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Alaska Visitors Center, Anchorage, Ak.<\/p>\n
This authentic sod-roofed log cabin, on the corner of Fourth Ave. and F Street in downtown Anchorage, houses the Alaska Visitor Center. To me, it symbolizes the very cornerstone of life on the Last Frontier. How appropriate to start this photographic adventure right here.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n I’ve seen many fellow travelers steam forward head down, on a goal-oriented mission. I’ve been guilty of that. In most of my travels, though, I’ve been quite fortunate to be able to meet and engage some of the local folks. All kinds of ’em. I was sitting on a bench opposite this fellow in downtown Anchorage and as I am accustomed to doing, I engaged him with eye contact and a smile and started a conversation. Onward, Through the Fog!<\/p>\n Grizzly Bear Talisman<\/p>\n The ride from the hotel to the airport shows the support most Alaskans have for the Iditarod, and builds my excitement for the adventure to come.<\/p>\n All my photographic life, I’ve dreamed of mingling with, and capturing, Alaska’s grizzly bears up-close-and-personal.\u00a0 And thanks to my good friend, Art Wolfe, here I am at curbside, heart rate only slightly increased. \u00a0So far.<\/p>\n Winnie, Bob, Art, Linda, Vaughn, Steve, and Kevin.<\/p>\n Our welcoming committee at the Bristol Bay Sport Fishing Lodge<\/p>\n (Wow, what a nice place!)<\/p>\n Aboard an aircraft out\u00a0of the pages of history and still flying all over Alaska and Canada today\u00a0is a thrilling way for an old retired pilot\u00a0to go out to the photo shoot and back every day. \u00a0Early each morning we would fly out of camp, look around, and find how far upriver the salmon had progressed since the day before. \u00a0Then we’d find a large pond in the tundra nearby where the Beaver would drop us off for the day.<\/p>\n Um, did anybody hear what time pick-up was? \u00a0Anyone? \u00a0Ferris<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n A brief quarter-mile hike brought us to the river… and these four fishermen.<\/p>\n Three French fishermen and one big ol’ bruin sharing the wealth of the stream. I couldn’t help but\u00a0wonder what the old boar thought about about the three new-comer’s fishing techniques. \u00a0Did he just snort and disdainfully walk away, or did I just imagine that?<\/p>\n A few minutes later we were attracted by some splashing just across and down-river… This young Mom and her single cub were looking for breakfast.<\/p>\n Wait here, son, while Mom goes to fetch our breakfast.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mom is\u00a0trying to chase some of the salmon into the shallows for easier picking. \u00a0She probably learned this style of fishing from her mother.<\/strong><\/p>\n …we\u00a0got dropped off in a small lake about two miles away from the river and began our trek across the tundra. \u00a0Walking 0n tundra in the chest waders (they’re required to ford several streams and the river itself several times), carrying all your earthly photographic possessions on your back to get to the “extraction point” is not a “walk in the park”. \u00a0It’s like walking across a seemingly endless \u00a0soft mattress with rolls and tucks pulling at your boots trying to trip you, then slogging across the river. \u00a0The hard work was rewarded, though, when we spied a big female just up the hill from our position. \u00a0At first glance, it appeared that she was watching us approach. In actuality,\u00a0she wasn’t seeming to be paying that much attention to us.<\/p>\n Mom keeps a watchful eye as she scans the tundra, danger is everywhere.<\/strong><\/p>\n Mom sees another bear \u00a0about 1 km away, slowly but steadily,\u00a0coming their way. It’s a big male. \u00a0Mom tenses up, her back stiffening, her eyes,\u00a0ears, and nose at full attention. Sensing Mom’s unease, the little blonde cub automatically tenses up too, and ducks down behind a little hillock. \u00a0Mom knows that a boar will readily kill and eat her cub. \u00a0That will eventually throw her back into estrus allowing him to\u00a0breed her, spreading his<\/span> genes ever further among the populace. \u00a0 Genetics in action, producing the biggest, toughest, and most likely to survive bears.<\/p>\n No decisions to make for Mom, it\u00a0was\u00a0all very clear… \u00a0<\/span>She immediately began to lead her cub away to safety. (Good momma!)