Photograph brown bears on the grass flats and clamming, emphasis on family shots (cubs!!!!)
A couple blond 15 mo old cubs play on the beach
If you are a wildlife photography nut like I, you need to add brown bears to your list. This trip can be an experience of a lifetime. I’ve been going to AK each summer for over 10 years, and had several assignments to photograph and write about brown bears. Lake Clark offers unique opportunities to get close to brown bears in "uncrowded conditions". While we are there I will pass on as much of my 10 years of experience studying bears, information from articles I’ve written on brown bears, and my photography experience as I can in this 5 day trip. View the Slideshow below to view images I took in 2011 in this time period.
July 9 - 13 2014
(My trip in 2013 was postponed since I will be in South Africa during this time period)
Where: Lake Clark National Park: We will stay at Silver Salmon Creek Lodge, you will fly in for 5 days and 4 nights from Anchorage.
Bear photography opportunities: This is the period of the highest density of brown bears around the lodge. I chose this time period as it's the best chance of taking family or cub shots. By July 9, breeding should be almost over and the sows will be more comfortable bringing their cubs out into the tidal flats for clamming or the grass fields for grazing. We should be able to get very close to sows, spring cubs (young of the year) and the yearling to 3 yr old cubs. These are the blond "teddy bear looking" cubs posted in the pictures below. If your interest is in photographing bears fishing, please click my Katmai trip for the specifics on that trip. In the evenings I will be presenting some natural history PowerPoints on the local brown bear ecology and behavior as well. We will also make a day boating trip to shorebird nesting colonies, and your chance to shoot horned puffins both flying and perched outside their nests should be excellent. Typical bears and behaviors I expect us to photograph includes lone sows( females), lone boars (males), breeding behavior (although the breeding period should be very close to ending), sows with cubs, cubs playing, adults playing with cubs, sows nursing cubs, bears grazing in grass flats, bears clamming in extensive tidal flats, bears standing, and interactions between family groups. Other high probability wildlife photograph opportunities includes puffins, common murres, black legged kittiwakes, bald eagles, spruce grouse, and several gull species. Less probable but possible include moose, tundra swans, and hooded seals.
Lodge Amenities - Silver Salmon Creek Lodge has some of the most comfortable to luxurious accommodations I've seen in a fly in lodge. All of the cabins are heated, well insulated, and most have a fire place. I've reserved a 4 bedroom house for our stay. All meals are served hot, and plan on gaining weight if you are not careful. The staff includes both a chef and a baker. Guides are willing to take people out before breakfast (6 to 8) and after dinner (7 to 10) if requested. But if they do, please remember they work every day during the summer when you leave your gratuity.
Some very good halibut fishing is possible if you choose to take a day off from photography.
Costs: $3950 for 5 days, 4 nights which includes all lodging/food/and instruction costs excluding gratuities
Numbers of participants- a minimum of 4, a maximum of 6.
Travel Needed: Fly into Anchorage, AK and be ready to leave from a small private runway directly adjacent to the airport the morning of the July 9 (7 AM).
Equipment: I recommend bringing a digital SLR with matching lens. I bring both a full frame (Canon 5D Mark III) and a crop factor (Canon 7D) camera that allows for many images to be taken quickly. For lenses I bring a 500 F4 L, a 70-200 2.8 L, and a 1.4 teleextender. A wide angle lens (17 - 40) helps with landscape shots with or without bears. Dave Coray, the lodge owner, feels a tele zoom up to 400 mm is the optimal lens. We will often be close, but the long reach is always nice. The weather in AK is unpredictable and we will probably see more cloudy, rainy days than sunny ones. Be sure and bring protective weatherproof sleeves for your gear (and good rain gear for yourself). Because of the cloudy conditions you should bring a good sturdy tripod, especially for use with long lenses.
Physical Activity Requirements: Low to Moderate activity. At Silver Salmon Creek Lodge, the guides drive a 4wD quad that pulls us behind in a small trailer. Trails are found throughout the area, and on most occasions little walking is needed. Occasionally we may follow some bears, or need to walk a 1/4 mile (estimate) across a tidal flat or grassland but there is no climbing involved. You will have to carry your equipment these short distances.
July 9 - 13 2014
(My trip in 2013 was postponed since I will be in South Africa during this time period)
Where: Lake Clark National Park: We will stay at Silver Salmon Creek Lodge, you will fly in for 5 days and 4 nights from Anchorage.
Bear photography opportunities: This is the period of the highest density of brown bears around the lodge. I chose this time period as it's the best chance of taking family or cub shots. By July 9, breeding should be almost over and the sows will be more comfortable bringing their cubs out into the tidal flats for clamming or the grass fields for grazing. We should be able to get very close to sows, spring cubs (young of the year) and the yearling to 3 yr old cubs. These are the blond "teddy bear looking" cubs posted in the pictures below. If your interest is in photographing bears fishing, please click my Katmai trip for the specifics on that trip. In the evenings I will be presenting some natural history PowerPoints on the local brown bear ecology and behavior as well. We will also make a day boating trip to shorebird nesting colonies, and your chance to shoot horned puffins both flying and perched outside their nests should be excellent. Typical bears and behaviors I expect us to photograph includes lone sows( females), lone boars (males), breeding behavior (although the breeding period should be very close to ending), sows with cubs, cubs playing, adults playing with cubs, sows nursing cubs, bears grazing in grass flats, bears clamming in extensive tidal flats, bears standing, and interactions between family groups. Other high probability wildlife photograph opportunities includes puffins, common murres, black legged kittiwakes, bald eagles, spruce grouse, and several gull species. Less probable but possible include moose, tundra swans, and hooded seals.
Lodge Amenities - Silver Salmon Creek Lodge has some of the most comfortable to luxurious accommodations I've seen in a fly in lodge. All of the cabins are heated, well insulated, and most have a fire place. I've reserved a 4 bedroom house for our stay. All meals are served hot, and plan on gaining weight if you are not careful. The staff includes both a chef and a baker. Guides are willing to take people out before breakfast (6 to 8) and after dinner (7 to 10) if requested. But if they do, please remember they work every day during the summer when you leave your gratuity.
Some very good halibut fishing is possible if you choose to take a day off from photography.
Costs: $3950 for 5 days, 4 nights which includes all lodging/food/and instruction costs excluding gratuities
Numbers of participants- a minimum of 4, a maximum of 6.
Travel Needed: Fly into Anchorage, AK and be ready to leave from a small private runway directly adjacent to the airport the morning of the July 9 (7 AM).
Equipment: I recommend bringing a digital SLR with matching lens. I bring both a full frame (Canon 5D Mark III) and a crop factor (Canon 7D) camera that allows for many images to be taken quickly. For lenses I bring a 500 F4 L, a 70-200 2.8 L, and a 1.4 teleextender. A wide angle lens (17 - 40) helps with landscape shots with or without bears. Dave Coray, the lodge owner, feels a tele zoom up to 400 mm is the optimal lens. We will often be close, but the long reach is always nice. The weather in AK is unpredictable and we will probably see more cloudy, rainy days than sunny ones. Be sure and bring protective weatherproof sleeves for your gear (and good rain gear for yourself). Because of the cloudy conditions you should bring a good sturdy tripod, especially for use with long lenses.
Physical Activity Requirements: Low to Moderate activity. At Silver Salmon Creek Lodge, the guides drive a 4wD quad that pulls us behind in a small trailer. Trails are found throughout the area, and on most occasions little walking is needed. Occasionally we may follow some bears, or need to walk a 1/4 mile (estimate) across a tidal flat or grassland but there is no climbing involved. You will have to carry your equipment these short distances.
