Bear Viewing by Boat

Bear Viewing by Boat

 You Find What You Need

Kachemak Bay

Last fall, I went to commune with bears and lose myself in the wilderness. I enjoy the wild locations as much as the wildlife. This trip brought something unexpected but just as valuable.

Katmai National Park

We’re watching bears from a jet boat on a crystal turquoise mountain river. The boat separates me from the immersion I crave; I feel like I’m peering at life through the bars of a cell. I am physically separated from this dramatic beauty. Detached. I want to be one with it.

The noise of the motor colors everything with its persistent mechanical sounds. I’m aware that the sounds of forceful, moist exhales of bears surfacing after snorkeling are missing. They sound just like a whale. The thought brings a smile to my face. I can’t hear the crisp crunch of fish bones and the tearing of flesh as the bears deftly pick apart a fish. I can’t listen to cubs wailing at each other in play or desperately calling for their mom, who has walked out of sight. The footfalls of enormous, padded, leathery feet plodding along the sand, rocks, and shallows are erased by the white noise of the engine. The decrescendo call of Bald Eagles is muted. The persistent quarks, gurgles, and chatter of the ravens are diminished. In my tent, in the quiet of the night, I was treated to barred owls calling back and forth, a bear splashing through the river below me, and the soft hoo-hoos of a great horned owl.

I crave immersion in the wild in addition to the company of bears. I know it’s a lot to ask, but that’s what feeds my fire. I’ve had so many amazing, intimate wilderness experiences that now I want it just so. I want to sit or walk quietly and let nature unfold.

On the ground, I see prints, sand patterns, unique rocks, aspen leaves, pine martens, and more. Let Her decide. I am here to receive.

I appreciate the absurdity of not fully appreciating this exceptional, extravagant, unique experience because I want more. All of my life and all of my prior experiences have brought me to this very moment. I get to watch some very mindful, generous people revel in the company of their first wild bears. I benefit from their energy and their awe. I get to connect with them in authentic ways that are mostly absent in our busy lives out in the “real world.” And yet, on the river, I feel disconnected.Whenever I use motors instead of my feet, I often feel like we’re chasing the bears. On ATVs elsewhere and boats here, we motor ahead to comply with the 50-meter separation, and we’ve put ourselves in the bear’s path. If the bear choses to come within 50 meters, that’s the bear’s choice to make. So we wait for them to approach and then pass us. We’ve left them with little choice if they want to stay on the river.
Once they pass us, we may motor ahead to do it again in an uncomfortable game of leapfrog. There are many reasons that I prefer to be on the ground with the bears, and this is just one more.
Instead of the wilderness connection I sought, over the course of five days, I connected deeply with my fellow travelers and laughed more than I can convey. So. Much. Laughter. That is also part of getting out there and just letting the experience happen. I made new friends and saw bear behavior that was new to me in this stunningly gorgeous autumn landscape. That’s a successful trip!

“Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”

– Forrest Gump

If you’re interested in purchasing or licensing any images you see here, please email me at SNewenham at exploringnaturephotos.com, and I’ll make it happen.

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