top destinations in Alaska
Jul 25th, 2004 | 10:44 AM
#1
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top destinations in Alaska
OK all you past travelers to Alaska. Please list your top 10 destinations within Alaska. Also, can anyone advise if Bald Mtn Air or Emerald Air service located in Homer, is better than the other? What is the best time of the year to view the bears? Any particualar destination? I hear that Brook's fall can be very crowded.
Jul 25th, 2004 | 11:08 AM
#2
Joined: Aug 2003
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dlp123, read this post
Author: Wildflower
Date: 07/31/2003, 10:35 am
Message: Connie, my husband and I always recommend bear watching trip to our friends. It is definietly one of the most unforgettable experiences during which you learn about these amazing animals and how to respect their personal space, how to behave around them, how to enjoy seeing them in their own environment. If you decide to go but before you settle on a specific company to go with I suggest to do your research. Ask about saftey record of the plane and a pilot, how many years is a guide in business, what other business they are involved in (I would stay away from those who do also fishing, hunting, hiking, birding, white water rafting and some other things, the best is to find a company that does exclusively bear watching), how long is a trip and how many hours you will be actually watching bears, where are you going to go, is your guide going to be with you all the time or a pilot/guide just drop you off and you will be in line on a platform, how large is a group, how many other groups are going to be in that area, do they suupply hip boots, when do you have to put your deposit and how much, do they give refund (100% of deposit)if there is no trip due to a weather.
Here is what we wrote in our journal about our first bear watching trip in 2001. We returned for bear watching in 2002 and 2003. Please keep in mind that this is not a trip report. This is our personal journal. I removed names as I do not intend to advertise or endorse the company we use.
Then came the most exciting day of the whole trip. xxx Air Service flew us it a float plane to a 900 ft. Lake in the Katmai National Park. There were 9 of us and x, the pilot, and xx, the guide/naturalist. They had been in an IMAX film about bears. We had a dry landing and walked across the tundra to a bluff about 50 yards from the joining of the Kenai and Moraine Rivers. We had seen more than 20 bears in that river on the flight in and we were walking right to them. We watched from that vantage point and took some long lens shots, then moved down to the bank of the river to where the bears had trampled down a bunch of the tall grass and willow bushes.
By now we could recognize the bears that x and x had named: Scarface, Grandpa, Betty, Tom Thumb and, yes, they do have personalities and different looks. As Scarface would walk up or down the stream, the other bears would move slowly and reluctantly out of the way while others quickly disappeared into the willow bushes. Grandpa waited patiently while Scarface fished and when Scarface moved away, Grandpa moved in. We were within 20 yard of Scarface and he never paid any attention to us.
The bears fish by standing in the stream and as the fish move up the river to spawn, they pick out a fish and jump into the water, ducking their head under water and trying to catch the fish in their mouths. It is hard to see whether they use their claws during the catch. But if they catch one, they hold the fish in their mouths until they wade ashore, put the fish on a rock or rocks and hold it with their claws while they strip the meat away by pulling it off the fish, they seem to eat the bones because we could hear the crushing of the bones as they eat fish. When the bear is done, the birds get the remains.
The bear cubs are poor fishermen. They wade into the water like mama bear but they don?t seem to get the idea of putting their heads under water to catch the fish with their mouth. After a while, I felt like putting on a wetsuit and showing them how. Mama bear does teach them how to fight for fish, she makes the cubs fight her for the fish she catches for them. Cubs stay with the mother for three years before they go off for themselves.
The most exciting bear watching event was watching a mama bear and three cubs. The four of them crossed the river on our extreme right. Mama bear continued on down the river and the three cubs got up on the bank and started walking down the path that our group was on. Ken told us to be very quiet and back off the path so the cubs could get by, which we did. Mama continued in the water about 50 yards below us on our left. Meanwhile the cubs came down the path to about 15 or 20 feet from us and stopped. They had seen us and they crouch in the willow shrubs. Every once in a while one would stand upon his or her hind feet and peer at us over the willows, then a little later another one would stick a head up and smell. Then two together would stand up. Meanwhile mama walked ashore and disappeared into the shrub. We caught a glimpse of her hurrying along about twenty yards in back of us hurrying to her cubs. They all joined up and followed mama across the river and disappeared into the shrub on the other side.
Those six hours in the field of bear watching were the most exciting and interesting experience we have had in our last seven years of vacations and that includes our safari in Kenya and two-week long trip in Galapagos Islands. Even flying back to Homer was exciting and unique. Ken flew the plane around Mount Augustine, a volcano that was letting off a little bit of steam but last erupted in May 1931. More great photo opportunities.
