Alaska - Glacier Bay - and Bear Viewing
Dec 23rd, 2007, 03:01 PM
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Alaska - Glacier Bay - and Bear Viewing
Wow,
You all have so much information.
I am still leaning toward the Wilderness Travel Hidden Glacier Bay Trip. Then maybe adding a Bear Viewing extension. Should we go to Katmai or Halo?
Thinking of the end of June.
You all have so much information.
I am still leaning toward the Wilderness Travel Hidden Glacier Bay Trip. Then maybe adding a Bear Viewing extension. Should we go to Katmai or Halo?
Thinking of the end of June.
Dec 23rd, 2007, 05:40 PM
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Bear viewing is a must.. I have been to Katmai twice. The first time was with Emerald Air(a day trip). We flew from Homer and went hiking in the wilderness of Katmai. The trip was amazing. Depending on the time of summer/fall depends on where the bears are. They fly and spot bears and then land and hike.Check our their website www.emeraldairservice.com. Chris and Ken (the owners and guides are the real deal). . The second time I went to Katmai was in September for the second salmon run. We flew to Brooks Lodge and stayed for two nights. This was incredible however it is dependent on the salmon runs and the end of June is too early.
Dec 24th, 2007, 05:24 AM
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Yes, I agree. For the end of June go with Emerald Air. They fly you in wherever bears are at that time. They don't have a specified place. They know where bears are and that's where they land. Usually there is not much hiking involved on their trips. Sometimes they split a group and those who want to go farther and look for bears then they go with one guide, the other group stays with a guide and watches bears by the river or walk along the river at a closer distance. You make a choice whether you want more or less hiking.
I wouldn't say bear viewing is a must. IMHO, it is a great addition to any Alaskan itineraries but very expensive now. Emerald charges $595.00 pp. Many visitors have faboulous visit to Alaska without expensive bear trip but those who decide to add bear watching trip have unforgettable time.
I wouldn't say bear viewing is a must. IMHO, it is a great addition to any Alaskan itineraries but very expensive now. Emerald charges $595.00 pp. Many visitors have faboulous visit to Alaska without expensive bear trip but those who decide to add bear watching trip have unforgettable time.
Dec 24th, 2007, 05:41 AM
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I have a good friend that went with Emerald Air the last 2 summers (both in July, I think). They couldn't say enough good things about not just the trip but the people who ran the business. They have stayed in touch and consider them friends. The first time they didn't see much (bears anyway, lots of other great scenery)- but the folks at EA were very honest and gave them the option not to go and they agreed to take a chance. The second year was spectacular - their pictures are amazing!!!
Dec 28th, 2007, 05:48 AM
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What month is best for the Salmon Runs (at Brooks)?
Chewy, this site will help you decide where to go in Katmai ... http://www.nps.gov/katm/planyourvisit/bear-watching.htm ... at Brooks the sockeye salmon (the main run) typically are there early July for 2-3 weeks, these are the fish that are running upstream to spawn and are blocked at the falls, where the bears congregate in big numbers.
Once these salmon are past the falls they disperse to small streams to spawn and the bears follow, leaving Brooks with few bears for about a month (say late July - late August). After the fish have spawned they die and many are washed back to the river, where the bears congretate again, usually starting 3rd week in August until late September. There is also a much smaller fresh coho run in Sept. So early July and late Aug - Sept are the times to see many bears at Brooks.
If this doesn't fit your schedule then go to Homer and take a trip with Emerald Air or Bald Mountain. They basically go to Hallo Bay in June, Brooks in early July, Moraine Creek or Geographic Harbor in late July thru August, then back to Brooks in Sept so they always find bears to view somewhere. End of June (your original post) they will likely go to Hallo Bay.
Bill
Chewy, this site will help you decide where to go in Katmai ... http://www.nps.gov/katm/planyourvisit/bear-watching.htm ... at Brooks the sockeye salmon (the main run) typically are there early July for 2-3 weeks, these are the fish that are running upstream to spawn and are blocked at the falls, where the bears congregate in big numbers.
