Admiralty Island Alaska Bear Watching also Ketchikan

Hi,

I'm going on the 5 1/2 hour Alaskan brown bear watching tour by

float plane at Pack Creek on Admiralty Island near Juneau on August

21. I was wondering if anyone out there has any advice for me. I've

seen all the images of the Katmai grizzlies and understand Pack

Creek has a different kind of feel to it. However, I could find very

few photo galleries online. If you know of a good pack creek gallery

specifically, please let me know. I'd love to get some insight about

what I'll be seeing, etc.

Also, I have the following equipment and I'm wondering if I should

run out and buy anything better before I actually get there. (I

won't be able to rent a lens in Juneau as I only arrive the evening

before I go on the tour from Whittier by ferry):

Nikon 80-200mm f2.8 / Tamron 200-400mm f5.6 / Sigma 80-300mm f4.5

I also have a Tamron 2x teleconverter. I'll be using a Nikon D70 so

my lenses will already be increased by 1.5x or so.

I live on the west coast of B.C. so I know from experience it can be

somewhat dark and rainy along the coast at this time of year.

Light's definitely going to be a factor and my tamron 200-400 isn't

the greatest in low light.

Do you think you can get close enough to the bears from the

observatory to take effective photos with a 400mm (with a

teleconverter if it isn't too dark)? What are the tours actually

like in terms of photography?

Also, I have read (but could not find online) that there is a black

bear lookout in Katchikan right near town at a place called the

Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary. Is this true? I'll be in Katchikan on

August 26 or so. What do you think my chances of seeing black bears

along the creek near town? I'd suspect the salmon will still be

running, but I'm not sure. Anyone ever been there? Any photo

galleries to share?

Also, any advice for other wildlife adventures in Southeastern

Alaska would be great. I'm thinking about doing a day/overnight trip

into Haines as well. The main purpose of my trip is to photograph

wildlife.

Thank you in advance for any helpful tips or advice!

Christina

Christina,

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I live in Juneau, and went to Pack Creek a week ago. The bears were somewhat further away than what I had expected, though they have been known to approach humans closely (my wife works for the Forest Service and was approached to within 15 feet last year). I took a Canon 20D with a 100-400mm zoom, & a 1.4x teleconverter. From the main viewing spit, the bears in the creek were at least 100 yards away. There's nothing to keep them from coming closer, but as long as there is salmon in the creek, they'll probably stay there.

<p>

The trail to the viewing tower is primitive, but not terribly difficult. It's about a mile back, with a couple hundred feet of elevation gain and loss each way. The tower has a maximum holding capacity of 8 people, but with 8, I think it'd be pretty darned crowded. At any rate, there weren't any bears up by the tower. If there had been, the vantage point would have been perfect for good close shots. With the 400mm lens, I was able to nearly fill frames with a seagull and some salmon. I would ask if people have been seeing bears at the tower, and if they haven't, I'd seriously consider not going up there to chance it. It's a good 45 minute to an hour walk each way, so it can really cut into your time.

<p>

My photos from this trip are <a href="http://sacredartichoke.com/coppermine/thumbnails.php?album=36">here</a>. All the bear shots are cropped from the 400mm lens on a 1.6x crop digital body, with the 1.4x teleconverter.

<p>

Pictures my wife took the year before, when the bears got much closer (but our camera wasn't nearly as good) are <a href="http://sacredartichoke.com/coppermine/thumbnails.php?album=2">here</a>.

<p>

As for light, it was plenty sunny when we were there, and it's been hot and sunny for the past week. I wouldn't expect that to last, but you never know. You're much more likely to see more bears the cooler it is.

<p>

I've never been to the area by Ketchikan, but I do know of people who have been to the one around Wrangel and gotten some great shots.

<p>

Do you have specific ideas for wildlife around Haines? I've never been there, but I don't know that it's any better than any other place around, except for the bald eagle gatherings in mid-fall.

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<c><img src="http://sacredartichoke.com/coppermine/albums/08-08-2005%20pack%20creek/IMG_9457-01.jpg"></center>

Hi, Lance's wife here. If you are going with one of the tour guide companies you are all set. However if you are going on your own you need to call the Juneau Ranger District (US Forest Service) as soon as possible as we sell only a limited number of permits per day and they are selling out FAST as the season is coming to a close.

Yesterday I sold 25 for the upcoming week. Guide companies such as Alaska Discovery, and Fly n' Fish provide the permits as part of their prices. People can also go on their own, without a guide, but must get the permits from me in advance.

I don't know the ettiquette of posting a phone number here, but if you don't have your permits yet, and are not going with a guide, you need to call me right away. Yesterday I sold Today, tomorrow, and Thursday completely out in a two hour period.

Thanks,

April