We will be driving in Alaska for about 7 weeks from mid-June to mid-August. Planned route: Banff, Jasper, Liard, Valdez, Cordova, Seaward, Soldotna, Homer, Anchorage, Brooks Campground, Denali (1st week August), Fairbanks, Haines, and start to work our way home to Tennessee.
We have reservations to camp at Brooks Falls July 26-29. From what I've read, it will likely be rainy! LOL! Thought we'd rent a tent from REI, eat at the buffet, and try to keep gear and ourselves dry. Or is there a better way to see the bears fishing....????
At Brooks, what is best time of day to shoot and miss some of the crowds?
Also, I will have available D300, D200 back up, 12-24, 24-70 f2.8, 70-200 VR f2.8, 1.4 tele and 200-400 f4. I gather bears are pretty close.....should I leave the 200-400 behind and save 7 pounds? What about using my tripod on the crowded platforms?
Posted by Carl Donohue on March 24, 2010 at 10:03 PM
Hey Karen
The best time to shoot and miss the crowds is .. during dinner at the lodge. That's when the light is best from that angle, too. I'd recommend bringing some food of your own to give you the chance, if you get some nice weather, to stay over at the platform during dinner time.
I would bring the 200-400mm, for sure. And definitely bring your tripod. You'll be a little late for prime time, July 26-29 .. If you can change your reservations a week or even 2 earlier, I think you'll be glad you did.
Its probably good to be a little late, less photographers and people. The rangers are also less stressed and kinder to photographers when there are fewer people. There will be plenty of bears, maybe not that many of bears catching salmon in the air, but does the world really need another shot like that! Early morning and late evening are my favorite times there. The day trippers show up from mid morning through late afternoon. Honestly my best photographs have been of bears on the beach near the campground.
Go to Valley of the Tens Thousand Smokes, it should not be missed.
Posted by Carl Donohue on March 25, 2010 at 2:29 PM
Hey Carl
Possibly - but most of the bears take off and follow the salmon, returning after they start spawning in September. Last August there was one bear in Brooks camp. There should still be some bears around late July, but they won't be hanging around too much on the beach, most likely.
I booked as early in July as I could. We will be in the Valdez/Cordova and Seward areas the first 2 weeks of July. Any suggestions during that time? We plan to take the long boat trip with Kenai Fjords.
What about doing a day trip with Emerald Air Service instead? We could hopefully schedule it earlier in July....
Posted by Carl Donohue on March 25, 2010 at 5:53 PM
Hey Karen
If you go over with Emerald Air Service timing isn't so critical .. it's more so at Brooks Falls, but there are lots of other places in the Katmai area where bears are plentiful and easily photographed throughout the summer.
If you can switch the dates with your Valdez-Seward trip and the Brooks leg, I would definitely recommend doing it.
It appears that July is booked solid and there is no flexibility at Brooks Campground. We have paid 1/2 of the airfare, and it doesn't look like they will give a refund. Otherwise I would cancel going to Brooks Falls and go with Emerald Air.
Have you driven to Valdez? How is the road? We will be pulling our 35' 5th wheel with our Dodge 3500 diesel truck.
Posted by Carl Donohue on March 25, 2010 at 6:59 PM
Hey Karen
I think you can still do OK at Brooks .. it's just less productive when there are less bears, and the fish run has ended.
The road to Valdez is fine, I don't think you should have any issues with that.
Discussion
7 repliesWe will be driving in Alaska for about 7 weeks from mid-June to mid-August. Planned route: Banff, Jasper, Liard, Valdez, Cordova, Seaward, Soldotna, Homer, Anchorage, Brooks Campground, Denali (1st week August), Fairbanks, Haines, and start to work our way home to Tennessee.
We have reservations to camp at Brooks Falls July 26-29. From what I've read, it will likely be rainy! LOL! Thought we'd rent a tent from REI, eat at the buffet, and try to keep gear and ourselves dry. Or is there a better way to see the bears fishing....????
At Brooks, what is best time of day to shoot and miss some of the crowds?
Also, I will have available D300, D200 back up, 12-24, 24-70 f2.8, 70-200 VR f2.8, 1.4 tele and 200-400 f4. I gather bears are pretty close.....should I leave the 200-400 behind and save 7 pounds? What about using my tripod on the crowded platforms?
The best time to shoot and miss the crowds is .. during dinner at the lodge. That's when the light is best from that angle, too. I'd recommend bringing some food of your own to give you the chance, if you get some nice weather, to stay over at the platform during dinner time.
I would bring the 200-400mm, for sure. And definitely bring your tripod. You'll be a little late for prime time, July 26-29 .. If you can change your reservations a week or even 2 earlier, I think you'll be glad you did.
Cheers
Carl
Go to Valley of the Tens Thousand Smokes, it should not be missed.
Possibly - but most of the bears take off and follow the salmon, returning after they start spawning in September. Last August there was one bear in Brooks camp. There should still be some bears around late July, but they won't be hanging around too much on the beach, most likely.
Cheers
Carl
I booked as early in July as I could. We will be in the Valdez/Cordova and Seward areas the first 2 weeks of July. Any suggestions during that time? We plan to take the long boat trip with Kenai Fjords.
What about doing a day trip with Emerald Air Service instead? We could hopefully schedule it earlier in July....
If you go over with Emerald Air Service timing isn't so critical .. it's more so at Brooks Falls, but there are lots of other places in the Katmai area where bears are plentiful and easily photographed throughout the summer.
If you can switch the dates with your Valdez-Seward trip and the Brooks leg, I would definitely recommend doing it.
Cheers
Carl
It appears that July is booked solid and there is no flexibility at Brooks Campground. We have paid 1/2 of the airfare, and it doesn't look like they will give a refund. Otherwise I would cancel going to Brooks Falls and go with Emerald Air.
Have you driven to Valdez? How is the road? We will be pulling our 35' 5th wheel with our Dodge 3500 diesel truck.
I think you can still do OK at Brooks .. it's just less productive when there are less bears, and the fish run has ended.
The road to Valdez is fine, I don't think you should have any issues with that.
Cheers
Carl