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Author: Wildflower
Date: 07/31/2003, 11:06 am
Message: One correction. The Mt. Augustine most recent eruption took place in March 1986
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Author: Mama
Date: 05/14/2004, 08:50 am
Message: For Youngblood
Author: Wildflower
Date: 07/31/2003, 10:35 am
Message: Connie, my husband and I always recommend bear watching trip to our friends. It is definietly one of the most unforgettable experiences during which you learn about these amazing animals and how to respect their personal space, how to behave around them, how to enjoy seeing them in their own environment. If you decide to go but before you settle on a specific company to go with I suggest to do your research. Ask about saftey record of the plane and a pilot, how many years is a guide in business, what other business they are involved in (I would stay away from those who do also fishing, hunting, hiking, birding, white water rafting and some other things, the best is to find a company that does exclusively bear watching), how long is a trip and how many hours you will be actually watching bears, where are you going to go, is your guide going to be with you all the time or a pilot/guide just drop you off and you will be in line on a platform, how large is a group, how many other groups are going to be in that area, do they suupply hip boots, when do you have to put your deposit and how much, do they give refund (100% of deposit)if there is no trip due to a weather.
Here is what we wrote in our journal about our first bear watching trip in 2001. We returned for bear watching in 2002 and 2003. Please keep in mind that this is not a trip report. This is our personal journal. I removed names as I do not intend to advertise or endorse the company we use.
Then came the most exciting day of the whole trip. xxx Air Service flew us it a float plane to a 900 ft. Lake in the Katmai National Park. There were 9 of us and x, the pilot, and xx, the guide/naturalist. They had been in an IMAX film about bears. We had a dry landing and walked across the tundra to a bluff about 50 yards from the joining of the Kenai and Moraine Rivers. We had seen more than 20 bears in that river on the flight in and we were walking right to them. We watched from that vantage point and took some long lens shots, then moved down to the bank of the river to where the bears had trampled down a bunch of the tall grass and willow bushes.
By now we could recognize the bears that x and x had named: Scarface, Grandpa, Betty, Tom Thumb and, yes, they do have personalities and different looks. As Scarface would walk up or down the stream, the other bears would move slowly and reluctantly out of the way while others quickly disappeared into the willow bushes. Grandpa waited patiently while Scarface fished and when Scarface moved away, Grandpa moved in. We were within 20 yard of Scarface and he never paid any attention to us.
The bears fish by standing in the stream and as the fish move up the river to spawn, they pick out a fish and jump into the water, ducking their head under water and trying to catch the fish in their mouths. It is hard to see whether they use their claws during the catch. But if they catch one, they hold the fish in their mouths until they wade ashore, put the fish on a rock or rocks and hold it with their claws while they strip the meat away by pulling it off the fish, they seem to eat the bones because we could hear the crushing of the bones as they eat fish. When the bear is done, the birds get the remains.
The bear cubs are poor fishermen. They wade into the water like mama bear but they don?t seem to get the idea of putting their heads under water to catch the fish with their mouth. After a while, I felt like putting on a wetsuit and showing them how. Mama bear does teach them how to fight for fish, she makes the cubs fight her for the fish she catches for them. Cubs stay with the mother for three years before they go off for themselves.
The most exciting bear watching event was watching a mama bear and three cubs. The four of them crossed the river on our extreme right. Mama bear continued on down the river and the three cubs got up on the bank and started walking down the path that our group was on. Ken told us to be very quiet and back off the path so the cubs could get by, which we did. Mama continued in the water about 50 yards below us on our left. Meanwhile the cubs came down the path to about 15 or 20 feet from us and stopped. They had seen us and they crouch in the willow shrubs. Every once in a while one would stand upon his or her hind feet and peer at us over the willows, then a little later another one would stick a head up and smell. Then two together would stand up. Meanwhile mama walked ashore and disappeared into the shrub. We caught a glimpse of her hurrying along about twenty yards in back of us hurrying to her cubs. They all joined up and followed mama across the river and disappeared into the shrub on the other side.
Those six hours in the field of bear watching were the most exciting and interesting experience we have had in our last seven years of vacations and that includes our safari in Kenya and two-week long trip in Galapagos Islands. Even flying back to Homer was exciting and unique. Ken flew the plane around Mount Augustine, a volcano that was letting off a little bit of steam but last erupted in May 1931. More great photo opportunities.
