Snow & Ice Bears Trip Review
Read more details about the Snow Bears Photography Tour
Held in the Yukon Territory, Canada In late October 2015, I had the good fortune, thanks to David and Jennifer Hemmings of Natures Photo Adventures, to spend a week photographing grizzly bears at an
isolated camp, south of the Arctic Circle in the Yukon Territory of Canada. Located on the Fishing Branch River in the Ni’iilii’njik Territorial Park. Since the river is fed by ground water which collects in underground caves, the river flows all year in spite of the cold temperatures. This means that the salmon run is later in the fall, transforming the grizzly bears that fish the river into “ice bears” as the ambient temperatures drop below freezing. The facilities at the camp are rustic but comfortable. There are three cabins, with a maximum of two people in each cabin.
Since one cabin houses the staff, there is room for a maximum of four guests at a time. Each cabin is well insulated and heated by a wood stove. Facilities include an indoor shower and an outhouse located a short walk from the cabins. There is a common area for cooking, dining, and relaxing when not photographing or sleeping. The food is excellent, ranging from fish to chili, steaks, and pork. , The small number of guests allowed at any one time works extremely well for photography since the bears are not disturbed by the presence of large groups of people. Each photographer can comfortably photograph without interfering with the photographer next to them.
Since, late in the fall, weather can be unpredictable in the Yukon, I decided to allow for weather delays when planning my travel. There were overnight stays in Vancouver, Whitehorse, and Dawson City before the final leg, a two hour helicopter flight from Dawson City. The final leg from Dawson City to the camp you see some of the most stunning and isolated scenery in North America. In late October the days are short and the temperature ranges from zero to 20F.
Between 9:30 and 10:00 in the morning expect to be heading out on a short hike to one of the three viewing locations along the Fishing Branch River. By 5:00 in the afternoon, the sun will drop below the tops of the spruce trees. By 5:30, it will be too dark to photograph. I did not find one viewing location superior to another. Each location had its own advantages. I was able to produce gallery quality images at all three locations. The light and the bear activity at each location were different so use it to your advantage. Make sure to spend time at each location. You will not regret it.
A 500mm or equivalent lens works well for most shooting situations, providing opportunities for not only tight head shots but also environmental bear landscape images depending on the camera-to-subject distance. I did use a 1.4 extender for a few shots. Also, expect to use a short telephoto in the 120mm range. With reduced light levels and increased bear activity, make sure that your camera can handle ISO settings in the range of 800 to 1600. Phil Timpany, manager of the camp, guide, cook, photographer, and all around great guy, is an excellent bear specialist. I have not met anyone with more knowledge of bear behavior than Phil. He is also an excellent photographer as well. There are too many adjectives that describe the unqiue bear camp; rare, unique, awesome, awe-inspiring, breathtaking, formidable, spectacular, and educational.
Any photographer that enjoys visiting remote locations, does not mind sacrificing some of the basic necessities that we are used to, and loves photographing grizzly bears in their natural environment, should add Snow Bears to their “bucket list”. If you do decide to go, contact David and Jennifer Hemmings of Natures Photo Adventures; they can set you up for a trip of a lifetime. They can also help solving challenges that are inherent with photographing in this unique environment. info@naturesphotoadventures.com
