They meet at the top.

Most photo sights will be early as the sun rises in the east and the mountains are to the west.
On the outside road:

Mormon Row (two old barns with a spectacular view of the mountains behind them),

Schwabacker Landing (most people skip this as you have to drive about a half mile down a dirt road. park the car and walk along the river. great views of the water in the foreground, mountains behind and reflections in the water).
Oxbow Bend (the inside and outside roads meet. good early and late. sometimes some wild life there)

Somewhere between the north entrance and Oxbow Bend (we entered late in the day and got great sunset views).
Signal Mountain (went up early and late several times. saw a black bear and other wildlife. some excellent views from near some viewpoints up there).

Jenny Lake (my least favorite area as we went on a Sunday and the hike was body-to-body. However, the falls there are much better than I expected. Also saw some rock climbers to the left of the falls).

There were other spots but I forget. Check out my report. I list many things in detail. Also, my photos are at:

www.travelwalks.com

Great parks. I'm trying to convince my daughter that changing rooms every few days won't be an issue with her daughter.

Myer:
Banff is one of my favorite places on this earth. I envy you!

Myer:
Thanks for sharing your photos. What camera, etc., do you use? I'm a Canon gal.

Deb,
I have a Canon T2i (I upgraded from an older 350xt a little over a year ago).

I don't have the kit lens (the lens that comes with the camera). I have an excellent Canon 15-85 that's really sharp. It replaced the 17-85 and has been around for close to two years I believe.

It's an excellent travelling lens. There's a misconception that when you travel you need length. That's not true. You need width. Except of course for wildlife.

I have a 55-250 that I didn't take with. I wish I had.

One evening I was out looking for wildlife and came across a black bear and three cubs on Mt Norquay. The cubs were too far and it was way too dim but I was shooting away anyway.

I'm trying to do some surgery and may salvage a few with the cubs playing.

I got some shots of two other black bears but not the cubs. I was nose-to-nose with them.

Some elk, big horn sheep (first time) and a few smaller animals.

Myer,
We've also been out of town, but not to anywhere as beautiful as Banff. I haven't had the opportunity to look at your pictures but read that you have the Canon T2i. I am seriously looking at upgrading ( my Canon xTi is almost five years old) and have read some reviews on the T2i. I've also had some people tell me to buy a medium format camera body, but I don't know if I want to spend the extra money. I'm not a professional, but do shoot for a smalltown magazine, etc. Why did you choose the T2i, as compared to a medium format body? Price alone, or something else? I just don't think I could justify the cost of the medium format for what I make selling my shots. Thanks, again!

Photogirl,
By medium format I assume you mean full-frame as opposed to crop-frame.

As I get older I didn't want to lug around a heavier camera body. So I went with a crop camera and put the money into the 15-85. I don't buy the lens that comes with the camera. It's worth about $100. My 15-85 costs about as much as the camera. But it's pretty much sharp throughout the range as opposed to the kit lens that gets very soft when you push it a bit.

I had a 350xt for 4 generations and took about 25,000 shots with it.

When the T2i came out I read about it and decided to make a move. 18megapixels vs 8. Excellent high ISO performance. I don't use a flash (don't like it) so high ISO is important for me.

On the T2i ISO 3200 is much better than ISO 1600 on the older camera. I'll even shoot at ISO6400. Not bad.

The screen is high definition and much larger than the old one.

It takes video but that's not why I bought it. I've taken some videos and they came out ok. However, I've never taken a video that I've watched more than once.

I'm very happy with the T2i.

If money is no object and you don't mind carrying around a heavier body then go with full-frame. If you have some kind of budget then I'd rather spend the money on the lens.

Most kit lenses are about 18mm at the wide end. Mine is 15mm and that's about 20% wider. Big difference.

If you look at my web site all the trips from Tuscany 2010 and later are taken with the T2i and 15-85.

I think a couple of the photos at Yellowstone were taken with the 55-250. But not the one of the bear. That was taken with the 15-85 and not at 85. I was way too close.

Myer,
You've helped me with my decision.Thanks!I shop at a camera store in Grand Rapids and these guys are really knowledgeable and helpful.They told me the same thing last year about buying good lenses over a more expensive body. I can't afford the large frame body so will stay on the same track as before....better lenses.
My husband and I leave for our trip in a month and we've got a better sense as to where we're going, and when.Glacier Nat'l Park first and then on to Yellowstone and the Tetons. I've never gone on this long of a trip and not had every day planned to a "T". I hope that accomodations will work out. I still don't have those reserved yet. I'm getting mixed messages from people and I'm not sure who to listen to. Do you have any thoughts on whether we should make reservations at any of these parks ahead of time, or just call as our plans unfold? Your many suggestions have helped us and I hope that someone else will be able to direct you on your next trip.