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Author: Wildflower
Date: 07/31/2003, 11:06 am
Message: One correction. The Mt. Augustine most recent eruption took place in March 1986
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Author: Mama
Date: 05/14/2004, 08:50 am
Message: For Youngblood
Jul 25th, 2004 | 11:15 AM
#3
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 307
Likes: 0
One more on bear watching
Author: freespirit61
Date: 07/02/2004, 05:17 pm
Message: I want to go to katmai National Park to view the brown bears at Brooks Falls at the end of August. Need input from someone who has done this or has arranged to do this. I checked out the ferry as a means of transportation but it does take a long time and then i realized i still need float service to get to Brooks Falls. I'm open to other areas to see the brown bears but last year i was in denali and didn't see any. An early Thanks for your input everyone.
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Author: Mariann
Date: 07/02/2004, 05:46 pm
Message: Get a hold of www.Katmailand.com I think the later you go the more bears you'll see with September being optimal. They have a daytrip where you can fly in for the day from Anchorage via PennAir. You can also overnight and camp at Brooks or stay in one of their cabins. The expensive thing is the airfare to get there but it's worth it, tons of bears.
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Author: BudgetQueen ([email protected])
Date: 07/02/2004, 09:20 pm
Message: I would recommed at least 1 overnight. Are you going to Homer?? Just an extensive list of excellent operators there. Actually- the flight is not the biggest cost- the guiding is.
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Author: Mariann
Date: 07/02/2004, 09:49 pm
Message: Guiding? Why would you get a guide? I've been to Brooks Falls numerous times over the past 16 years and I don't know anyone who has ever had a guide unless it's a fishing guide or they are doing the daytrip to the "Valley of 10,000 Smoke", there the bus driver is also the tour guide but then you're free to hike on your own once you get to the Valleyn (this is probably only $50 per person and includes lunch). Of course there is Park Service all over the place but they don't charge you. What guide have you hired before?
If you leave from Homer I think most the planes are single engine. I wouldn't fly a single engine plane over that body of water, it's too rough - if the engine goes out you're a goner. I'd at least take a twin engine.
I also think you should overnight. It's such a good experience you should get the most out of it.
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Author: freespirit61
Date: 07/03/2004, 07:58 pm
Message: i can go anytime between august 26- sept 1st. i have read that brooks falls can be very busy with people and that sometimes a line forms to view the bears on the platform. have either of you experienced this. if i stay overnite would i be able to avoid this? Budgetqueen I am going to homer also so i can either fly form anchorage or homer. thank again for the early response.
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Author: BudgetQueen ([email protected])
Date: 07/03/2004, 08:44 pm
Message: Out of Homer- many of the bear trips are guided- these aren't all going to Brooks Falls. This was my only reference. I too have heard Brooks Falls can be over run with limited timed viewing??? Perhaps Mariann- can verify this?
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Author: Pat2003
Date: 07/04/2004, 07:01 am
Message: Unfortunately, Brooks Falls is trying to accommodate too many people who have to wait sometimes in a very long lines. Been there, done that and it was greatregardless of long waiting time. Then we went to Katmai NP from Homer and it was fantastic, something so amazing that we want to go back next summer. Expensive but worthy. We had the best guide from one well known company in Homer, recommended here often. Freespirit, if you want to fly from Homer to Katmai NP book now. Brooks Falls is fully booked for this season but maybe they will have cancelation? I would recommmend flying from Homer to Katmai. We enjoyed both options but Katmai wins hands down.
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Author: Mariann
Date: 07/04/2004, 01:16 pm
Message: July is usually the most crowded, the end of August doesn't have as many people, you're probably going at a great time to avoid crowds. In July the salmon are running up the river to the falls so the platforms are in more demand then. If you're going into Brooks where the lodge is and the viewing platforms you don't need a guide but if you are going into a different part of the park away from everything that is probably different. I prefer the comfort of a lodge and platforms.
Call 1-800-544-0551 these are the only cabins available in the Park, if you want to camp they can give you the phone number to the NPS to reserve a spot in the camp ground. I would call now and check availability.
I've only flown from Anchorage, it has never appealed to me to fly from Homer, however it is closer and the flight is a shorter distance. I use to be a student pilot and error on the cautious side. You'll love Homer, it's a nice small town.
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Author: freespirit61
Date: 07/05/2004, 12:39 pm
Message: thank you mariann,budgetqueen and pat2003 for the insight. i have spoke with an operator out of homer and am going to check availability out of anchorage. i'm considering doing them both. after reading your posts and doing some research i feel the experiences are quite different. mariann have you done the anchorage flyin to brooks at the end of august and if so did you see bears? again i appreciate the posts. theres nothing like first hand experience. thank you.
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Author: Mariann
Date: 07/05/2004, 11:28 pm
Message: Yes, there were lots of bears. Are you going to camp? I have never done that, it never appealed to me but I guess they have an electric fence they put around the campground at night. At least that's what one camper told me. Anxious to hear how your trip goes.
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Author: earlxx
Date: 07/06/2004, 07:46 am
Message: freespirit61, who are you going with from Homer?
