KATMAI National Park

Yeah, it snowed today (31 Jan 25), and that got me thinking of Alaska!

Funny how that works.

Yet, no, snow (or ice!) is not what I first think about, when I think of ALASKA!

No, that would be, well, first, yeah!

Ahh, MOTORCYCLE, but then, and only then, yeah ... The GRIZZLY BEARS of Katmai National Park, and that trip up there to photograph them!

Really.

Yeah.

See, first, I made it to Alaska while on a plane ride to Japan, back in the day, and yeah, we stopped for a rather quick "moment" (it seemed!) at some Air Base I can't remember the name of, right this second, but yeah, I do remember "getting out there", you know, just to say I actually "Made It" to Alaska!

Inside the airport terminal didn't really feel like, you know, ALASKA! So yeah, I "cheated" and walked outside for a picture, or two ... So long ago, I can't remember just how many, but even back then, I hope I took more than one!

It was ALASKA afterall!

But anywho ...

Yeah, that was my FIRST TIME!

The SECOND time was, ahh, THE BIG ONE!

The Summer of 1982.

THE TRIP.

From New York, to ALASKA by way of Chicago, and The ALASKAN HIGHWAY on my BMW R60R motorcycle!

And yeah, that R60R is, ahh, "GERMAN", for 600cc, NOT 60cc! You know, in case you were wondering!

Germans! Go figure!

But no, that wasn't the trip where I took THIS image!

No, that would come later, you know, after I got hold of those Art Wolfe DVDs where he went up to Alaska and photographed those GRIZZLY bears that roam around the fields along the shores of the National Park, and eat grass, like, all Summer long (which isn't THAT long), before the Salmon "come home" in the Fall!

Yeah, "GOOGLE IT".

And yeah, if you want to photograph WILD Grizzly Bears, THIS is the place you need to get to!

And no, you can't drive there, so yeah, you need to get to an airport, and find the people that can get you "OUT THERE" in their plane!

And no, I can't remember the name of the guy, or Company, who got me out there, but yeah, I got in a plane, and they got me there! Like, right on the beach ... Cool landing!

And yeah, we set up our tents, hung out, until the next morning (or whatever), and then we took a little walk around until we found some, rather LARGE, ahh, GRIZZLY, or "BROWN" BEARS, and yeah ... Had fun!

I just had to "stop gigglin' so much", and calm down, you know, before I actually "Pushed the Button"!

A lot!

Did I mention that you MUST have a GUIDE with you, and that the bears come right up to you, as you kneel there, behind your tripod, and try to not FREAK OUT!

Really.

True, I saw it on that Art Wolfe, TRAVELS TO THE EDGE show (and DVD!), so many, times, but yeah ... It's different when a freaking, live, breathing, BIG, male (or female!) GRIZZLY bear, stops, oh, like, what? Six, seven feet from you, for a lunch break!

Trust me!

Holy CRAP!

But after a few times, oh yeah, YOU can actually ENJOY the moment, like, for the next, oh, like, the REST OF YOUR LIFE!

What? I checked ... These were taken back in 2010, so yeah, SIXTEEN YEARS, and I kid you not, I'm gigglin' just sitting here thinking about it!

BEST wildlife encounter of my LIFE!

No question.

UNREAL.

One afternoon, one night, and then one morning! LOVED IT!

Now true, I wouldn't call myself a real, WILDLIFE expert, or photographer, or anything, but yeah, I have enjoyed The Everglades many, many times, and those elk over in The Smoky Mountains National Park area, oh! And yeah, even those tigers overthere in India, yeah, that was pretty WILD as well!

But no, I am more of a (retired!) TRAVEL photographer, than a true WILDLIFE photographer, trust me!

Until I'm looking at it, you know, through my viewfinder, that is!

Then ... GAME ON!

I love it!

Good luck with that.

That said, yeah, any time you ever have the chance, GET OUT THERE, yeah, do it! Anywhere, anytime, for anything!

Just go!

Heck, like most people, yeah! I really started this whole "WILDLIFE" thing, just like everyone else ... Yeah, I used to take my college class over to the NC ZOO, where?

Over there near Asheboro ... But, before that, back in the 1980s ... Yeah, The COLUMBUS ZOO, I think it was ... Yeah, down in Georgia.

Wherever!

I just tried to find the closest zoo to whatever base we were living at the time, and go from there!

Do that enough, and yeah, you'll also notice that your lenses will start to get longer, and LONGER, and BIGGER, and HEAVIER as well!

I know?

Weird.

Good luck with that one too!

Talk about WILD, yeah!

But it's been a few years, so yeah I saw these images, I just had to add them to my website!

GOOD TIMES, that was for sure!

But yeah, keep it in mind, you know, if you are ever just sitting there, and wondering where to go to have a good time with your camera!

Or, I hate to say it, but yeah, I'm pretty sure someone has shown up at the Park, with their, ahh ... Cell phone.

I can't believe that I even thought of that, but yeah, you know someone has!

Whatever it takes!

But yeah, GOOD LUCK WITH THAT, as well ...

Whatever works for you!

They do come close enough to you, so yeah, there is that!

KATMAI NATIONAL PARK.

Check it out!

You never know!

Enjoy your day!