Continuing the expedition planning ...

I'm also planning a bearwatching expedition in Ketchikan with Island Wings. We'll be taking 2 floatplanes on a trip to Traitors Cove to view black bears in the natural habitat in a National Forest. Should be a great photo op!

I can only take 12 people on this expedition - I've got 6 spots spoken for already. Any other interest? Prices are still being finalized but will be pricey - we're looking at around $300 or so.

So ... ?

Masaki

(edited to fix typo - black bears, not brown bears)

Then you really need this from fellow Nikon D2HXer Moose Peterson...

Tips

Thanks for the link! As it turns out, I remembered incorrectly, we're going to be seeing BLACK bears at this location, not brown bears ... but I'm sure that the tips will still be useful!

More details on the excursion:
Traitor's Cove Bear Watching Observatory Tours

Between August 15th and September 30th you can visit the bear observatory at Traitors Cove. Fly by floatplane along the beautiful waterways of the lush Tongass National Forest across Revillagegedo island to the to a US Forest Service maintained trail and the Margarite Creek Bear Viewing observatory platform.




Bears can be seen as they plunge into the rushing water to retrieve their meals of wriggling salmon. This is a perfect opportunity to photograph Alaska's real fisherman in action! In addition to bears feeding, you will also see Bald eagles picking up scraps left by the bears and of course the real stars of the show, the salmon, as they battle their way upstream to spawn. Your journey will be accompanied by a naturalist who will provide information of the flora and fauna along the way. Combine a short hike, beautiful scenery and a magnificent wildlife experience in one trip.




This is a three hour guided tour that includes a floatplane flight, a 1 mile drive by van on a US Forest Service road and a short hike along a boardwalk trail to the viewing platform. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and bring plenty of film! The US Forest Service restricts access to Margarite Observatory by permit. As a result, only small numbers of people have the opportunity to visit this beautiful site so book early!

Tour Includes: 20 minute flight each way and 2 hours & 15 minutes at Margarite Creek
Season: August 15th through September 31st
Price: $275 per person
(edit by Masaki - this price is last year's price and may change)

Masaki

Masaki
I'm not sure I was looking at the correct site, but the one I saw has the 2006 prices available. $329. There is another tour hopefully still offered by RSSC that I want to do or I would have been interested.

Betty - this is the web site:
http://www.islandwings.com/wlv.html#traitors

I don't see 2006 prices anywhere but maybe you saw something that I didn't?

Masaki

I do feel like a fool. Was looking at a different air service. Sorry.

I saw the full description on the RSSC website. Count us in - for three - Kathy, Frank and Carol.

Betty - it's OK. I do it all the time. :D

Masaki

Masaki - Pat & I would very much like to do this adventure. Please let us know how we can be part of it. We'll be happy to send money, credit card dope, or whatever. Count us majorily in...
Cheers, Fred

Put me down for the 12th spot!!

Editing to say "Wait, what am I saying???" :eek:

With my final payment for ROAR due this week, I need to take a breather from booking land-based mammalian excursions until I regain a positive bank balance.

(Temporary) Opt out.

OK, so at this time I have:

Masaki and Amanda
AndreaN
Kathy, Frank, and Carol
Fred and Pat
Suzanne (?)

Freddie - I can take the payment in dope. I can use it for .... *ahem* medicinal purposes.

Suzanne - "land-based mammalian excursions"? LOL. Stop posting on LCT after your wine for the night! :D

Masaki

Masaki. If you still have room for the bear watching in Ketchikan, would you sign me up for one. If you are full, could you put me on a waiting list. I am with Olivia's group. Thank you,
robin

Welcome to my friend and sister-in-law Robin for her first lct post! She is a delight, and you all will love her. While like me, she likes her wine (who doesn't in this group?) I can just about promise that Suzanne will not get her pole dancing in Stars Lounge.

That being said, Masaki, I would like to join in as well for the bear watching tour with Island Wings (if there is room), and thank you for arranging this!

Welome Robin we look forward to meeting you - we all love Olivia with her wine and without

Olivia
When I first read about this excursion, I thought of you immediately. We will all be ready for your fantastic photographs.
Robin, are you also a photographer? Please keep posting & welcome to this wonderful board.

Hi Robin! How nice to see your post! I look forward to meeting you on board.

Robin is the amateur photgrapher extraordinare! Before she bought her last camera, I put her in touch with Ron (Linda Litteken's husband) She bought, I think, same basic camera, but not as many lenses. You will not be disappointed! We live next door to each other on the water. Last year, she came to my property and did a great shot of the marsh when the light was great. Then she went over to her house, and photographed some Canada geese flying. She was able to superimpose them and create a great Christmas card! Now Robin, can you post it??? (Oh, I know I am embarrassing her)

Olivia, maybe I can impress Robin with my skill of posting peoples heads on funny bodies ;)

How cool that we have some good photographers going on MUSH. I hope we can do like we did for 007 and upload all our photos to the same site so I can just buy all the ones I like!!

Karen: Remember Tony has his new fancy schmancy camera from his casino winnings - I hope he takes one of you half as cute as 007 at the bar :app: :app: :app: Joanna ;)

I am really counting on Tony's new camera to get some good pictures of us girls together!!

