Quest for the Spirit Bear
Quest for the Spirit Bear
Displaying items by tag: kermode
Quest for the Spirit Bear
Displaying items by tag: kermode
Friday, 01 October 2010 06:21
Quest for the Spirit Bear
One of the Tsimshians' myths says that "Raven made one in every ten bears white to remind the people of the time when glaciers covered this land". The Tsimashian speaking people attribute the white Kermode bears with supernatural powers, hence they are also known as the "Spirit Bear", a name that suits their apparition-like presence. The rare white Kermode, a subspecies of the black bear, is wild, elusive and little known to North Americans other than the Tsimshian-speaking people of the north coast of British Columbia. These people have shared its territory for thousands of years with the Kermode bear. Princess Royal Island, off the north coast of British Columbia, is home to a healthy population of Spirit Bears.
The island is a perfect bear habitat, with its old-growth hemlock and cedar forest; tidewater estuaries rich with grasses, roots and berries; and sparkling streams of spawning salmon which bring the bears down from the hills to gather along the streams. The surrounding mountains and rainforest are home to grizzly bears, wolves, wolverines, black bears, deer and beavers. The photographic opportunities of this adventure are amazing, giving access to some of the best bear viewing in the world. We will explore the inlets, bays and old-growth forest of the area aboard a 68' ketch that is thought by many to be the perfect B.C. coast charter yacht. This is a truly unique adventure for photographers and naturalists alike!
Read IWA Director Susie Green's blog of her recent Spirit Bear cruise!
Highlights: -Explore the deep fjords and inlets of the British Columbia temperate rainforest -View and photograph the rare kermode, or Spirit Bear as well as brown and black bears -Paddle the rugged shoreline in kayaks -Walk trails with First Nations guides and visit their villages -See humpback whales close up -Excellent food and expert guides -Small group size of only 16 for maximum flexibility -Incredible opportunity for still & video photography!
The island is a perfect bear habitat, with its old-growth hemlock and cedar forest; tidewater estuaries rich with grasses, roots and berries; and sparkling streams of spawning salmon which bring the bears down from the hills to gather along the streams. The surrounding mountains and rainforest are home to grizzly bears, wolves, wolverines, black bears, deer and beavers. The photographic opportunities of this adventure are amazing, giving access to some of the best bear viewing in the world. We will explore the inlets, bays and old-growth forest of the area aboard a 68' ketch that is thought by many to be the perfect B.C. coast charter yacht. This is a truly unique adventure for photographers and naturalists alike!
Read IWA Director Susie Green's blog of her recent Spirit Bear cruise!
Highlights: -Explore the deep fjords and inlets of the British Columbia temperate rainforest -View and photograph the rare kermode, or Spirit Bear as well as brown and black bears -Paddle the rugged shoreline in kayaks -Walk trails with First Nations guides and visit their villages -See humpback whales close up -Excellent food and expert guides -Small group size of only 16 for maximum flexibility -Incredible opportunity for still & video photography!
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Quest for the Spirit Bear


"We had an amazing trip, probably the best we have ever done...We had marvelous viewing of the spirit bear, in sunshine, on the second day of viewing and a wonderful close encounter with a rather large black bear...The boat and crew were amazing, so much better than another company that was touring about the same area. Sensational!"


