Walking with Grizzlies

[Sprocky]

Fantastic, Dewi!

If it wasn't for the cold, I wouldn't mind doing a trip there myself. The Tug flight must also be an amazing experience!

[pooky]

I have just managed to catch up Dewi

Awesome shots. The scenery is beautiful

The bear encounter was fantastic - Meg's face certainly told the story

Love all the puffins too

Hope you get to see a real moose

[Flutterby]

That was a small plane! Great encounter with the bear...how close did he actually get?

[Pumbaa]

Awesome experience to see the bears so close, Dewi

On top stunning shots

[Dewi]

Thank you for all your comments Jillinflorida, Nan, Amoli, Lisbeth, Richprins, Mel, Sprocky, Pooky, Flutterby & Pumbaa.

Jill - it was incredible to be that close. Even closer in a bit.

Nan - Bears will eat almost anything. My face was just as excited as Megs was. I'll dig out a pic for later. -O

Amoli - That island was tranquil. A great place to relax for a while.

Lis - The Salmon run was only just starting as we arrived. Lots of them were waiting in deeper water at the mouths of the estuaries waiting for the right conditions to head upstream.

Bushcraft - A picture tells a thousand words.

RP - That was Hana - one of our travelling companions on the trip. Both couples who were with us on this trip were great company and we all had a blast together. Think Hana was stretching after being perched on the camp stool for so long when I took the pic.

Mel - this was not the laundry episode. That one comes later in the TT. -O That bear was not that close. He comes closer in the next bit.

Sprocky - Temps were in the high 70's the whole time. Not cold at all. The flight was spectacular. Shame the pics look hazy through the windscreen or I would have posted one or two.

Pooky - The only Moose we saw I've already posted. They hide away in thick scrub and avoid areas where bears congregate.

Flutt's - Any smaller and the pilot would have been on the ground with a remote control unit in his hands. You will see the bear much closer in a bit.

Pumbaa - They get closer, much closer. -O

[Dewi]

We woke the following morning to glorious light and vistas surrounding our little ship. I sat on the stern with coffee and a smoke and took it all in. This was like paradise in these moments of calm and I enjoyed them as much as I enjoyed our bear experiences.



The mountains were just as impressive, with old lava flows visible.



And lifting cloud made me think for a moment that this was one of the active volcanoes in the region.



With jagged peaks, scree slopes and snow filled gullies, I marvelled at the scenes.



Following breakfast, we headed ashore and set up on the beach again in Ursine Utopia.



A pair of fluffy ears protruded above the sedges.



And the youngster from yesterday was taking a breather.



Big scruffy came calling again. This time he passed by even closer than previously and headed down to the stream for a drink.





This was unbelievable. He was mere feet away and totally unconcerned by our presence. We were in awe and utter disbelief at how close he approached and still behaved naturally. It's as if we were part and parcel of his everyday life. I'd worried that I'd be nervous if a bear approached this close prior to the trip, but we were all just so enthralled to be accepted that no one was apprehensive with this encounter. The bear's behaviour was completely relaxed and non aggressive and I think this transferred over to our little group as we watched open mouthed in amazement.




Eventually he wandered off along the river bank and allowed me to take a bumshot as he went.

[Jillinflorida]

Wow, wow, wow. The scenery is incredible. Such tranquility!

You were close enough to see the flies on the bears head, or was that a zoom? The size of that foot in the bum shot!

Making me rethink our trip to Alaska next year - although doubt you'd get me in that toy plane, especially if they had to weigh me!!

Liz - there's a live web cam of salmon run - here is the link, although you'll have to type it in me thinks. http://explore.org/

[Bushcraft]

Wow fantastic pics beautiful scenery

You actually look like RP from that angle You guys could be brothers

[Flutterby]

Wow, such amazing pics!! The first pic of the bear with his ears showing above the grass could be mistaken for a cuddly teddy bear! -O

[Lisbeth]

You probably had the right wind and he knows that cameras only "shoot" pics........and his claws are much longer than yours

Thank you Jill