By Kelley Ashford, Sr. Video Specialist, Development, WWF-US & Mónica Echeverría-Cota, Deputy Director, Media and Strategic Communications, WWF-US
We each have lengthy anticipated touring to Alaska. It is a kind of locations on each nature-lover’s bucket checklist. But whereas many goals of encountering the broad mountains of the North, we by no means imagined it might be on a visit as particular as this Alaska Grizzly Encounter.
Joining Natural Habitat Adventures in Katmai National Park introduced us right into a world we didn’t notice existed – a world just about untouched by people. At least untouched, within the sense that we needed to take a float aircraft simply to get to the distant location the place a ship – the Natural Habitat Ursus – was anchored for us to sleep on board and journey by skiff to shore to be able to witness the wonders of the land. We have been fortunate to journey the world and expertise a myriad of distinctive locations in nature, however this journey is by far on the high of the checklist for essentially the most distant areas both of us has been.
©WWF-US/Kelley Ashford
Kelley is a video producer by commerce and needed to seize the sights and sounds of Katmai and its resident brown bears. In this footage, you’ll see these huge bears who had been typically simply yards away. They are North America’s largest land predators, and an grownup male can weigh 900 kilos – some much more. While spectacular, we discovered that these giants – not less than noticed from afar in a really regulated, cautious method – spend a principally quiet life. Our journey was held in June when the large bears graze on seg, a high-protein grass that holds them over till the salmon runs start later in summer time. When not grazing, many had been snoozing.
https://vimeo.com/762374059/78cbe14719
©WWF-US/Kelley Ashford
Despite the proximity of one of the crucial feared mammals in North America, we had been stunned to really feel calm and secure. This is a large because of our Expedition Leader, Shawn, and the employees of Ursus. In coastal Katmai, we walked the land on foot, rigorously wandering the world in our small group below cautious steerage from Shawn, who has spent a number of years strolling amongst and finding out the conduct of Katmai’s coastal grizzlies. He is aware of these bears and he is aware of methods to coach guests in secure bear etiquette.
©WWF-US/Kelley Ashford
The solely factor Shawn couldn’t defend us from was the frigid wind, blowing down from surrounding glaciers, and the unpredictable Alaskan climate. That is the place the remainder of the Ursus crew got here in for the rescue. Despite the ship being a refurbished crabbing vessel, the crew managed to create a comfortable, welcoming residence for us to retreat to after lengthy walks alongside the coast. From connoisseur dishes in all three meals ready by our energetic and at all times cheerful chef, Melissa.
©WWF-US/Monica Echeverria
To our ship captain, John, who made positive we navigated the chilly and glacier-like waters below the most secure circumstances you might ever anticipate.
©WWF-US/Monica Echeverria
And to the deckhand and second captain, Angus, who took us to and from shore throughout chilly, windy, and generally wet days. He was at all times joking and smiling however maintaining a tally of every one in every of us with mild reminders about security being his fundamental purpose. Mónica is a sailor at residence and may inform Angus is aware of extra about tides than anybody she’s ever met.
©WWF-US/Monica Echeverria
If you ask both of us, what’s it that makes this journey so distinctive? We would each say it was a mix of all of this – having the ability to watch brown bears of their pure state, experiencing a number of shut encounters, watching the vitality of playful children, and having fun with all of it amongst fantastic firm.
©WWF-US/Kelley Ashford
For each of us, our respective first journeys to Alaska had been memorable, not only for the bears that captured our hearts, however for the those that made the journey doable. We are grateful to every member of that crew and to our Expedition Leader for permitting us and the remainder of our fellow vacationers to spend per week of time of their world.