Katmai Bears

paralyzedhorizon

Hi All,

Wanted to get some feedback on my latest trip out to Katmai. I'm a little slow in getting these online, but thought a few of you would enjoy!















All comments welcome! I should hopefully have more photos up soon!

I highly recommend taking a trip to Katmai if you have ever wanted to get up close and personal with wild brown bears. It was on my bucket list, and I would do this again in a heartbeat.

dlplumer

Well done, and a very worthy item to have on your BL

David-Stallard

Bears on the beach, I wasn't expecting that - the close up of the little one taking a break is priceless. Cant wait to see some more.

.DAVID.

kdog

Love, love, LOVE them. I was just showing my wife saying "see, I want to go there!"

Did you go with a tour or workshop of some kind that you can recommend?

Thanks and congrats on your successful trip!

-joel

schmoo

I've long wanted to go to Katmai. Awesome shots!

paralyzedhorizon

Thanks for the kind compliments everyone...

I would recommend flying out of Homer, AK. We took a tour via one of the small local groups. There were 6 of us crammed into the cessna (counting the pilot). As you're approaching Hallo Bay you are flying over some incredibly vast and beautiful tundra (mountains, volcanos, prairies, coasts). You'll see speck after speck -- which are brown bears roaming free amongst the coast and mountains. When you land, they aren't so much of a speck

Many of the bears were in the 700-800 lb range and had just filled up on the latest salmon run. They were either 1) interested in clamming 2) interested in grazing on the sweetgrass 3) mating.

It was a fantastic trip. Each one of you would come back with a new appreciation for wildlife. Watching these creatures roam 20 feet in front of you was surreal. Was it a bit intimidating at first? Sure... but after about 15 minutes of observing them close up, I was as giddy as one could be.

Hikin' Mike

I went there when I was stationed at King Salmon (USAF) in 1991. Wish I was into photography then.

Great captures!

ThatCanonGuy

1,2,4 are cute. 3's kinda boring, 5's OK, 6 is good tho I would have like to see more mountains and less grass below. The last one's really cool, love that one ;~).

kdog

ThatCanonGuy wrote: »

3's kinda boring

I love #3. The interplay of the cub intently watching the mom as she digs for clams is just wonderful.

denisegoldberg

I love # 3 as well. I think my favorites of the set are #s 3 & 4 although I have to admit it is very difficult to choose.

Thanks for sharing!

--- Denise

Lindiwe

Great series of pictures. It sounds like it was an incredible experience.

ThatCanonGuy

kdog wrote: »

I love #3. The interplay of the cub intently watching the mom as she digs for clams is just wonderful.

I can see it, but I just like #2 better ;~)

TenThirteen

These are beautiful!

Harryb

Marvelous set of images. :claqp That must of been a hell of a trip.

paralyzedhorizon

Thanks all - it was an incredible trip. Probably in my top 3.

I really enjoyed being on the Tarcoles River (Costa Rica) with 15+ ft crocs a few years back. Now that was an experience as well.