Page 206 - Vacation Country Travel Guide

A 1,000 pound brown bear stands at the top world for a chance to see these exceptional adventure.
of the falls with his massive mouth wide open animals. From June 1st through September
waiting for fish to jump into his jaws. Another 18th, the National Forest Service operates a For the adventurous soul, several operators
bear takes a more relaxed approach and sits visitor center, ranger station, campground and organize overnight trips to the grassland coast
himself in the pooling waters at the base of auditorium with daily ranger-led programs and of Katmai. Imagine being in a tent, surrounded
the falls and lazily waits for fish to swim into hikes. Brooks Camp, located at Brooks River by an electric fence with bears roaming within
him before smacking them with his giant paw. and the shore of Naknek Lake, has 60 camp feet from where you are staying. Bears, cubs,
wolves and other wildlife can all be found
on the coast as this area offers a variety of
nutrient dense food. The guides with these
type of overnight tour operators are highly
trained and experienced and will make your
time in Katmai a memorable one.
There are many different ways to see bears
in Katmai. Whether you choose to fly into a
populated area for a day trip or decide to
spend the night on a remote Alaskan coast,
the personalized experience you have with
guides will make your Katmai trip come alive
with stories and tales to pass on through the
generations.
For a unique perspective on Katmai, one can
volunteer to work with the U.S. Forest Service
during “bear season.” Stacey Schmeidel has
spent time volunteering at Katmai National
Park and says, “Volunteering at Katmai has
also afforded me with extra time in the park
-- time to see the bears change from their
skinny, early-season bodies to their fuller mid-
season form, time to see newly emancipated
subadults gain confidence and develop their
fishing styles, and time to see cubs lost and
Scott Stone
found. In my “real life,” my job requires me
to sit behind a desk for 40 hours a week. My
Some bears will dine and dash while others slots nestled among the forest of mature Katmai position required me to be on my feet
employ their best snorkeling techniques, balsam poplar and birch trees. Reservations for 40 hours a week, and to walk well over a
looking for their high calorie meal under the can be made through www.recreation.gov mile every day. But the “work” was talking
swirling water. No matter their fishing style, beginning January 5th. with people about bears -- which is pretty
each of these bears are after the same prize much the same thing I like to do for fun! It
of sockeye salmon, and all of these unique Unlike most national parks, Katmai can was a reasonable trade-off - and has been an
tactics can be seen at Brooks Falls in Katmai only be accessed by air or boat. The park is incredible fit. Volunteering is a great way to
National Park, Alaska. over six million square miles and extremely give back to the parks - and the people - that
remote. There are three different bear viewing contribute so much to our lives. You’ll learn
Home to the largest concentration of brown platforms in the park, all are very close to each a lot - and it’s a great way to be part of what
bears in the world, Katmai National Park, other and located within 1.2 miles from Brooks Wallace Stegner called “America’s best idea.”
located in southwest Alaska, was established Camp Visitor Center. Brooks Falls Wildlife
in 1918 to protect the region surrounding Viewing Platform is one of the most popular There are lots of opportunities listed at
Mount Katmai and the Valley of Ten Thousand places and according to the National Forest www.volunteer.gov. Listings change often,
Smokes. A haven to bears, wolves, moose and Service website, “In July and September, so check the site regularly. High school and
other wildlife, Katmai also boasts thousands bears are everywhere at Brooks Camp. They college students should also look into the
of years of human history as well. When you can be found walking trails, fishing in the Student Conservation Association (https://
walk in Katmai you will be walking in the river, and even napping on the beach.” Day www.thesca.org/), a highly respected
footsteps of people who crossed the land trips to this area can be booked with multiple organization dedicated to building the next
bridge from northeast Asia and seasonally tour operators out of Anchorage, Kodiak, and generation of conservation leaders.
followed the migration pattern of wildlife Homer.
as they hunted, fished, built shelter and
established communities. From Russian fur In addition to Brooks Falls there are other,
trappers to Native Alaskan Alutiq to European more remote places in Katmai to view bears.
explorers, they all have made their mark on For an incredible day trip out of Homer, visitors
the wilderness of Katmai. should fly with one of the experienced bear
viewing guides. Tour operators conduct day
One of the main attractions of Katmai today and overnight trips into Katmai which will
are the bears, as people fly in from all over the offer guests an unparalleled bear viewing TM
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