August 4 – Homer

Catching up on the past few days, we traveled to the Anchorage area camping in a state park about 12 miles outside of the city. While in the area we visited with our friends, Dave and Jeanne Eastman who are visiting their son, Ben. Ben’s there for a month. He’s head pilot for Aleutian Airlines and is flying the routes to Dutch Harbor, King Salmon, and another remote town. With Ben are his 14 year old twins, Landon and Charlie. It was great catching up with the entire clan.

After a few days we headed south towards Homer. One day we flew over to Katmai National Park to view bears. We traveled to a remote area called Hallo Bay and witnessed so jaw dropping close views of the brown bears. In the past all our bear safety training was make lots of noise, carry bear spray, and get no closer than 100 yards from the bears. We flew over remote, remote (yes, I know that was two remotes in a row) territory. The scenery alone made the trip worthwhile. dWe were in 1 of 4 planes in the group with 4 pilots/bear guides. We landed on beach and as we gathered round for our final safety talk a bear walked by 25’ away. It was moving along with not a care in the world about us. The brown bears in this area have plenty of food and do not view humans as a threat. We were instructed to walk in a tight line, speak softly, and make no sudden movements. Above all DO NOT RUN. Once we approached where a bear was digging clams for food we took a knee within a small group.

I have a few photographic opportunities with a picture count of over 3,000. Don’t worry I will not share more than a few hundred! LOL!

We are camped at Anchor Point at a state park overlooking the beach. During low tide the tidal area is exposed for at least a third of a mile and disappears at high tide. While the tidal area is exposed it is covered with gulls, crows, and eagles.

One last item of note about Anchor Point. It’s the western most point one can drive on connected roads in North America.

While receiving our final bear safety lecture this one walks by 25′ away. We were totally ignored while we stood next to the plane.

Bears smell clams and dig down about a foot in depth. Next thing you head is a crunch as it breaks open the clam.

Not cropped with a 150mm focal length

We are out there!

She spots a salmon

She nails a snack

Anchor Point

Anchor Point