<\/span><\/p>\n Turns out, we’re maybe a half-mile from the river. \u00a0Gavriel “Eagle eyes” Jecan spots seagulls over the river. \u00a0Good news. \u00a0Where there are seagulls, there are shredded fish… and Bears!<\/p>\n In our excitement to be nearing the river and a potential bear to photograph, we are focused on the ridge ahead where we could finally peek over the crest and see if the seagulls and Gavriel were right…<\/p>\n I paused for a moment to catch my breath and turned to look for Winnie. \u00a0There she was, about 25 meters behind me, walking by the same brush that I had just walked by. \u00a0The brush with the big brown bear behind it. \u00a0That brush. This has been one of the best years for blueberries in the Kenai area. \u00a0This big girl loves blueberries, they’re staining her snout! \u00a0Berries and salmon, salmon, then back for some more blueberries. \u00a0Ahhhh. \u00a0It’s a good life.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Yea!, our little party has enjoyed an invigorating morning walk, several brisk (and successful) crossings of the river and tributary or two, and we’ve finally arrived at our destination for the day: the river chock-full of salmon and bear.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Oh, great.\u00a0 Another cousin fishing right here???<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hmmmm, what’s this thing?\u00a0 Doesn’t smell like salmon, so I’ll just move along.<\/strong><\/p>\n Travel tip:\u00a0 Never drink flavoured coffee while sitting on a gravel bar in bear country. She’s a good hunter.<\/strong><\/p>\n Multiple targets in sight…<\/strong><\/p>\n Locked on…\u00a0 \u00a0and those Claws!<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chase ’em into the shallows!…<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n and snorkel if ya have to…<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n HA!<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Salmon.\u00a0 It’s what’s for dinner!<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Alaska Visitors Center, Anchorage, Ak. This authentic sod-roofed log cabin, on the corner of Fourth Ave. and F Street in downtown Anchorage, houses the Alaska Visitor Center. To me, it symbolizes the very cornerstone of life on the Last Frontier. How appropriate to start this photographic adventure right here. I’ve seen many fellow … <\/p>\n<\/h6>\n
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\nThen, I shut up and listened to the man talk.
\nI learned that when he was a young boy, he and his dad killed a grizzly together. He related how clear his memory of that was… he aimed for the head, and his dad aimed for the heart… He showed me the bear claw that he had taken from it.
\nI learned that he spent four years in the Army.
\nI learned that he had been a fireman for twelve years and had fought forest fires in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, and Idaho.
\nWe split a hot dog.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\nThe DeHavilland Beaver flight deck in all it’s glory<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nPeaceful Coexistence<\/h3>\n
\nIt occurs to me that it’s true: \u00a0All you need in life you can learn in kindergarten. \u00a0 You don’t bother me, I won’t bother you.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\nThe next day…<\/h4>\n
Then we see this little blonde head pop up next to momma.<\/h4>\n
<\/p>\nA Watchful Eye<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nWe’ll be leaving now…<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nJust Leaving<\/h3>\n
\nI’m sure and certain that I looked hilarious with all my animated arm-waving, gesturing, and pointing.
\nAnd ms Winnie didn’t look as much amused… as perplexed. \u00a0When she finally got within whispering range I yelled, in a whisper, mind you, Bear! \u00a0Behind! \u00a0Brush!
\nShe got the message. \u00a0And instead of doing anything stupid like running, she walked about ten\u00a0more paces, turned, and set up her tripod for a few Up Close and Personal shots.
\nWell played, Winnie.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
After very quietly easing up close to Winnie, I got to get a little more intimate with this good-looking, healthy, big blonde girl.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nthen… the PORTRAIT OF THE DAY!<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nLife is good.<\/h3>\n
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\nJust sayin’…\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n