Lake Clark National Park
My personal favorite and an experience of a lifetime. I’ve been going to AK each summer for over 10 years and often had assignments to photograph and write about brown bears. I’ve chosen what I experienced to be the best areas and most comfortable lodging to host those interested in learning more about North America’s largest carnivore. I will pass on as much of my experience with 10 years of studying bears, information from programs and articles I’ve written on brown bears, and my photography experience as I can in these 5 day trips. Each of the trips offer a different experience with the abilities to see bears with different behavior. All involve small plane travel as this is AK, and this is bear country so you will be going to the most remote areas of the most remote state. I need a minimum of 5 to make this trip work, or the cost does increase.
June 18 - 23
Where: Lake Clark National Park; the June trip is out of Silver Salmon Creek Lodge, you will fly in for 5 days and 4 nights either from Anchorage or Soldotna. Add $150 for the flight if you are coming from Anchorage.
Emphasis: Brown Bear Ecology and Behavior both in AK and worldwide, Comparisons with the Black Bear and Polar Bear, and a visit to some AK shorebird nesting colonies.
Viewing opportunities – I was there this same week in 2010; we will be viewing bears either in the grass tidal flats or while they are “clamming” at low tides. Excellent chances to view breeding behavior, large boars (males), and a good chance to see sows with cubs, particularly older ones(1-3 yr cubs). On a boat trip from the lodge we will visit a 140 mya fossil bed, a old abandoned salmon cannery with lots of character, 2 large black legged kittiwake colonies, and a horned puffin colony.
Costs: 5 day/4 night trip from Soldotna - $3250 (add $150 from Anchorage- which may be easier), this includes all your costs (Lodging/food) excluding gratuities
Numbers of participants- a minimum of 4, a maximum of 8, discounts for larger groups are possible
June 18 - 23
Where: Lake Clark National Park; the June trip is out of Silver Salmon Creek Lodge, you will fly in for 5 days and 4 nights either from Anchorage or Soldotna. Add $150 for the flight if you are coming from Anchorage.
Emphasis: Brown Bear Ecology and Behavior both in AK and worldwide, Comparisons with the Black Bear and Polar Bear, and a visit to some AK shorebird nesting colonies.
Viewing opportunities – I was there this same week in 2010; we will be viewing bears either in the grass tidal flats or while they are “clamming” at low tides. Excellent chances to view breeding behavior, large boars (males), and a good chance to see sows with cubs, particularly older ones(1-3 yr cubs). On a boat trip from the lodge we will visit a 140 mya fossil bed, a old abandoned salmon cannery with lots of character, 2 large black legged kittiwake colonies, and a horned puffin colony.
Costs: 5 day/4 night trip from Soldotna - $3250 (add $150 from Anchorage- which may be easier), this includes all your costs (Lodging/food) excluding gratuities
Numbers of participants- a minimum of 4, a maximum of 8, discounts for larger groups are possible