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Author: freespirit61
Date: 07/06/2004, 01:05 pm
Message: mariann, i checked and i can stay in the lodge. i'm with you on comfort.
earlxx, i am going to use emeraldairservice.com. have you flown out of homer and if so who did you use? i also have other daytrip companies websites if you want more info.
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Author: Wildflower
Date: 07/06/2004, 01:33 pm
Message: Hello Freespirit, I am glad you decided to use Emerald Air Service. You won't be dissapointed. Every summer we go with them at least for one day watching trip. If yu would like to see my pictures taken on these trips or are interested in more details regarding trips with Emerald Air Service send me e-mail [email protected] We are in a process of selling our property so I seldom check this board lately.
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Author: Dottie
Date: 07/08/2004, 10:19 am
Message: We went to Brooks Falls in July 2002, and stayed the night in the lodge.The cabins are very basic, don't expect anything much. However, the evenings are very special there, as all the day trippers have left.So we did miss the crowded platforms, that way.You will love it!
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Author: Mariann
Date: 07/08/2004, 12:59 pm
Message: There was an average of 18 bears at the falls when I was there before in July. Watching their interactions & fish catching abilities is so amazing. I love watching the mama's & cubs. There were even two bears mating right below us during one of the very first times I was there.
You are so right about the evenings. Really, it's a shame for the people that come all that way and don't spend the night but I guess with such limited overnight accomondations they don't have a choice. It's truely amazing. I love the look on people's faces when they see my pictures, they can't believe it.
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Author: freespirit61
Date: 07/08/2004, 11:39 pm
Message: thank you mariann and dottie for the reply.i have read on the national park site that bear sightings at brooks falls are Not common at the end of august and at times none are seen at all. i'm a little concerned about this.
mariann have you been to brooks falls at the end of august? what kind camera/lens did you use to take pictures? thanks for the info. last year i went to denali and didn't see any bears and although the bears schedules can't be determined i would like to see just a few. thanks
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Author: Mariann
Date: 07/09/2004, 03:49 am
Message: In July is when you have all the bears at Brooks Falls, in August they are more scattered around. I saw them on the beach and on the trail. I went Aug 31st/Sept 2nd. Are you sure they aren't talking only about the Falls on the Park's website? What does Emerald Air Service say?
In July the bears are all around the Falls which is a sight to see. Maybe you should try and plan for next July to see the bears at the Falls? Boy, I can't imagine you wouldn't see a bear but since the Park Service posted that it does make me question it. Maybe their patterns are changing or maybe I've just been lucky? Wildlife can be fickled. I would probably call and ask them or your guide before I shelled out the money. Emerald Air Service must go in there everyday and knows what to expect. If it's questionable then maybe you should wait until July for the sure thing.
Dottie, what have you found?
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Author: Wildflower
Date: 07/09/2004, 07:47 am
Message: With Emerald Service you won't go to Brooks Falls, they will fly you in to a very special and secluded part of Katmai National Park. I don't know about Brooks Falls but you will see many bears on your trip with Emerald Air Service. On every trip we saw between 40-75 bears.
This is what Emeral Air Service says about bear watching during June, July and August/September
"...June finds us along the coastal sedge flats watching as the bears beach comb and graze on succulent spring grasses and browse. It is mating season - we may see large males pursuing the females, June is the time new spring cubs are being introduced into the general population of bears - young sub adults are playfully celebrating the return of summer.
In late June and July many of the streams and rivers along the Alaska Range fill with salmon returning to the very streams they were spawned in, their bright red color shines and flashes as they fight their way up stream. Waiting for the salmon are the bears sporting hefty appetites after a long winters sleep. Each has their favorite fishing spot and unique fishing style.
...Mid August through September finds the bears fat and slick, moving between the salmon streams and the abundant ripe berries on the hillsides. Appetites sated, preparing to den.
...Throughout the day as we walk along the streams stopping frequently to sit on an overlook to watch, you might be amazed by how graceful and sensitive these magnificent creatures are, or by the tender interaction of a female with her cubs-cubs wrestling while mom catches lunch. Just when you think all the bears have moved off, like a ghost a 1200 pound male silently appears - don't be alarmed, he has one thing on his mind- catching fish! Watching his slow rolling gate you would think he couldn't possibly move as quickly or gracefully as he does splashing into the stream after a fish - in fact he can run up to 40 miles per hour, can turn like a working cow horse, stand on his hind legs, walk across logs that look to narrow for his feet and scratch the inside of his ear with one claw."
