I'm getting ready to participate in a Grizzly Bear photo workshop in the Khutzeymateen grizzly sanctuary near Prince Rupert BC at the end of May. We will be staying on a sailboat in the river while in the sanctuary.

While I believe I have the necessary gear to deal with the weather conditions there, I would appreciate any insights to dealing with shooting in cool wet conditions anyone can provide.

For example: do you have any recommendations for bringing equipment from the outside environment back to the indoors (interested in learning to deal with condensation,etc).

TIA

i use whitewater rafting roll top bags for the longer lenses attached to bodies. I use home made rain covers made from the legs of a frog tog rain suit. If i were going to alaska to shoot bears, i think I'd step up and buy a good aquateck rain cover(s).

Thanks
I already have a Storm Jacket rain cover, but am concerned mainly about the transition between outdoors and in.

I use large size zip lock bags to bring in the equipment from the cold. I place the equipment in the zip lock bag while out of doors and squeeze the excess air out of the bag while sealing the bag. Then when I bring the equipment inside the condensation occurs on the bag instead of on the equipment. I only do this when the temperature is really cold outside. I doubt I would bother with it at Prince Rupert. If it was cold enough to worry about condensation, I doubt the bears would be out and about.

thanks

The condensation thing is the same everywhere. Here's the science behind how it works.
Warm air has the capacity to hold a considerable amount of moisture, while cold air can hold less. Really cold air (the well below freezing kind) is very dry.
So your camera gets cold, and you bring it indoors. The warm air in the room touches the cold camera and the warm air cools, releasing moisture from the air, and it collects on the cold camera.
So when you "bag" your camera, you are keeping it and the dry air from touching the warm moist air, and so no condensation occurs.
You can get condensation issues at warmer temperatures too. For example, when leaving a warm moist swimming pool and entering the "normal" temperatures of the locker room or an adjoining room. It doesn't have to be freezing.
May in BC is likely to have a range of above freezing temps. Just keep your plastic bag handy and you should do fine.
As a tip, let me suggest your change cards before you come inside. Then you can do what you want with your filled card, and not be tempted to open the bag. When coming in from freezing temperatures, I usually plan on an hour for the camera to warm up.

I appreciate the tip about changing cards outside. Lots of good information here.

As we are staying on a sailboat in the river, I assume that the condensation concern will not be as great as if we flew back to a hotel at night, but it is certainly nice to go armed with facts!

You can also get some silica gel and put it inside the bag. This will soak up any moisture as it acclimates. They have it at Adorama and other retailers.

I wouldn't use silica gel for these purposes. It is fine for putting in a box of stuff that may be exposed to slightly moist air over a period of time, but it won't stop warm air from condensing on a cold camera. Silica is a good product, but not appropriate for a cold camera going into a warm room.

Durwood:

I would be interested in hearing the details and seeing some shots when you get back from your trip. One of those things on my lengthy list of things I want to do before it is too late.

Jim