Exploring Alaska 7 Day Adventure

9/7/2017

Friday – Silver Salmon Fishing and Bears Encounter

Our first task Friday morning was to retrieve and raise the five crab pots in hopes of capturing a few big ones for our final night’s 'Dungeness Crab Feast'. Much to our surprise, the first pot brought on board yielded 12 very large Dungeness Crabs. The second pot was filled with 11 massive crustaceans. In all we captured more than 50 crabs. A few small, a few medium, and many very large crustaceans. Although we kept only 15 very large, very delicious Dungeness Crabs, it was more than enough for an amazing dinner. They were very large, and very sweet, and very flavorful, but 8 of us could not even consume 8 full size crabs. The next morning after a perfectly prepared and delicious breakfast of fresh Dungeness Crab omelets, we gave a few crabs to some friends back in Juneau.

Rob with a big one

Sonal with a big one

Me with a big one

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By Friday afternoon we had arrived at East Point on Admiralty Island. Time to bait our hooks, drop our lines and enjoy the final afternoon of Silver Salmon fishing. Today though, after only a few minutes, we were reeling in 11 to 15 pound Silvers with ease. Soon we reached our limit. Unfortunately, after almost full 7 days of calm winds and gorgeous blue skies, the weather was finally beginning to sour. The wind was picking up. Rain drops were lightly bouncing off the boats windows. Clearly, we were nearing our point of origin - Juneau.

Before the final anchoring and overnighting in Funter Bay, we were hoping to see a few more bears seeking their salmon meals. This would be my favorite and most important experience of the trip. My very up close and very personal encounter with two young Brown Bears.

My first encounter with a bear cub.

My heart was racing, my palms were sweating, my hands were shaking.

First cub at the river.

One of the Cubs swimming.

Cub looks back at me again.

Cooling off in the river. It was still a warm day.

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As the Alaska Quest neared Pavlov Bay north of East Point, we viewed the waterfall about a half mile away. Salmon must are navigate up and over the falls to reach their spawning grounds. This is deadly dangerous place for salmon. Bears are keenly aware of the probability of the salmon jumping the falls and claiming a fresh salmon dinner of their own. Unfortunately, daylight was waning. The weather was turning south. Also, the crab we had caught needed to be prepared for dinner. The salmon needed to be prepared for travel back to Seattle. This was a very busy afternoon for Tom and Tish. If I wanted to see and photograph bears, I would have to head out on my own.

Tom offered to place me at a spot on the river popular for tourists from Juneau traveling by float plane, but I would be all alone on this adventure. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity, fully aware of the inherit risks and potential dangers.

Tish provided me with a radio, bug spray and most importantly, bear spray. Tom placed me at the safest spot for viewing any bears that might arrive at the falls. A good distance though from the falls. After about 30 minutes, a female appeared near the falls. I decided I needed to be closer. Fortunately, bears are much more interested in the salmon than people, as long as cubs or aggressive behavior are not involved. I was in little danger.

Mama shows up to check on her cubs, and me.

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Soon after another bear appeared on the falls, then moved across to the other side and up into the forest. This went on for the next 45 minutes or so. I was very cognizant of keeping a safe distance, while trying to get good, clean shots of the bears. As I watched the falls down stream, about 50 feet away, awaiting another bear and paying little attention to what might be behind me, I heard a noise. Quickly from out of the trees, only 10 feet in behind me, appeared a two-year-old brown bear cub. He immediately stopped, probably as shocked to encounter me as I was to encounter him. Within a few seconds, a second cub appeared with the first. Clearly his brother or sister. At this point my heart was racing, my palms were sweating, my hands were shaking, but I was not panicking.

I fumbled a few seconds trying to pull out the bear spray. Then slowly and carefully removed the cap from the spray while keeping my eyes on both bears, now in front of me. With a calm and gentle voice, I spoke to the bears. “Bear, bear” I repeated the mantra a few times as they looked around for their mother. I slowly raised my camera and tried to capture a couple shots. Of course, I was shaking too much to capture anything, plus I was shooting with a 400mm lens and my subject was only 10 feet away. I believe the sound of my shutter startled them. They both quickly bolted up the 15-foot trail above me and headed into the woods. A few seconds later I spotted all three at the falls. Mama bear never heard or saw me.

After getting many shots of the family and a few others over the next hour, I then decided it was time to call and return to the Alaska Quest. Almost everyday I think about what might have happened had mama appeared. Our crab feast was amazing.