We returned today from our brown bear photo safari and can only say Wow!!!.  Many outfits that offer opportunities to view the Alaskan grizzlies, will take their customers to preordained places with brown bear “viewing platforms.”  That was not the experience we were looking for.  We chose Bald Mountain Air to take us into the wilderness to see brown bear in their complete natural habitat.  After a one hour instruction period of grizzly bear etiquette out in the wild, there were twelve souls who boarded two De Havilland Otter float planes to take a one plus hour flight to a river in the Katmai National Park.  This is actual wilderness country where the brown bears are in their native habitat.  As we taxi down Beluga Lake getting ready for takeoff, you can see the look of concern on Lynda’s face as a “float” plane is not necessarily her idea of a good time.

We landed at a remote river and wearing hip boots that were provided to us by Bald Mountain Air, we waded into the shore and began our photo safari.  There are no words that can express how spectacular and amazing this experience was.  You will note Barb in the pink jacket who walked within a few yards of this incredible creature.  We would immediately sit down to assure the bear we were not a threat.

There was a massive brown bear who saw us walking along the top of a ridge.  He started running toward us and then disappeared behind a short hill.  We sat down and I was able to take a video of what happened next.  It was incredible.  It is about a two minute video so I had to upload it it youtube in order to share it.  I’ve included the link for you to view.  Absolutely amazing.  Then it was about a mile and a half walk back to the planes and our return to Homer.