Grizzly Bear and Wildlife Tour Blog
We offer an exceptional fly-in lodge for Grizzly Bear Watching and Whale Watching in British Columbia.
Learn about What’s happening at the Lodge, view our British Columbia’s Wildlife Report, read our Grizzly Bear Watching Blog and Whale Watching Blog. Learn more about a Day on the River Blog, see Our Tour Guide’s Photos & Blog and Photos from Our Guests.
Grizzly Bears Cubs wait
About 35 meters (yards) from the viewing platform we use after August 24th a tree has fallen across a small channel in the river. This tree has become a pathway for the grizzly bears that do not want to get their feet wet. That means bear cubs because they tend to avoid the water if they can. They use the log to watch their mother as she fishes in the river below and if she is too slow in catching a salmon it is a good place to rest.
Grizzly Bears Cubs wait
About 35 meters (yards) from the viewing platform we use after August 24th a tree has fallen across a small channel in the river. This tree has become a pathway for the grizzly bears that do not want to get their feet wet. That means bear cubs because they tend to avoid the water if they can. They use the log to watch their mother as she fishes in the river below and if she is too slow in catching a salmon it is a good place to rest.
What is in between? 3 of 3
The Coast Mountains in the background make for a memorable flight to the Lodge from Campbell River. For many guests it is their first flight in a small plane. For some it is a “white knuckle” flight while others could do it every day. Keep a camera handy, as you will be flying for about forty-five minutes over nothing but a beautiful landscape that will give you some idea of the vastness of “Beautiful British Columbia”.
At the dock 2 of 3
At the Grizzly Bear Lodge’s dock the boats are double tied to make room for the plane. The departing guests are waiting on the dock as it has been explained that there are not enough beds even if their schedule would allow them stay another night.
Coming to the dock 1 of 3
The flight you catch in Campbell River leaves the harbour about 3:00 and arrives at the lodge about forty-five minutes later. As your luggage is loaded you may have notice that the extra room was filled with the all important groceries to keep the “larder” stocked. The size of the plane will depend on the number of guests and could be a Beaver or a Cessna.
Merry Christmas
One of my favourite photos as it shows the power of a grizzly bear. “This is my Christmas present – thank you .”
Rare sunrise
Not a common sight but magnificent when it does occur – sunrise photos from the front deck of Grizzly Bear Lodge. Guides are up by 6:00 or 6:30, depending on the time of the season, to make fresh coffee and to finish setting the table for breakfast. Some guests are up when we rise others are called an hour later. In this case the “early bird does get the worm” (sunrise).
Guest comfort zone
Not much of a close up but the story is great. The guests are in a 5.5 meter (yard) skiff we use to watch grizzly bears on the Glendale River. We were moving slowly up the river (slowly because the motor is off and you are being towed by your guide) and had stopped watch a bear that moved around the point behind the bear in the photo. To the right of the guest’s head is another channel off to the right and this bear came out of the channel chasing a salmon. In all the splashing water the bear lost the salmon about 15 meters (yards) from the boat. It stopped, looked at us and then walked over to the point and continued to fish. No one got a good photo but I learned about the guests “comfort zone” and backed a little ways down the river and thus the photo.
Spring Grizzly Bear Bonus
Not bad for a pocket camera Pentax – Optio Wpi 6MP and 3X Optical Zoom. This posting is to let your imagination go and think of the photos with a “good lens” camera. We were close enough that my guests got some great photos, which were shared back at the lodge during the “bragging session”. This is when guests share the day’s photos and exchange email addresses so they can all get the photo they missed.
