TR: summer AK adventure, 7 months late

[stash searcher]

I've been meaning to do this for a long time. About 7 months, as you may have seen from the title. I'm not a pro photog, but here are a few of the 5000 photos i took in 5 days. (my name isn't on these, so please be nice and don't steal them)
This might be in the wrong forum. I couldn't decide...

Last spring I was offered an awesome chance to go with a good friend on a trip if she won a raffle. Thank god I said yes, as her $5 raffle ticket won us a trip including airfare from Homer and viewing permits to go bear viewing at McNeil River Bear Sanctuary. For those of you who haven't heard of McNeil River, it is just east of Katmai National Park, about 100 miles westish of Homer, in the bay to the west of Mt. Augustine.
Friends of McNeil is an organization that helps support this area. I have no affiliation.

We drove to Homer and piled into Northwind Aviation's Cessna 206, and Jose (expertly) flew us to McNeil.




We're almost there!


We landed along the spit and walked our stuff to camp.


The main cook cabin is the center of activity, woodstove always going, propane burners for cooking.


Permit holders stay in their own tents.


But there is a sauna for general use


right in front of a cute little pond complete with lily pads.



Each morning, a group of 10 or fewer visitors, one or two researchers, and a few Fish and Game guides (very nice folks) would head down the path from the camp to the viewing platforms along a set of waterfalls on McNeil River. (Daily destination depends on fish runs and which salmon are swimming in which stream at what time of season-peak season viewing is stationary at McNeil River)

Location: Google location A is camp, B is viewing area. Once the group crosses a few sections of water (Mikfik Creek), there is a mostly boardwalk path between the two. The water sections change depending on tide.


this grass is sedge grass. the bears eat it. really weird to see a bear grazing like a cow. can't find that picture at the moment..



thick tidal mud sucks at your feet


and it looks like bears have fun with it, too


but you get to see stuff like this awesome bear bed on the way:


or this ground squirrel guarding the only female-friendly pee-spot on the 1.5mile walk


before you crest the ridge, you can smell a distinctly fishy smell... and then you realize why


so many bears!


and many different fishing styles (this one may be the least successful, but most fun to watch)


















i love that you can see the roe dripping from his mouth


this turned out to be one of my favorite pictures from this trip


it is often rainy here, and any day with sun is a day to be thankful for




another way to "fish" -begging


or just stare at the stream. for hours. in the same place. lots of bears have "their spot" and always go to that spot, year after year


or just nap


they really remind me of very large dogs

[stash searcher]

occasional territory tiffs




i like the lean away on this one


fun to try and catch the scratches and the occasional yawn (still need to find those pics)




It's really fun watching these amazing creatures from what feels like waaayy to close




and then you remember how big they are


and then there's the one that comes too close for real-could have touched her nose


my hands shake a little still, thinking about that moment.. the one after i set down the camera and clapped in it's face to remind her gently that she didn't want to come my way. yikes!

there was rewarding time hanging out at camp, too!
there were lots of neat rocks and driftwood
ooohhh, sepia function.. fancy! (testing out a new camera, gotta try the buttons)




and cool cliffs along the shore




mom fox lived in camp with two crazy cubs. cubs were a lot more skittish than mom, though you could still get really close and not bug them.
here's one chewing on the outhouse


and mom lounging on the woodpile

[Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer]

This is awesome! Thanks for putting this together.

[DeathVan]

Cool trip, great pics!

Thanks for sharing the adventure.

[Z]

awesome shots.

[WyoWill]

Great pictures! I watched my wife get charged by a griz last year--they can be real fucking scary. McNeil is on my list of places to go.

[DasBlunt]

You know this the area where that crazy bear dude lived and died. The fox are tame because the crazy bear dude tamed them.

nice pics, more nude chicks if no pow.

[Mathematics]

awesome pictures, thanks. I really need to get out there.

[stompinlines]

kick ass.
thank you for posting.

[stash searcher]

the fish and game employees said the foxes moved in about a month after they got there... they got used to the people because the people kept the fox den safe from bears. bears don't often walk through the center of the camp of people unless the people are gone.

Thanks for the kind comments!!

[le dog]

really really beautiful, great pics of the bears.

[wcf3]

Looks like a remarkable experience. Great photos!

[lynchdogger]

Very cool experience and one I'm sure you won't soon forget.
Thanks for sharing it with us.

[mnskier]

Great pics. That is insane how close to the bears you are!

[jon turner]

Wow. That is an awesome experience. Great pics too.

[Kirby]

Wicked!

Thanks for sharing.

[seanzor]

Thats some wicked stuff. Reminds me of my days in AK. Cool as.