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Author: freespirit61
Date: 07/09/2004, 03:29 pm
Message: thank you mariann and wildflower. emeraldair as you said travels to other parts of the park. at the end of august the bears are in the areas where berries are and streams where salmon are. my understanding is that from august until sometime in september the falls are a hit and miss with the bears. i think marianns advice to wait until another time to visit the falls is the ticket. i am going to book with emeraldair as they travel to the "bears hangouts" when i will be there. thank you so much for the input and time. any other info is always appreciated. i'll make sure i post after my trip. this is the best way to learn --from others experiences. thanks again..
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Author: Dottie
Date: 07/09/2004, 04:26 pm
Message: I think Emerald air is the way to go if you are going in Aug..They will most likely go were the bears are so your chances will be better, of sightings.
Brooks, as a rule needs to be booked over a year ahead in order to get lodge space.And I wouldn't be sure that the bears will be with in view that late in the season.
Please do post a report when you get back.I know you will have a great trip,and I want to here all about it.
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Author: velodurt
Date: 07/09/2004, 09:05 pm
Message: Hello everyone, I thought those of you planning a trip to Katmai might be interested in a website I came across...it is a journal of a person working at Katmai for the summer. It has great updated info. Here is the url http://happiness2004.tblog.com/
I will be leaving for Katmai next week and I will be sure to post a trip report when I return. Hope everyone gets some use out of the blog..I know I have.
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Author: JackieSun
Date: 07/10/2004, 02:10 am
Message: We have been to Homer and Katmai. The time to go to Katmai is the last few days of June thru end of July. They are there for the Salmon. Then they move out. They are back again in Sept after the Salmon have died.
The cost of Katmai is expensive, so make sure you will be there at a good bear viewing.
Homer was good. We went out on a boat and saw lots of bears fishing.
Both locations required entry via a float plane.
We have been to Alaska several times - planning to visit again next year.
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Author: Wildflower
Date: 07/10/2004, 07:27 am
Message: As someone who goes every year bear watching to Katmai National Park, not to Brooks Falls, I would like to say that each time we saw many bears. We were there mid-July (once), end of July (three times), begining of August (twice), mid-August (once). As I mentioned before each time we saw between 40-75 bears. The highest number we had it was August 4th.
JackieSun, when you wrote
<The time to go to Katmai is the last few days of June thru end of July. They are there for the Salmon. Then they move out>
Did you mean Brooks Falls in Katmai NP?
Then <Homer was good. We went out on a boat and saw lots of bears fishing.> But that had to be again Katmai National Park, right? If there are any other ways to go bear watching from Homer I hope to find out.
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Author: freespirit61
Date: 07/13/2004, 07:24 pm
Message: thank you again for all the input. the advice i received to make this decision could not have been done without all of the experience of others. thanks and as another traveler said, God Bless Mr. Seward. He had vision.
Author: freespirit61
Date: 07/02/2004, 05:17 pm
Message: I want to go to katmai National Park to view the brown bears at Brooks Falls at the end of August. Need input from someone who has done this or has arranged to do this. I checked out the ferry as a means of transportation but it does take a long time and then i realized i still need float service to get to Brooks Falls. I'm open to other areas to see the brown bears but last year i was in denali and didn't see any. An early Thanks for your input everyone.
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Author: Mariann
Date: 07/02/2004, 05:46 pm
Message: Get a hold of www.Katmailand.com I think the later you go the more bears you'll see with September being optimal. They have a daytrip where you can fly in for the day from Anchorage via PennAir. You can also overnight and camp at Brooks or stay in one of their cabins. The expensive thing is the airfare to get there but it's worth it, tons of bears.
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Author: BudgetQueen ([email protected])
Date: 07/02/2004, 09:20 pm
Message: I would recommed at least 1 overnight. Are you going to Homer?? Just an extensive list of excellent operators there. Actually- the flight is not the biggest cost- the guiding is.
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Author: Mariann
Date: 07/02/2004, 09:49 pm
Message: Guiding? Why would you get a guide? I've been to Brooks Falls numerous times over the past 16 years and I don't know anyone who has ever had a guide unless it's a fishing guide or they are doing the daytrip to the "Valley of 10,000 Smoke", there the bus driver is also the tour guide but then you're free to hike on your own once you get to the Valleyn (this is probably only $50 per person and includes lunch). Of course there is Park Service all over the place but they don't charge you. What guide have you hired before?
If you leave from Homer I think most the planes are single engine. I wouldn't fly a single engine plane over that body of water, it's too rough - if the engine goes out you're a goner. I'd at least take a twin engine.
I also think you should overnight. It's such a good experience you should get the most out of it.