Once these salmon are past the falls they disperse to small streams to spawn and the bears follow, leaving Brooks with few bears for about a month (say late July - late August). After the fish have spawned they die and many are washed back to the river, where the bears congretate again, usually starting 3rd week in August until late September. There is also a much smaller fresh coho run in Sept. So early July and late Aug - Sept are the times to see many bears at Brooks.
If this doesn't fit your schedule then go to Homer and take a trip with Emerald Air or Bald Mountain. They basically go to Hallo Bay in June, Brooks in early July, Moraine Creek or Geographic Harbor in late July thru August, then back to Brooks in Sept so they always find bears to view somewhere. End of June (your original post) they will likely go to Hallo Bay.
Bill
Dec 28th, 2007, 06:39 AM
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Hello Bill,
I always respect you input and your knowledge is wonderful but I need to make one correction regrading Emerald Air. Went with them many times and they never took us to Brooks whether it was early July, late July, any time in August (7 times) or September. They do take their groups to Brooks but very seldom and if for some reason they cannot get to more secluded areas. Each time we went where bears congregated but not once to Brooks.
We always see most bears during our trips in the end of July and begining of August.
Cheweyhead, check Emerald's website and then call them with any questions you have. You won't have to go with them but they are the most respected and reputable experts on bear watching trips and I bet they can answer all your questions.
I always respect you input and your knowledge is wonderful but I need to make one correction regrading Emerald Air. Went with them many times and they never took us to Brooks whether it was early July, late July, any time in August (7 times) or September. They do take their groups to Brooks but very seldom and if for some reason they cannot get to more secluded areas. Each time we went where bears congregated but not once to Brooks.
We always see most bears during our trips in the end of July and begining of August.
Cheweyhead, check Emerald's website and then call them with any questions you have. You won't have to go with them but they are the most respected and reputable experts on bear watching trips and I bet they can answer all your questions.
Dec 28th, 2007, 06:52 AM
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They (Emerald Air) do take their groups to Brooks but very seldom and if for some reason they cannot get to more secluded areas
Way_North, I stand corrected
I know Ken and Chris (the Em Air owners) a little bit and they outfitted a custom four-day camping trip I set up with six bear photographers to Moraine Creek a couple years ago, but I haven't done a day trip with them. Chris told me that they do go to Brooks the times I mentioned and I've seen their plane there in September (also the Bald Mountain plane), but I don't know how often they do it.
Bill
Way_North, I stand corrected
I know Ken and Chris (the Em Air owners) a little bit and they outfitted a custom four-day camping trip I set up with six bear photographers to Moraine Creek a couple years ago, but I haven't done a day trip with them. Chris told me that they do go to Brooks the times I mentioned and I've seen their plane there in September (also the Bald Mountain plane), but I don't know how often they do it.
Bill
Dec 28th, 2007, 07:17 AM
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Wow! Bill, can you believe my grandfather went with them for a 4-day camping trip in Katmai NP? I don't know what was a location. I think he went 3 or maybe 4 years ago. Unfortunately Chris and Ken are not there and campers are led on bear watching trips by Derek Stongorov (?). My grampa went on a day watching trip with Ken and Chris and one year later on camping 4-day trip. He loved it but concluded Chris and Ken Days are the main reason why their trips are so successful.
Dec 28th, 2007, 07:37 AM
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can you believe my grandfather went with them for a 4-day camping trip in Katmai NP?
Way_North, sounds like the same deal we had ... Ken was to fly us in with the Otter with a cook and camping gear, and Derek Stonorov (who had worked many years at McNeil Falls with bears) was to be our guide.
Unfortunately for us a few weeks before our trip poachers killed most of the habituated bears at Moraine/Funnel (this was I think 2004, maybe 2005) and we decided to cancel the trip after we reached Homer, because the few bears that were not killed were understandably wary and more aggressive
Would love to try it again but it's hard to get that many people together at the same time. We will be at Hallo Bay for a week this fall but would have loved to do the custom camping trip instead.