I will always suggest in-park lodging and since they always fill up try to get reservations in advance.

Tours book blocks of rooms a year in advance and then start to release those unsold in the last few weeks.

Call, call, call everyday or even twice a day.

There's nothing like getting up in the morning and not having to drive to the park.

Yosemite is impossible if you're outside the park.

Bryce Canyon isn't too bad if you're at Ruby's but it's still more convenient inpark.

Zion is more convenient inpark but Springdale is very, very close.

Yellowstone is gigantic. It's really several parks in one. Not only is it a big advantage inpark but you've really got to change location at least once in Yellowstone and then to Grand Tetons.

If wildlife is a priority for YNP & GTNP then inpark is very important as very early and just before sunset are prime wildlife times. You don't want to be driving too much in the dark and hit something on the road.

Photogirl: I agree with Myer, keep trying up until last minute to get in-park accomodations. Myer's recommended photo-ops are right on.

I'm having camera envy right now. I'd love to update my Canon DSLR and SLR, but it's like they are part of the family and I can't bring myself to do it until they give me trouble.

Deb,

I updated my canon 350 to a 550 (4 generations newer) last year even though I wasn't having trouble with the 350.

I don't use a flash (don't like the effect) and have grandchildren.

The noise at ISO1600 on the 350 had to be cleaned. I can shoot with the 550 at ISO3200 that doesn't have to be touched. At 6400 I'd probably use noise reduction software.

That alone was worth the upgrade that I did about a year and a half ago. I also got a much better lens.

The larger high definition screen was also very nice.

The newer camera has video but that's of little interest. I don't think I ever taken a video that I watched more than once.

Hubby and I are leaving this Saturday,September 10,and I have yet to get reservations at OFI in Yellowstone.Any phone numbers that you have called,other than Xanterra's number? Does Old Faithful Inn have a direct number? I will do just about anything to get a room there. It's our thirty-fifth anniversary trip and I've heard so much about OFI. Any suggestions from anyone? Thanks......sorry about the drama.....but I really want to stay there!

Photogirl, try 866-439-7375

Photogirl, Old Faithful Inn isn't all that. While it's fun to visit, it's noisy because of all the tourists traipsing through it, and it isn't the closest lodging to Geyser Hill (that would be the Old Faithful Lodge cabins) or the one with the cushiest rooms (that would be the Snow Lodge). If you can't snag a room at Old Faithful Inn, see if you can get something else at the Old Faithful region; the Snow Lodge in particular would be a romantic choice for an anniversary.

I'll have to disagree with the "it's noisy because of all the tourists traipsing through it". Yes, there are tourists walking through the lobby during the day and some wander a bit down the hall toward the older rooms in the original portion of the building. But the wings with the newer rooms definitely don't have tourists traipsing by. It's like hotels anywhere - guests and tourists in the lobby, guests in the areas where the rooms are.

I love the place. I've been lucky enough to snag a room overlooking Old Faithful twice and it's absolutely amazing to watch it erupt just feet away from the window during the night. I love it.

I loved Yellowstone, we stayed at three different hotels there and Old Faithful Inn was my absolute favorite! I loved taking a bottle of wine to the 2nd floor deck that has table and chairs and watching Old Faithfull while sipping wine! I loved the restaurant there also.

Photogirl: Good luck. I'd keep trying even up to the last minute. Please check back when you return. Would love to hear about your trip!

Photogirl, call at 4:05 pm.

4pm used to be the cancellation deadline for reservations. Double check to make sure that hasn't changed. Call 5 minutes after the deadline - or even 2 minutes after.

If you STILL don't have a reservation when you get there (and you have a room that has a 6pm cancellation), show up in the lobby about 20 minutes before and be there in person. I've gotten a room on the rim that way at the Grand Canyon.

Good luck! I also love this hotel and agree with cd, the 2nd floor deck is a great place to relax with a glass of wine. We were there when my kids were young teens and I'll never forget spending one evening sitting on the 2nd floor deck playing Pictionary. One of the times that it was my turn to draw what did I pick but a card that read "Old Faithful". Of all places to be when picking that card!