Hi Folks:

As part of a vacation package, I will be in Anchorage, AK from the evening of Aug 27th to the evening of Aug 31st. I am looking for some opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography while I'm there. Especially bears, whales, & bald eagles. Although semi-disabled, I can walk and climb stairs within reason, but am no longer in the best of physical condition.

As part of the package, I'll be in Copper River, Denali, Talkeetna, and McKinley for about a week.

Any suggestions or recommendations on locations and/or operators in or near the area?

Thanks!!
Jim

There are several places around Anchorage for great photography. Drive along Turnigain Arm and photograph Beluga Whales from shore. Turn around and look up and photograph Dall Sheep up the mountain side. If you e-mail me, I will give you my telelphone number and we can meet up and I can take you places within a short driving distance that will amaze you. I have seen the 2 hour drive from Anchorage to Seward take over 8 hours due to the photo ops. How do I know this? Because this is my home, where I live. e-mail is david at davidrameyphotography dot com

David:

What a gracious offer! I will follow up by email.

Thank You!

Tucson Jim

This is why I like this forum so much, everyone is so nice.
Way to go David, that's a real cool offer you've made.

Don

David:

I sent you a long message by email. I was reading another of your posts in response to James' Anniversary in NP thread and now I'm worried I may have picked the wrong time to visit your fair state. Besides the beautiful landscape, I am most interested in seeing bears and bald eagles. May or August?

BTW, you do know I'm a novice photographer, right?

Thanks!

Jim

You have not picked the wrong time to see Alaska. You will see plenty of bears in Denali NP.

Just to clarify any misconceptions about photographing bears in Alaska. We have Grizzly bears in the interior of Alaska. The best place to photograph them is Denali NP during tourist season (mid May to mid Sept.). We also have coastal Brown Bears and the best places to photograph them is Brook's Falls in Katmai NP, McNeil River State Sanctuary, and Silver Salmon Creek Lodge. The best time to get the photo ops for the coastal Brown Bears are during the salmon runs. This is July and August. So depending on what type of bear you are wanting to photograph tells you when and where to go to photograph. Learn basic bear biology and keep in mind that Boars eat cubs and because of this, the Sows chase away the Boars to protect their cubs. If you go to Brook's Falls or McNeil and see lots of Sows with cubs, you picked the wrong week to see Boars. There are no shortage of boars. Who do you think fathered all those cubs?