Bears, Bears, and Bears, Oh My!
July 31 – Aug 7, 2023 counting 2 nights in Anchorage before and after the trip
Lake Clark National Park, Alaska
Full - inquire about wait list
Once again, this past summer's Bears, Bears and Bears Oh My! workshop was one of the most amazing experiences of my life! I was photographing wild brown bears just yards from where I was standing with no fear of the animals! I have photographed a lot of brown bears before, in Denali, Glacier, Yellowstone and other Alaska locations but I have never been this close to these magnificent creatures without fear. All the other parks have restrictions on how close you can be to the wildlife, no such restrictions take place here. People and bears have co-existed for years. The bears go about their business of survival, hardly paying attention to the people. At this time of year, you will see mating behavior, grazing, nursing, and clamming (digging for clams). Watching the moms with the cubs was truly an amazing experience. There will be bears on the beaches, bears in the meadows and lots of interactions between mothers and young! It is a once in a lifetime experience that you will never forget!
Weather permitting, we will have the option to spend half a day taking a boat ride to a nearby island to photograph nesting and feeding seabirds.
The folks at Silver Salmon Lodge offer a great experience. From seasoned guides that not only take you to see the bears, but also teach you about bear behavior. They will drive you from location to location on ATV Quads pulling a trailer, so you don't have to lug your camera gear from location to location! There is some short walking involved, but nothing considered strenuous at all. You do need to be able to walk up to a mile and a half round trip over uneven ground, carrying your camera equipment. The lodge will provide you with knee high boots so you don’t have to worry about the terrain and can walk on the beach, through damp meadows or along riversides. And the food is great too! (If you have any special dietary considerations please let me know ahead of time) Everything is taken care of!
Price: Price: $ 6395 - check or Zelle/ $6595 Credit Card or PayPal; for double occupancy. (Single occupancy may be available, but we will not know until it gets closer to departure date. Single supplement is $1900). Deposit is $3500. To pay by check and save, make your check to Lewis Kemper and mail to 800 Saverien Dr. Sacramento, CA 95864. If you pay by Zelle transfer from your bank you can send to lewis@lewiskemper.com
Price includes:
Round trip airfare from Anchorage to the lodge, 5 nights lodging and meals, guides and ground transportation (quads pulling a trailer) while at the lodge, boat charter to an island to photograph seabirds (weather permitting), photographic instruction, and all tips to guides and lodge staff.
Not included is transportation to Anchorage, Alaska and food/lodging on the nights prior and after our flights to lodge. We fly to the lodge on Aug 1st, so you need to arrive one day before our departure for the lodge (July 31st in Anchorage). I also recommend you plan on spending the night of 6th in Anchorage and depart on the 7th. It is possible to catch a late flight on the 6th, but weather is unpredictable in Alaska so I would not chance it! I recommend staying at the Courtyard Anchorage Airport (https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/anccy-courtyard-anchorage-airport/). This is where I will be and is very close to the small plane airport we will be flying to and from the lodge. If you stay elsewhere, you will need to be at the Courtyard by 8AM on the 1st.
Information Packet: Click here to download the full information packet.
Credit Card Deposit: Click here to pay by credit card (Note surcharge listed above for using credit card)