Katmai National Park (Da Bears!)

The first picture I post always ends up being the display picture when I share on social media so I picked this one.  After the bear briefing (more on that shortly) you are permitted to enter the park and start on the trails.  To get to the areas where you can observe the animals you must cross a marsh using a wooden bridge.  Park rules dictate that if momma bears with cubs come within 50 feet of that bridge it is closed.  Rangers are posted on either side.  When we crossed it was like playing Coke and Pepsi at a Bar Mitzvah.  This bear couldn't decide whether to come closer or get further away.  The rangers were first yelling at us to stop.  Then to go.  Then to stop.  And then to hurry to the other side.  I took this picture with my phone on the run and it turned out better than I thought.  You aren't supposed to take pictures while on the bridge.

To get to the park we took a plane from Anchorage to the park.  On the way you see some unusual scenery.  This formation is called Red Glacier.

The plane ride is three hours depending upon weather conditions.  Our plane, a Cessna 106 call sign 96 Uniform, steered by our skilled pilot, dodged weather and choppy winds to get us to Katmai.

First order of business is a bear briefing.  The park rangers want to make sure all the guests know what to expect and how to behave.  There are many bears within the park and they like to visit the streams which are choked with salmon making their way upstream.

Some of them do not make it.  Bears, like Otis, decide to select a few from the buffet.

There are different viewing platforms.  The pictures above were taken from the platform near Brooks Falls fed by Brooks Lake.

There are other viewing platforms.  Just downstream a bit is Riffle.

This younger bear takes a different approach to fishing.  Otis basically waited for the salmon to swim to him.  I couldn't see this bear's name tag, but he likes to leap from the rocks onto them.  It worked.

A long day.  A long trip, but very memorable.  Finally, a safe landing back at Rust.