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Author: freespirit61
Date: 07/03/2004, 07:58 pm
Message: i can go anytime between august 26- sept 1st. i have read that brooks falls can be very busy with people and that sometimes a line forms to view the bears on the platform. have either of you experienced this. if i stay overnite would i be able to avoid this? Budgetqueen I am going to homer also so i can either fly form anchorage or homer. thank again for the early response.
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Author: BudgetQueen ([email protected])
Date: 07/03/2004, 08:44 pm
Message: Out of Homer- many of the bear trips are guided- these aren't all going to Brooks Falls. This was my only reference. I too have heard Brooks Falls can be over run with limited timed viewing??? Perhaps Mariann- can verify this?
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Author: Pat2003
Date: 07/04/2004, 07:01 am
Message: Unfortunately, Brooks Falls is trying to accommodate too many people who have to wait sometimes in a very long lines. Been there, done that and it was greatregardless of long waiting time. Then we went to Katmai NP from Homer and it was fantastic, something so amazing that we want to go back next summer. Expensive but worthy. We had the best guide from one well known company in Homer, recommended here often. Freespirit, if you want to fly from Homer to Katmai NP book now. Brooks Falls is fully booked for this season but maybe they will have cancelation? I would recommmend flying from Homer to Katmai. We enjoyed both options but Katmai wins hands down.
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Author: Mariann
Date: 07/04/2004, 01:16 pm
Message: July is usually the most crowded, the end of August doesn't have as many people, you're probably going at a great time to avoid crowds. In July the salmon are running up the river to the falls so the platforms are in more demand then. If you're going into Brooks where the lodge is and the viewing platforms you don't need a guide but if you are going into a different part of the park away from everything that is probably different. I prefer the comfort of a lodge and platforms.
Call 1-800-544-0551 these are the only cabins available in the Park, if you want to camp they can give you the phone number to the NPS to reserve a spot in the camp ground. I would call now and check availability.
I've only flown from Anchorage, it has never appealed to me to fly from Homer, however it is closer and the flight is a shorter distance. I use to be a student pilot and error on the cautious side. You'll love Homer, it's a nice small town.
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Author: freespirit61
Date: 07/05/2004, 12:39 pm
Message: thank you mariann,budgetqueen and pat2003 for the insight. i have spoke with an operator out of homer and am going to check availability out of anchorage. i'm considering doing them both. after reading your posts and doing some research i feel the experiences are quite different. mariann have you done the anchorage flyin to brooks at the end of august and if so did you see bears? again i appreciate the posts. theres nothing like first hand experience. thank you.
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Author: Mariann
Date: 07/05/2004, 11:28 pm
Message: Yes, there were lots of bears. Are you going to camp? I have never done that, it never appealed to me but I guess they have an electric fence they put around the campground at night. At least that's what one camper told me. Anxious to hear how your trip goes.
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Author: earlxx
Date: 07/06/2004, 07:46 am
Message: freespirit61, who are you going with from Homer?
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Author: freespirit61
Date: 07/06/2004, 01:05 pm
Message: mariann, i checked and i can stay in the lodge. i'm with you on comfort.
earlxx, i am going to use emeraldairservice.com. have you flown out of homer and if so who did you use? i also have other daytrip companies websites if you want more info.
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Author: Wildflower
Date: 07/06/2004, 01:33 pm
Message: Hello Freespirit, I am glad you decided to use Emerald Air Service. You won't be dissapointed. Every summer we go with them at least for one day watching trip. If yu would like to see my pictures taken on these trips or are interested in more details regarding trips with Emerald Air Service send me e-mail [email protected] We are in a process of selling our property so I seldom check this board lately.
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Author: Dottie
Date: 07/08/2004, 10:19 am
Message: We went to Brooks Falls in July 2002, and stayed the night in the lodge.The cabins are very basic, don't expect anything much. However, the evenings are very special there, as all the day trippers have left.So we did miss the crowded platforms, that way.You will love it!
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Author: Mariann
Date: 07/08/2004, 12:59 pm
Message: There was an average of 18 bears at the falls when I was there before in July. Watching their interactions & fish catching abilities is so amazing. I love watching the mama's & cubs. There were even two bears mating right below us during one of the very first times I was there.
You are so right about the evenings. Really, it's a shame for the people that come all that way and don't spend the night but I guess with such limited overnight accomondations they don't have a choice. It's truely amazing. I love the look on people's faces when they see my pictures, they can't believe it.
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Author: freespirit61
Date: 07/08/2004, 11:39 pm
Message: thank you mariann and dottie for the reply.i have read on the national park site that bear sightings at brooks falls are Not common at the end of august and at times none are seen at all. i'm a little concerned about this.
mariann have you been to brooks falls at the end of august? what kind camera/lens did you use to take pictures? thanks for the info. last year i went to denali and didn't see any bears and although the bears schedules can't be determined i would like to see just a few. thanks
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Author: Mariann
Date: 07/09/2004, 03:49 am
Message: In July is when you have all the bears at Brooks Falls, in August they are more scattered around. I saw them on the beach and on the trail. I went Aug 31st/Sept 2nd. Are you sure they aren't talking only about the Falls on the Park's website? What does Emerald Air Service say?