Bill
Way_North, sounds like the same deal we had ... Ken was to fly us in with the Otter with a cook and camping gear, and Derek Stonorov (who had worked many years at McNeil Falls with bears) was to be our guide.
Unfortunately for us a few weeks before our trip poachers killed most of the habituated bears at Moraine/Funnel (this was I think 2004, maybe 2005) and we decided to cancel the trip after we reached Homer, because the few bears that were not killed were understandably wary and more aggressive
Would love to try it again but it's hard to get that many people together at the same time. We will be at Hallo Bay for a week this fall but would have loved to do the custom camping trip instead.Bill
Dec 28th, 2007, 07:58 AM
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Bill, when you ready to go for it, let me know. And maybe my husband and I or my grandfather with his wife would do it. It cannot be earlier than 2009 since we have many arrangements already in place for our 2008 Alaskan trip.
Dec 29th, 2007, 08:50 PM
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Another BearWatching question.
After our Glacier Bay Kayak trip, we are going to fly up to Anchorage, should we go to Homer and do a day trip with EmeraldAir? Or, stay at Brooks Lodge? Having spoken to both, and can work out availability Not sure which to choose. We are leaning toward Emerald because only nine people will be in the group, whereas I am told there are hundreds around the Brooks observation deck. Is this so?
After our Glacier Bay Kayak trip, we are going to fly up to Anchorage, should we go to Homer and do a day trip with EmeraldAir? Or, stay at Brooks Lodge? Having spoken to both, and can work out availability Not sure which to choose. We are leaning toward Emerald because only nine people will be in the group, whereas I am told there are hundreds around the Brooks observation deck. Is this so?
Dec 30th, 2007, 04:50 AM
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You cannot go wrong either way. We prefer Emerald for more intimate experience and more time with bears. If you stay at the lodge for a couple of nights you have time to be with bears before hordes of visitors arrive and after they depart. And yes, at Brooks you need to wait your turn to get on observation decks. Really, whatever you decide you won't regret. If you chose Emerald, then book two trips with them 2-3 days apart if you can. If one trip is cancelled then another one takes place.
Dec 30th, 2007, 07:15 AM
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we are going to fly up to Anchorage, should we go to Homer and do a day trip with EmeraldAir? Or, stay at Brooks Lodge?
Can you get a cabin at Brooks in July? In years past they open reservations in early January and the 2-3 weeks centered around the July salmon run fill up within a couple of hours as tour groups snatch them up. If you can actually get a July reservation then it will be a very cool experience to stay there. Yes, there are many day-trippers coming in to view the bears but there are bears everywhere, even around the cabins ... this fat fellow is walking right by a cabin as the ranger chases him off ... http://www.pbase.com/hilton_photography/image/88750326
From Homer you'll have a much better wilderness experience but ask if they will guarantee that they are not going to Brooks. Probably Chris will answer that they can't guarantee it but will try to go elsewhere, based on weather though ... but I know two people who went to Homer to, in their words, 'avoid the crowds at Brooks', and then were flown into Brooks
Either place will be one of the highlights of your Alaska trip though.
Bill
Can you get a cabin at Brooks in July? In years past they open reservations in early January and the 2-3 weeks centered around the July salmon run fill up within a couple of hours as tour groups snatch them up. If you can actually get a July reservation then it will be a very cool experience to stay there. Yes, there are many day-trippers coming in to view the bears but there are bears everywhere, even around the cabins ... this fat fellow is walking right by a cabin as the ranger chases him off ... http://www.pbase.com/hilton_photography/image/88750326
From Homer you'll have a much better wilderness experience but ask if they will guarantee that they are not going to Brooks. Probably Chris will answer that they can't guarantee it but will try to go elsewhere, based on weather though ... but I know two people who went to Homer to, in their words, 'avoid the crowds at Brooks', and then were flown into Brooks
Either place will be one of the highlights of your Alaska trip though.
Bill
