John Layshock

 2023-Present

Growing up, in the 70's, in the Santa Cruz redwood forest gave John a lifelong passion for nature.  Returning to family roots in Montana intensified his love, and curiosity, in many directions.  A 1985 high graduate from Bozeman Senior High School, he attended Northwest Community College in Powell, Wy.  He received photography and photojournalism scholarships that helped him create more opportunities.  

One of his first opportunities came as a 1hr photo lab operator in Yellowstone National Park.  It was 1988, and he witnessed the 100 year fire up close.  His GYE connection continued south to Jackson Hole, where he found winter opportunities at the ski resorts.  Ski bum lifestyle evolved into freelance professional action sports photographer.  His successful freelance niche was snowboarding, and other action sports/lifestyle.  He returned to Bozeman, continuing great fortune to learn the new digital world, with other local resort freelancers.  In 2006 he was offered a job in West Yellowstone at the Bar N Ranch, stemming from a photography job, it was the next opportunity for him.  Working the front desk was a great place to become part of the community.  He started winter snowmobile guiding in Yellowstone in 2007, and snowcoach guiding in 2009.  Alpen Guides was a company of vintage Bombardiers, and was a special job experience that lasted over 15 years. His experience as a guide and mechanic, added to my obsession with Bombardier snowcoaches, enabled him to acquire my own Bombardier snowcoach.   Creating Caldera Tours, he was able to operate in Yellowstone for 2 seasons. He is happy that Caldera Tours is operating its second season in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest.  It was great luck, and patience, that he found an home on Henry's Lake over a dozen years ago.  Sharing this lucky fortune with his wife, Ginny, and 2 young kids.  It's always been a personal reward to contribute to local foundations, parks and recreational efforts. He considers Harriman State Park to be a central part of Island Park history, and a vital part of the Yellowstone ecosystem.