In July the bears are all around the Falls which is a sight to see. Maybe you should try and plan for next July to see the bears at the Falls? Boy, I can't imagine you wouldn't see a bear but since the Park Service posted that it does make me question it. Maybe their patterns are changing or maybe I've just been lucky? Wildlife can be fickled. I would probably call and ask them or your guide before I shelled out the money. Emerald Air Service must go in there everyday and knows what to expect. If it's questionable then maybe you should wait until July for the sure thing.
Dottie, what have you found?
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Author: Wildflower
Date: 07/09/2004, 07:47 am
Message: With Emerald Service you won't go to Brooks Falls, they will fly you in to a very special and secluded part of Katmai National Park. I don't know about Brooks Falls but you will see many bears on your trip with Emerald Air Service. On every trip we saw between 40-75 bears.
This is what Emeral Air Service says about bear watching during June, July and August/September
"...June finds us along the coastal sedge flats watching as the bears beach comb and graze on succulent spring grasses and browse. It is mating season - we may see large males pursuing the females, June is the time new spring cubs are being introduced into the general population of bears - young sub adults are playfully celebrating the return of summer.
In late June and July many of the streams and rivers along the Alaska Range fill with salmon returning to the very streams they were spawned in, their bright red color shines and flashes as they fight their way up stream. Waiting for the salmon are the bears sporting hefty appetites after a long winters sleep. Each has their favorite fishing spot and unique fishing style.
...Mid August through September finds the bears fat and slick, moving between the salmon streams and the abundant ripe berries on the hillsides. Appetites sated, preparing to den.
...Throughout the day as we walk along the streams stopping frequently to sit on an overlook to watch, you might be amazed by how graceful and sensitive these magnificent creatures are, or by the tender interaction of a female with her cubs-cubs wrestling while mom catches lunch. Just when you think all the bears have moved off, like a ghost a 1200 pound male silently appears - don't be alarmed, he has one thing on his mind- catching fish! Watching his slow rolling gate you would think he couldn't possibly move as quickly or gracefully as he does splashing into the stream after a fish - in fact he can run up to 40 miles per hour, can turn like a working cow horse, stand on his hind legs, walk across logs that look to narrow for his feet and scratch the inside of his ear with one claw."
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Author: freespirit61
Date: 07/09/2004, 03:29 pm
Message: thank you mariann and wildflower. emeraldair as you said travels to other parts of the park. at the end of august the bears are in the areas where berries are and streams where salmon are. my understanding is that from august until sometime in september the falls are a hit and miss with the bears. i think marianns advice to wait until another time to visit the falls is the ticket. i am going to book with emeraldair as they travel to the "bears hangouts" when i will be there. thank you so much for the input and time. any other info is always appreciated. i'll make sure i post after my trip. this is the best way to learn --from others experiences. thanks again..
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Author: Dottie
Date: 07/09/2004, 04:26 pm
Message: I think Emerald air is the way to go if you are going in Aug..They will most likely go were the bears are so your chances will be better, of sightings.
Brooks, as a rule needs to be booked over a year ahead in order to get lodge space.And I wouldn't be sure that the bears will be with in view that late in the season.
Please do post a report when you get back.I know you will have a great trip,and I want to here all about it.
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Author: velodurt
Date: 07/09/2004, 09:05 pm
Message: Hello everyone, I thought those of you planning a trip to Katmai might be interested in a website I came across...it is a journal of a person working at Katmai for the summer. It has great updated info. Here is the url http://happiness2004.tblog.com/
I will be leaving for Katmai next week and I will be sure to post a trip report when I return. Hope everyone gets some use out of the blog..I know I have.
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Author: JackieSun
Date: 07/10/2004, 02:10 am
Message: We have been to Homer and Katmai. The time to go to Katmai is the last few days of June thru end of July. They are there for the Salmon. Then they move out. They are back again in Sept after the Salmon have died.
The cost of Katmai is expensive, so make sure you will be there at a good bear viewing.
Homer was good. We went out on a boat and saw lots of bears fishing.
Both locations required entry via a float plane.
We have been to Alaska several times - planning to visit again next year.
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Author: Wildflower
Date: 07/10/2004, 07:27 am
Message: As someone who goes every year bear watching to Katmai National Park, not to Brooks Falls, I would like to say that each time we saw many bears. We were there mid-July (once), end of July (three times), begining of August (twice), mid-August (once). As I mentioned before each time we saw between 40-75 bears. The highest number we had it was August 4th.
