NOVEMBER 7, 1998 (photos reformatted, March 2002) I am aware that images might take a while in loading into your machine. I apologize for this, but I hope that you will enjoy what I have put here. Also, posting these photos has taken a considerable amount of time. I have countless images, this is but a very minute sample. Sunrise over the tundra...time is 8:30am...Saturday morning... Wow, what a show of light that took place from about 7:45 until now. As you look at some of the following bear photos, note how the light has actually be captured in the edges of their furry coats! The selected pictures that I have put on these pages have not be taken out of the order in which they were photographed, so you can really go along for the ride, and see the developments of the day(s) as "we" go...
WOW! Yes, I really am taking photos!
Two bears heading for the bunkhouse...i slept in the car second from the right; the bunk cars are the last two (on right); the lounge car is in the centre; the dining car is second from the left; supplies in the far left one. We would dock at the first bunk car. The rear of our buggy with the photo platform fits with the deck coming out the back of the last bunk car. These are well off the ground (about the height of two school buses or a bit less). The smells from the camp and the dishwater seem to tantalize the olfactory (smell) senses of the polar bears! It should be noted that the bear are not fed or baited to come to the camp. This is real nature, not a theme park or a zoo. If anything, it's the people that are caged and the bears come to look at us!!
Here are a couple of ecotourists from the western part of the U.S. looking at polar bears just outside the buggy window. It is rare to have a teacher up here at this time of year, and it is also rare to have an American student at this time of year as well. (Image by permission)
What can I say. I'll let the photos speak... Kelp is frozen in the ice. This sometimes attracts the attention of the polar bear. They might chew on it for awhile for something to do. In some cases, the bear cannot easily dig out the kelp (seaweed) and will have to use his front paws and legs like jackhammers to smash the ice. This is the same process a seal would smash open a place where a seal is sitting (or hiding). The bear has an incredible sense of smell and could smell the seal
through the ice up to two miles away!
This photo shows specialized vans and other buggies that come out upon the tundra. Note the pop top on the van. These are the professional photographers that make the posters, books, cards, etc. They can afford to charter a specialized vehicle to do such. There are two tundra vehicle (polar bear watching) companies. The one I am using is Tundra Buggy Tours, Ltd. The other one in town is called Great White Bear. GWB, in this photo has the school bus appearing vehicles and the van. The large machine
is Tundra Buggy. TB has buses as well and many different sized buggies. There is talk that Great White will be manufacturing a lodge to have in service next year as well. Tundra Buggy, a creation by Len Smith, is the original. Here's a "reverse angle". This is what the polar bear sees when it looks up at the people!! (How did I get this photograph...i am sorry I cannot "bear" this information to you at this time). Here's another interesting view! This is buggy #10, my buggy. An aerial shot...from a helicopter that we chartered to take us out over Cape Churchill where the bear will eventually head towards in the next week. The cape sticks right out into the Bay, and it is the best starting point for this population of bears to start out on the ice to hunt seals. (I was a lucky one, to really be able to touch ground momentarily. Just enough to be able to run and duck into the chopper
from the buggy...oh yes, and to snap a picture of the people taking pictures, above!) The helicopter pilot is Steve Miller of Hudson Bay Helicopters. He is the extraordinary pilot who flies out to dart the bears and work with them for scientific research purposes. He gave a wonderful halfhour trip. It was breathtaking!
This is Cape Churchill. The other scenes above show ice on the Bay. Look at this remarkable photo:
And then this one with mother and cub!!:
Two bears and a lichen covered rock. The lichen actually break down the rock, but over a long long period of time. In the climate here, I believe it takes 100 years to grow an inch around! I have seen it here in orange, black, and a grey-green.
See if you can spot the ptarmigan (it's a grouse/quail - like bird) It is snow white this time of year to help protect it. As you might have read in the journal section, the white didn't seem to help one little bird! Now we return back to the bunkhouse for the final night, actually sleeping on (or above) the tundra: I am trying to keep up to date in the journal section, but I keep falling asleep...all the fresh air, the excitement of each day, and this little bunk room is pretty warm. I am sure this polar bear can smell the excellent dinner that was prepared and served in the dining car by candlelight!!
After dinner we had a slide presentation about the wildflowers and geology of the area: And I presented the kitchen staff with a pennant from Clay JHS which they put in their display to last a while!! Another busy day...good night!!