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Great Bear Rainforest Trip Summary
Ever since I read about the Great Bear Rainforest being set aside for conservation purposes, I wanted to visit the area. For some reason, it took a few years to finally arrange a trip there, despite the fact that it was almost in my "back yard." Below you will find information on my visit, my guides and the equipment I needed to make it a successful adventure into the British Columbian wilderness.
General Information

  • Getting There - Getting to and from Seattle involved a number of flights. The rugged BC coast is largely removed from civilization, so it takes some extra effort to reach your launching point. I flew from Seattle to Vancouver, Vancouver to Prince Rupert and then on to Hartley Bay via float plane. The trip home involved flights from Bella Bella to Vancouver (with a stop in between) and then the final flight home.

  • When I Went - Late September was marked as one of the better times to see bears due to increased salmon activity in the creeks and inlets of the Great Bear. The weather was generally wet, but sightings were quite good throughout much of the week.

  • Transportation - Aside from the flights up, and the odd taxi ride, most of the trip was spent onboard a boat. See below.
    		•
    My Guide

  • Ocean Adventures Charter Co. - Trish and Eric Boyum were my guides and hosts aboard the Great Bear II, the vessel that served as our home for 9 days as we explored the Great Bear Rainforest. I chose them based in part on the recommendation of Ian McCallister, a photographer and conservationist who is known for his efforts to preserve the region over the last decade or two. I picked Ian's brain after seeing him featured in a TV special on the rainforest, and he recommended Eric and Trish.

    They run tours in spring and late summer/fall with a variety of concentrations and locations. The area is so huge that there are tons of different islands and inlets to explore. As the park (which is relatively young) management gets established and they work with the native communities to outline some of their regulations, there is more talk of limiting the number of charters and tours that visit certain areas. Eric and Trish have been leading tours there for 12 years and have a great relationship with several of the communities, and also a deep fondness for the area and the wildlife, so it's a safe bet they will continue to be one of the best options to lead tours into the area.

    There are only 5 guests at a time on the boat, making it one of the smaller, more intimate tours available.

    Web: http://www.oceanadventures.bc.ca/
    Mention my name if you decide to book!
    • Lodging

    Aside from the boat that was my home for most of the trip, my only other lodging was in Prince Rupert at the start of the journey.

  • Eagle Point B&B - Fine accommodations along Prince Rupert's waterfront. Wireless Internet service is available, and a hearty breakfast is provided in the morning.

    Web: http://www.citytel.net/eaglebluff/

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    What I Packed

    It was a tight fit. The float planes that fly into some of the remote locations in BC have strict weight restrictions. If you are over the limit (pretty easy to do if you're a photographer) expect to pay an added fee for the excess weight.

    As always, I had my handy travel compressor bags to save space. I was visiting a temperate rainforest in late September, and packed accordingly. Warm hat, gloves and thermal underwear were musts, along with a good waterproof rain jacket and rain pants. Rubber boots or hip-waders are needed as well, as there were several instances in which we had to make "wet landings" during shore excursions (stepping into the shallows rather than on dry land).

    Sun glasses and sun screen are good to have, just in case (you never know, the sun could show itself). Also be sure to bring a book or some other form of entertainment, in case you're prone to cabin fever.

    		Photo Gear

    Gear was mostly packed in the LowePro PhotoTrekker AW II, but I also brought along my ThinkTank Skin belt and pouch system, which came in handy during excursions on the Zodiac and onto shore. You can read my additional notes on this system and some of the pouch options in my Costa Rica 2008 summary.

    Some notes on shooting in the Great Bear: It is generally a dark environment, due to typically wet or overcast weather and the wooded surroundings. A tripod, good digital camera body that handles high ISO well (e.g., Nikon D3, Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 7D) and a 2.8 and/or Image Stabilized lens are all tools that can help produce better photos in tough conditions. Much of the exploration along inlets and rivers is done in the Zodiac. I had success using my tripod as a monopod for my 500mm lens and shooting while seated along the sides of the Zodiac, and other times by propping the lens on the edge of the Zodiac. This is feasible only if there's room and if you have understanding fellow travelers. I was lucky to have both.

    A good rain cover for your photo gear is a necessity.

  • Canon 40D, 20D
  • Canon 100-400IS (the 70-200mm 2.8IS may have been a better option)
  • Canon 24-70mm 2.8
  • Canon 10-22mm
  • Canon 1.4x teleconverter
  • ThinkTank Pixel Pocket Rocket
  • Extra Batteries, Memory Cards
  • Lens Wipes/Brush, Polarizer, Graduated Neutral Density Filters
  • Epson P-5000 Storage Device
  • Rain covers for camera & lenses
  • Powerstrip & battery chargers

    free ThinkTank camera bag with purchase over $50
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     free ThinkTank camera bag with purchase over $50
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