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Thursday, 24 July 2025 - Today we were returning to the same area we were in two days prior. Hiking from a new lake upstream from the lake, we were dropped off the previous day. We would hike along the river to the lower lake and return from there.

Except for two of us - myself and Bill. We elected to camp on the lower lake with the guides overnight. This would give us extra time photographing since sundown was at 11:00 pm and sunrise at 5:00 am. The next day we would be taken out with a group in the early afternoon.

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As we closed on the area the floatplane looked in the river for bear sightings.
The plane landing before us on the tiny lake.
Our turn to land on the tiny lake. So small that while we can land here we cannot take off.
The floatplane taking off and going to the destination lake, where it will wait for the group until late afternoon.
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Our team starting off the lake toward the river. Your intrepid photographer is second from the right.
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Took some energy to get down to the river once we saw a few bears.

This big male was resting on the other side of the river.
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He got up and ran into the river and caught a fish while we settled in to watch.
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Good think seagulls are not on the menu.
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Back on the bank the giant grizzly looks so formidable.

The hump on his back is a very developed trapezius muscle. The muscle was developed to dig hibernation dens.
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A young grizzly walks the river looking for fish - in front of the resting giant!!

We thought the bigger grizzly would chase off the young one, but he did not seem to mind.
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The young bear take a look at the photographers.
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The youngster ended up quickly catching a salmon.
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We were treated with the arrival of little cubs and their mother. They are so cute. Unfortunately the family stopped a good distance from us and then turned around due to the big male on the river across from us.
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The mother was more interested in identifying male grizzlies, but the little cubs were interested in the photographers.
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Mom looks upriver while the little cub continues to stare at the photographers.
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A big grizzly stand up to look for salmon. Easily over 6 feet tall.
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While we were hiking on the top of the river valley we spotted a bear across the river walking in the tundra. Fun to see the bear and the mountains in the background.
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Back down on the river we photograph bears running in the river after salmon.
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This bear is moving so fast all of his feet are off the water surface.
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A bear lunges for fish at the end of a river run.
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We were in the river kneeling in the water while the bears ran for the fish right in front of us.
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A bear lunges and the fish can be seen running in the water.
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At eye level these grizzlies are so big and menacing.
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So fun to catch the bears in their last lunge into the river.
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Many of these runs resulted in a fish being caught.
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A younger bear looking into the river.
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This bear leapt to high in his final plunge to the river for the fish.
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Success - a salmon caught by a grizzly.
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A young bear checking out the photographers.
A video of the grizzly making a successful fishing run.
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Here I am outside my room for the night. The rest of the team except for Bill and myself have left for the comforts of the lodge.

There is an electric fence around our tent to keep the grizzlies at bay. We had a great dinner of lasagna and then saddled up for more pictures.
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The evening was gray and a light mist was falling as we left the camp.
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A young bear across the river looking for salmon.
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A bear charging into the river. We crossed the river to get in front of the bears fishing.
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This bear is close catching a fleeing salmon.
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Bears along the river's edge each had their fishing spot.
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A large bear on our side of the river passes us very close.
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This bear looks like he is watching us - but he is really looking into the river, and we are in the water shooting at water level.
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A bear running in the river with the mountains in the background.

We packed up and headed back to camp around 10 pm. I would not sleep all that well as it was cold, and in the middle of the night I needed to put on a layer. I rained most the night.
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Modified last on Aug 17, 2025, 5:21:08?PM