Welcome Robin, we love Olivia and I am sure if she loves you we will all love you!!! Going to be fun to meet some of Olivia's family.

Robin - WElcome to LCT. This will be really fun. That plane better have good space for all our photo gear. I can see us all hiking the trail with our long lenses, camera bags and tripods.

The photo ops are a big reason for me to go back to AK. On our first cruise there in 2001 Frank got a new camera and I hadn't held a 35mm in 20 years. When the eagles were flying over the ship in the College Fjords, I was hooked on getting back into photography - especially when the photos did not come out with any eagles in them!

Thank you all for your warm welcome. And a special thanks to Olivia for including her family in this exciting trip. We will try and not embarrass her too much. And no, I am not a good photographer, but do have fun trying. I do envy those of you going to Africa. We went a year and a half ago and visited some of the same places you will be going to - Cape Town, the Wine Country, Victoria Falls where we also stayed at the Royal Livingston. We did our safari in South Luangwa National Park in Zambia. After our safari we rented a car and drove across Zambia to the Northwest Province, the Source of the Great Zambezi River! It was a wonderful trip and the animals magical. There are some pictures here: http://chillie.smugmug.com/Travel
of Cape Town, Wine Country and Victoria Falls, the Royal Livingston. These are just snapshots - no picture can describe the beauty of Africa. It truly is a trip of a lifetime. Thanks again and I look forward to meeting you on the Alaska Cruise.
r

Updated now to:
Masaki and Amanda
AndreaN
Kathy, Frank, and Carol
Fred and Pat
Suzanne (?)
Robin and Olivia

I think I have 1 more slot?? Depending on what Suzanne decides. :)

And welcome Robin to LCT! Looking forward to meeting you on MUSH - any friend/SIL of Olivia's is a friend of mine! I was waiting for Olivia to chime in and say that she wanted to go ... :D

Masaki

Is this $329 each or per couple?

I wish per couple - each ($329) I am sure

Masaki: Freddie said credit card dope - I think meaning CC "info" ...


Freddie - I can take the payment in dope. I can use it for .... *ahem* medicinal purposes.

Wild man Masaki!!!!

Ah, Joanna, you are as perceptive as always. I did indeed mean credit card info. Otherwise, I would have been precise in my punctuation and written "money, credit card, dope, or whatever." But of course we must be careful in this thread to not gain the attention of the email police, who have probably now made a computer file stating that Masaki and I are suspected to be droug traffikers. (Last two words spelled incorrectly in the attempt to fool the email police.) In any event, Masaki, please let us know if you need anything to hold our spots on this cool outing (other than controlled substances...). Cheers, Fred

There's no messing with you, Freddie, - I liked the words spelled incorrectly - the email police will note in your file "poor speller" - have no fear - I will post bail for you!!

Actually, I think Masaki is the only one of us who has free access to controlled substances. Most of us are quite happy with liquid libations.

Very good Kathy - BUT that'll go into Masaki's file - :D :D

You guys are trying to sic Homeland Security on me, I know it! :)

As soon as I hear final details from Island Wings, I will post deposit instructions here. (hmmmm, it's been 4 days since I emailed them and haven't heard back yet. Maybe I should bug them again.)

Masaki

Once again, pulling the faux pas of posting after myself.

I heard back from Island Wings today. Michelle brings up a question that I wanted to have the rest of you decide. My preference would probably have all of us go together but what do the rest of you think?

"At this point in time we have 11 passengers signed up for the Traitors Cove bear watching tour on the 1st of September. If everyone would like to fly with me, I can take them in two groups of 6 and 5, one tour from 8:00-12:00, and the second tour from 9:00-1:00. If they all want to go at the same time, I can subcontract another plane to go with me. The total will be$275 per person, which is the 2005 price. "

Masaki

This is Ketchikan, right?

Yes. :)

Masaki

Robin and I just went today to a local state park to photograph BIRDS! All she is really wanting to do in Alaska is BEARS! Just let us know when and what to do with Island Wings, Masaki.

Olivia - but what do you think about the entire group going together in 2 planes or having Michelle do ferry service and shuttle us in 2 groups (which staggers us by an hour)?

Masaki

Masaki - which do you prefer? I kind of like the idea of all of us going at the same time.

I'm with you, Andrea - all at once is good!
We might have another one, but, it's tentative. One of Carol's friends is wanting to book MUSH

I'd prefer for all of us to go at once but some people will want to have Michelle and others won't care. I'd like to fly with Michelle so I'd want to be in her plane. If others don't care, then that makes it simple - we'll just have her subcontract out the 2nd flight and we all go at once.

As of now, it seems that the majority doesn't care/wants to go together so I'm leaning towards doing 2 flights simultaneously.

(edited to add: Robin, I finally got around to looking at your photos - they're gorgeous! That photo of the sunset over Zimbabwe gave me goose bumps!)

Masaki

I'd like to fly with Michelle too, but no problem if it doesn't happen. Masaki, not sure how you feel about it, but I'd love for her to bring her dog.