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  1. USA Nature Photography Travels
  2. 2017 Summer Alaska North to South Safari

Silver Salmon Creek Lodge in Lake Clark National Park

After disembarking the M/V Discovery and overnighting in Anchorage, we flew out the next morning for an hour flight on a de Havilland Beaver (a standard Alaska bush pilot workhorse since 1947) to Silver Salmon Creek Lodge, located on the shore of Lake Clark National Park across the Cook Inlet from the Kenai Peninsula. We landed right on the beach at low tide and were fetched by our lodge guide pulling a couple of wagons behind an ATV. From there, we were guided to see the star attraction, the wild grizzly bears! These bears have never been hunted, do not see many humans in this vast wilderness, and therefore do not view humans as a threat. They can be safely approached in a group without disturbing them, and we had many priceless encounters with sows and their cubs! We also got a special boat tour to nearby Duck Island, whee we saw hundreds of Common Murres and Horned Puffins floating on the water, apparently driven off the island by a bald eagle. As we drifted toward them from upwind, we got many opportunities for flight photos as they would take off toward our boat. We also got some great looks at the bald eagle flying into a rocky ledge surrounded by wildflowers. The highlight of our 3 day stay was getting to witness and photograph a bear clamming at low tide. These bears have learned how to find buried clams, dig them up, and open the shells with their huge claws. We had to hike out a couple hundred yards across the mud flats to get close to the action, because that’s where the clams are. With two high tides and two low tides a day, and with a maximum tidal range of up to 27 feet, there wasn’t a lot of time when we or the bears could get out to the clam beds, but we managed to catch one at just the right time! Remarkable behavior to see and photograph!
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  • Ron, our pro photographer and tour leader, watches as our Beaver is fueled for the one hour flight from Anchorage to Silver Salmon Creek. Our party went in two planes.

    Ron, our pro photographer and tour leader, watches as our Beaver is fueled for the one hour flight from Anchorage to Silver Salmon Creek. Our party went in two planes.

  • I'm shooting through the windshield from the back seat as we come in for final approach to our beach landing.

    I'm shooting through the windshield from the back seat as we come in for final approach to our beach landing.

  • As we wait on the beach, our luggage is unloaded from the Beaver into two ATV-pulled wagons for transporting to the lodge. The same wagons were our transportation throughout our stay.  At high tide, this beach is under water!

    As we wait on the beach, our luggage is unloaded from the Beaver into two ATV-pulled wagons for transporting to the lodge. The same wagons were our transportation throughout our stay. At high tide, this beach is under water!

  • Our private touring limo being driven by Rick, our expert bear guide.

    Our private touring limo being driven by Rick, our expert bear guide.

    Our private touring limo being driven by Rick, our expert bear guide. Usually we were together in two wagons hitched together, but were unhooked here for climbing up the embankment.

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  • The main lodge building at Silver Salmon Creek.

    The main lodge building at Silver Salmon Creek.

  • Paula is taking a break in the swing next to the main lodge building.

    Paula is taking a break in the swing next to the main lodge building.

  • Our group in front ot one of the adjacent cabins. From the right is Ron (our tour leader), Oliver (son of the lodge owner), and Rick (our bear guide). The rest of our group consists of Lynne, Brad, Linda, Debbie, Steve, Paula, and me.

    Our group in front ot one of the adjacent cabins. From the right is Ron (our tour leader), Oliver (son of the lodge owner), and Rick (our bear guide). The rest of our group consists of Lynne, Brad, Linda, Debbie, Steve, Paula, and me.

  • This broad meadow stretches for a couple of miles from our lodge, and is the site of many bear encounters, as they move out of the forest in search of food. The boat near our ATV path shows how high the tide can get. The beach is to the right of the distant trees.

    This broad meadow stretches for a couple of miles from our lodge, and is the site of many bear encounters, as they move out of the forest in search of food. The boat near our ATV path shows how high the tide can get. The beach is to the right of the distant trees.

  • High tide looking toward the beach across what is normally a broad meadow , at 4am from the porch of our cabin. Max tide range here is about 27 feet!!

    High tide looking toward the beach across what is normally a broad meadow , at 4am from the porch of our cabin. Max tide range here is about 27 feet!!

  • A pair of grizzly bear cubs watching their mother. These are probably second year cubs.

    A pair of grizzly bear cubs watching their mother. These are probably second year cubs.

  • One of the bear cubs standing up to look at an approaching male grizzly bear.

    One of the bear cubs standing up to look at an approaching male grizzly bear.

  • The sow grizzly feeding with one of her cubs. They eat all sorts of vegetation, including grass, but some have also learned to dig clams as low tide. More on that later!

    The sow grizzly feeding with one of her cubs. They eat all sorts of vegetation, including grass, but some have also learned to dig clams as low tide. More on that later!

  • The other bear cub just looking cute!

    The other bear cub just looking cute!

  • The sow grizzly feeding with both her cubs.

    The sow grizzly feeding with both her cubs.

  • This sow grizzly is nursing her three cubs. We were watching her with her cubs for quite awhile before she responded to her cubs low growls that were pleas for milk. These are probably second year cubs.

    This sow grizzly is nursing her three cubs. We were watching her with her cubs for quite awhile before she responded to her cubs low growls that were pleas for milk. These are probably second year cubs.

  • Another sow grizzly feeding near a stream with her two cubs.  In some of these eoncounters, we stood absolutely still while the bears walked past us as close as 20 feet away. An amazing experience!!

    Another sow grizzly feeding near a stream with her two cubs. In some of these eoncounters, we stood absolutely still while the bears walked past us as close as 20 feet away. An amazing experience!!

  • A sow grizzly feeding on grass near the stream, occasionally looking up to check us out before going back to eating.  No worries for her or for us! We're all cool here!

    A sow grizzly feeding on grass near the stream, occasionally looking up to check us out before going back to eating. No worries for her or for us! We're all cool here!

  • A grizzly cub looking around, being more concerned about a male grizzly bear a couple hundred yards away than about our group about 30-40 feet away!

    A grizzly cub looking around, being more concerned about a male grizzly bear a couple hundred yards away than about our group about 30-40 feet away!

  • A fat little grizzly cub with its mouth full of grass.

    A fat little grizzly cub with its mouth full of grass.

  • A grizzly sow and her cubs chasing a third year male bear down the beach past some other photographers toward our position.

    A grizzly sow and her cubs chasing a third year male bear down the beach past some other photographers toward our position.

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  • Oliver's bird tour boat lying aground off the beach at low tide. High tide water level was over 20 feet. We took this boat to Duck Island later in the day.

    Oliver's bird tour boat lying aground off the beach at low tide. High tide water level was over 20 feet. We took this boat to Duck Island later in the day.

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    Ron, our pro photographer and tour leader, watches as our Beaver is fueled for the one hour flight from Anchorage to Silver Salmon Creek. Our party went in two planes.
    I'm shooting through the windshield from the back seat as we come in for final approach to our beach landing.