JackieSun, when you wrote
<The time to go to Katmai is the last few days of June thru end of July. They are there for the Salmon. Then they move out>
Did you mean Brooks Falls in Katmai NP?
Then <Homer was good. We went out on a boat and saw lots of bears fishing.> But that had to be again Katmai National Park, right? If there are any other ways to go bear watching from Homer I hope to find out.
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Author: freespirit61
Date: 07/13/2004, 07:24 pm
Message: thank you again for all the input. the advice i received to make this decision could not have been done without all of the experience of others. thanks and as another traveler said, God Bless Mr. Seward. He had vision.
Jul 25th, 2004 | 05:53 PM
#5
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
Well, I don't know if I've seen enough of the state to justify a top 10 yet, but I can tell you my favorites of what I've seen.
1) A toss-up between Sitka and Valdez. Sitka has the charming town but Valdez (definitely *not* a charming town) has all those waterfalls and glaciers. I think what attracts me to both is the incredible lushness combined with those beautiful mountain/water views you get in nearly all Alaska's coastal communities.
2) Denali. For the abundant wildlife and vast mountain scenery.
3) Juneau. With that gorgeous little harbor and the way the mountains rise up just behind town, it has to be the prettiest capital city in the U.S. Just big enough to have all the comforts of home, but just small enough to be charming and cozy. Oh, and did I mention waterfalls? I think I have a thing for waterfalls.
4) Nome. I'm a little surprised to hear myself say it but the more I think about it the more I liked Nome. I think the attraction is that it's so different. It's not exactly beautiful in the conventional way, but I love looking off in the distance and knowing there's nothing but wilderness for hundreds of miles. I've never been anywhere with such a sense of the vast and remote. Plus, the town is funky and friendly. It seems to have a real sense of humor about itself.
That's all I'll say for now, but I can't wait to return and add to my list!
1) A toss-up between Sitka and Valdez. Sitka has the charming town but Valdez (definitely *not* a charming town) has all those waterfalls and glaciers. I think what attracts me to both is the incredible lushness combined with those beautiful mountain/water views you get in nearly all Alaska's coastal communities.
2) Denali. For the abundant wildlife and vast mountain scenery.
3) Juneau. With that gorgeous little harbor and the way the mountains rise up just behind town, it has to be the prettiest capital city in the U.S. Just big enough to have all the comforts of home, but just small enough to be charming and cozy. Oh, and did I mention waterfalls? I think I have a thing for waterfalls.
4) Nome. I'm a little surprised to hear myself say it but the more I think about it the more I liked Nome. I think the attraction is that it's so different. It's not exactly beautiful in the conventional way, but I love looking off in the distance and knowing there's nothing but wilderness for hundreds of miles. I've never been anywhere with such a sense of the vast and remote. Plus, the town is funky and friendly. It seems to have a real sense of humor about itself.
That's all I'll say for now, but I can't wait to return and add to my list!
Jul 25th, 2004 | 07:01 PM
#6
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 0
can't understand the fascination with fairbanks. it seems to be a little bit of des moines in AK.
no mountains near. hiking is boring.
my top 10:
1) Katmai/Brooks Camp . . . bears
2)Seward -- Great small town with wonderful access to Kenai Fjords.
3) Homer-Halibut Cove-Seldovia -- trifecta of pretty towns
4) Kodiak -- great drives, clear streams
5) Anchorage/Girdwood -- Access to so many good things -- coastal trail, eagle river valley, double musky and other great dining, alyeska
6) Sitka -- russian influence, mt. edgecumbe
7) Juneau -- great capital city
8) Talkeetna -- flightseeing
9) Valdez -- Blueberry Lake stop, waterfalls, Worthington Glacier
10) Fairbanks/Chena Hot Springs -- nice museum. great place for northern lights
no mountains near. hiking is boring.
my top 10:
1) Katmai/Brooks Camp . . . bears
2)Seward -- Great small town with wonderful access to Kenai Fjords.
3) Homer-Halibut Cove-Seldovia -- trifecta of pretty towns
4) Kodiak -- great drives, clear streams
5) Anchorage/Girdwood -- Access to so many good things -- coastal trail, eagle river valley, double musky and other great dining, alyeska
6) Sitka -- russian influence, mt. edgecumbe
7) Juneau -- great capital city
8) Talkeetna -- flightseeing
9) Valdez -- Blueberry Lake stop, waterfalls, Worthington Glacier
10) Fairbanks/Chena Hot Springs -- nice museum. great place for northern lights
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atravelynn
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