Dick,
You are absolutely correct on all counts. I do really enjoy the comraderie of the six guys I went to Alaska with and we are stay in touch via email and our participation on the DPReview Nikon D100/D1/D2 Forum. From time to time we get together and go somewhere to shoot. Joe is planning some upcoming adventures for us.
Regarding the near proximity to the bears you make a very good point. Our guide, John Hohl did not carry any weapon or spray of any kind. Had one of the bears decided to do us in, he could have done so without much resistance from us. As long as the other guys were around I probably was pretty safe as I figured I was near the top of the group as far as instant speed was concerned, but when it was just John and I the 20+ year difference in age probably meant I would have been the meal and John would have lived to tell the story.