Three people in our block left, but two more arrived that will start their permit tomorrow. Since there is room for them, they can come with us to watch bears. As we introduce ourselves we discover that we have a good friend. It is so fun to make connections!
We learn at our briefing at 9 that the tides are too high for us to cross so we will be walking the long way to the Falls. The day is cool, so the longer walk should keep us warm.
We will be crossing Misfit creek. Earlier in the year this is where the bears come to eat sedge and dig for clams. In June one sees bears, but not like we have seen the last four days. It is a rather long walk with lots of mud. Soon though we are around the lagoon and heading back to where we will meet the trail that goes to Eagle Rock.
We pass underneath a bluff and see a small bear sleeping above us on a small ledge.
The bear checks us out and then returns to sleeping.
This is the morning of bears as we have to wait for several bears to pass us close by.
They don’t seem to mind us being here and we wait quietly for them to pass.
There are several bears in the grass as we take a break at Eagle Rock.
Nick and Tim are the staff leading us to the falls today. Nick has spent many years working at Brooks Camp and even though it is his first year here, he recognizes a lot of bears and can explain their various characteristics. Tim has spent the last 7 years working at the Alaskan Zoo. We have learned a lot from them and appreciate their calmness around the bears.
Finally we get to the Falls and do our usual pause and let the bears know we are here.
There is a slight problem though.
Lax and her cubs are using the gravel pad. The human rule is that unless we are on the pad, it is fair game for the bears. We are hoping that they will move shortly, but then they decide to take a nap. We wait patiently for about 20 minutes before they decide to head down to their fishing hole.
Bears are everywhere as they head down to the water.
As you look behind and to the side there is so much movement.
Well sorta, Rocky has taken up residence again beside the pad as he falls into a deep sleep.
Chilly day!
The bear bellies seem to grow by the day.
This bear had belly drag. This is make fat time and the bears are making the most of it. Last year was a low run and the maximum bear count was around 25. We have seen double that since we arrived.
Sleeping is always good.
This bear looked like he was into yoga
The serenity of the morning was broken when Chops arrived on the scene. He lumbers down the hill and bears begin to scatter.
There are about 4 bears on the rock including little Gooby bear. He senses danger and immediately flees however he trips and goes sliding on his shoulder. At least he is not in danger from the wrath of Chops. One bear who hasn’t fled the scene fast enough is reprimanded by Chops.
With Chops superiority noticed by the other bears, he heads off to his favorite fishing hole. Unfortunately a bear is already there but no worries for Chops, as soon as he jumps into the water to claim his spot, the other bear is seen swimming rapidly away.
It didn’t take long for Chops to reappear with a fish.
Clamps the beggar bear was waiting for Chops to hopefully share some scraps. Some days Chops tolerated Clamps, but not today and a stand off occurred.
We were surprised that Clamps didn’t run and Chops didn’t take him down like he had bitten Holden the first day we were here.
Soon Chops returned to fishing and Clamps waited to beg. Ah the life of bears.
This was a friendly interaction.
and then it was time to say good-by to this amazing place.
We met the boat and even then we had to wait for a bear to swim by us!
The theme for this trip was bears, bears and more bears.
Spending 5 days observing bears in their natural habitat was more than we ever could have imagined.
The sauna is going to feel great tonight as well as knowing that we can have a leisurely breakfast and then start packing up for our flight back to Homer tomorrow.