After returning to Anchorage from Seward yesterday afternoon, we took an early morning, regional jet flight from Anchorage to King Salmon, Alaska (population around 300), where we had lodging at the Gold Creek Lodge. Shortly after landing in King Salmon, our luggage went to the lodge, and we took sea planes to Brooks Falls.
King Salmon
Sea plane
Brooks Camp is part of the Katmai National Park and Preserve. As we approached the camp and just before landing on Naknek Lake, we could see the falls from the sea planes.
Brooks Falls
An aerial view can help to understand the layout. Near the rocky shore where the sea planes land, there's a park camp site with a few cabins, an office and a shop, and a dining hall. This area is not fenced, and Alaskan brown bears usually, but not always, do not enter the camp grounds. From there, a gated boardwalk with a few viewing platforms crosses a marshy area and Brooks River. There are also gated boardwalks to two viewing platforms at the falls. One of them is even with the falls, and the other is just below the falls. However, there is a mile and a half hike between the two boardwalks along a trail that is used by people and by the Alaskan brown bears!
Aerial view of Brooks Falls
Immediately upon entering the park, all visitors must attend a 15 minute long "bear school," where we were instructed how to view the bears, and what to do if we encounter a bear. Upon completion of "bear school," each visitor is awarded a bear pin that must be worn at all times in the park. If a ranger sees anyone without a bear pin, they are ushered back to "bear school." Alice had gone on the first of two sea planes for our group, and was already on the trail to the falls while I was in "bear school." Both her group and my group, had to apply what we had learned in "bear school" upon encountering these huge animals on the trail between the gated boardwalks.
I saw several avian species, mostly in the camp area and along the first gated boardwalk. Common Redpolls seemed to be everywhere, and it was fun watching a Common Merganser and her chicks, as they all tried to climb on her back for a ride.
Common Redpoll
Common Merganser
Common Merganser
Common Merganser
Juvenile White-crowned Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-billed Magpie
I saw at least 12 brown bears along the first gated boardwalk and bridge. Most of them were mama bears and their cubs, or younger bears that had not yet reached adulthood. They were fishing for salmon in the shallow and fairly calm water, or play fighting to learn survival skills.
Alaskan brown bears
Alaskan brown bear
Alaskan brown bear
Alaskan brown bears
Alaskan brown bears
Alaskan brown bears
Up at the falls, there was a different atmosphere. Salmon filled the river, and were jumping multiple times in attempts to climb the falls. Bears were at the top of the falls trying to catch the salmon in the air, or occasionally picking a fish from the river after one made it above the falls. Other bears were below the falls trying to catch salmon as they swam upstream. Gulls were sitting on rocks and branches waiting for leftovers. There was clearly a pecking order among these adult bears. If a superior bear appeared, other bears would moved away from prime locations, allowing the senior bear to take their spot.
Jumping salmon
Click here to watch a 9 second video I took of the salmon jumping.
Alaskan brown bear
Alaskan brown bear
Alaskan brown bear
Alaskan brown bear
Alaskan brown bear
Alaskan brown bear
Alaskan brown bear
Alaskan brown bear
Alaskan brown bear
Alaskan brown bears
Alaskan brown bears
Alaskan brown bear
Alaskan brown bear
Alaskan brown bear
Alaskan brown bear
Alaskan brown bear
Alaskan brown bear
Alaskan brown bear
After spending the afternoon watching the bears, we took our sea planes back to King Salmon. However, there was a bit of a delay boarding the planes.
Alaskan brown bears
Alaskan brown bears