crazyfornps

Hi everyone,

Is there anyone that has been to Brooks camp? How was your experience? And did you do it with kids? Any tips?
In a couple of weeks we are camping 2 nights with our 5 y/o. On the second day we are going to the Valley of 1000 Smokes. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Crazyfornps

spirobulldog

Whoa, I'm not sure I would ever sleep if I camped there. Hopefully the bears are full of fish! I wonder if they have those electric fences in that campground?

HappyTrvlr

We spent a full day there, arriving by sea plane from Homer. Amazing place. The bears were everywhere not just in the river. A ranger would stop us walking along and warn there were bears on the trail, to wait a few minutes. We had to take a "bear training class", wear a button saying we had taken it, what to do if confronted by one. I would hold on tight to your child and be ready to carry him or her. The area by the falls was secure with large wooden platforms and a gate that closed behind you. Fishermen were casting right below the falls, standing in the river. It remains one of our top travel memories but you need to be alert.

crazyfornps

Spirobulldog, yes the campground is surrounded by an electric fence.
HappyTrflr, We do intend to hold on to our son and carry him on the trails. Are the rangers always around? Or do they walk with you?
Thanks to both of you for your replies!

PaulRabe

> Are the rangers always around?
> Or do they walk with you?

Katmailand is the designated concessionaire for Katmai NP. Based on their FAQ page
http://www.katmailand.com/bear-viewing/faq.html
it appears you can walk to the Brooks River overlook whenever you please. In other words, the Rangers do not walk with you on the short trail to the river. I guess they figure the Bear Aware training you get when you arrive will educate you enough to be safe.

The only humans killed by bears in Katmai's history were Tim Treadwell and his companion
http://www.adn.com/2003/10/07/43464/...n-fatally.html
-- so don't imitate his approach to bears and you should be fine.

crazyfornps

Thanks for the links PaulRabe! I would never think of imitating Tim's approach. That's the bear's home, not mine, and I'm not about to invade it. Oh, but I do feel for him and his companion and their families - whatever reason drove him to be blind to the bears' nature, I wouldn't wish that on anyone. I remember when that happened, so sad.

Jane62

Crazyfornps when will you be at Brooks? I'll be there with my husband and kids soon too but we're staying in the Lodge. My kids are 11 and 14. We'll be there 2 nights, the nights of Aug. 3 and 4th.

falcon

Brooks Falls during salmon season is our most treasured travel memory. Two important rules we adhered to: always travel in a (noisy!) group along the trail to the falls and always go to the bathroom before returning to camp because you never know when you will get held up at the bridge by a bear intent on taking a nap right where you need to walk! Oh, yes, and never, ever have food on your person unless you want to become part of a bear's snack! We encountered bears everywhere, even passed out on the beach in the early morning after what had evidently been a hard night, but only two were really scary. Shortly after leaving the bridge, when the ranger noted there were no recent reports of bears on the trail, we rounded a corner and came almost face to face with a mama and cub. Suppressing the instinct to run, we practiced our bear etiquette and backed away slowly with eyes averted--you will see the less dominant bears do exactly the same thing to the older and bigger ones--till we were in the safe confines of the ranger look-out next to the bridge. The other time involved a couple of youngsters who were running full-tilt down the trail. They weren't intent on doing any harm--they were just having fun, as youngsters will do, but there were a number of human hearts that needed a jump-start after that encounter! As one of the previous replies suggested, I would have a child in my arms or hold their hand every second of the day while outside and then be prepared for one of the most amazing experiences of your life!

crazyfornps

Jane62, we will be spending 2 nights there, July 20 and 21, and then flying back on the 22nd. In one of these days we are also taking the bus to the Valley of 1000 smokes. Where else in Alaska are you going? If you need any tips, I will be glad to share them when I get back!
Falcon, thank you so much for your tips, especially the bathroom one! Oh my, and your encounters, it gave me goosebumps!
We have had some close bear encounters in Yellowstone and Grand Tetons, but not that close!
And yes, we intend to either carry my son or put him in a kid harness as I don't think holding hands in that situation is enough. He does listen very well, BUT, I don't know if any 5y/o can fight the running instinct!