Tikal
then another bear shows up, checking the stream for salmon. But the salmon run is still weeks away
the youngster searches for crabs, mussels and anything edible
the tide is coming up. Tucked below the hill is the Knight Inlet Grizzly Bear outpost where seaplanes dock
we carefully move a bit closer as the bear is strolling along the shoreline
there is something moving out there in the distance
Howard has donned his waders and pulls the boat towards the river inlet when he points and shouts : BEAR!
after a 2 hours fast, wet and cold boat-ride we reach our destination, the foggy river inlet of Glendale Cove.
on the way back we finally have a short stop to stretch the legs
by now the bear has spotted us and starts moving in. Time for a hasty retreat!
this is an adult bear and it is moving downstream
it is a hungry young bear looking for breakfast
a visit to the Grizzly bears of Knight Inlet
During our British Columbia trip in August 2001, we spotted ample wildlife like eagle, mountain goat and elk. But we missed real serious wildlife like Ursus Arctos Horribilis, aka Grizzly Bear.
 
A prime viewing spot for Grizzly is the Knight Inlet, only accessible by plane or boat from Vancouver Island.
So we took the ferry from Vancouver to Nanaimo and drove up Highway 19  to the old fishing community,now  turned tourist town Telegraph Cove.
Here we had booked a wildlife viewing tour with Tide Rip Grizzly Adventures.
 
Early morning the next day we boarded a zodiac and sped through a very cold and dense fog up into the Knight Inlet on British Columbia's mainland. After 2 hours we reached our destination, the inlet area of Glendale Cove
After a while a young bear showed up in the distance. For some mysterious reason, Howard our guide, wanted to keep a fair distance from this cuddly creature so unfortunately no close-up shots of a mighty Grizzly Bear.
And when an adult bear moved in to check us out, Howard acted immediately and quickly retired to deeper waters.
But of course we enjoyed the experience.
website127055.jpg website127054.jpg website127053.jpg website127052.jpg website127051.jpg website127050.jpg website127049.jpg website127048.jpg website127047.jpg website127046.jpg website127045.jpg website127044.jpg website127009.gif website127042.gif website127041.gif
1
2
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
end
website127010.gif website127008.gif
Telegraph Cove sits in the north of Vancouver Island and is home base for boat trips to Glendale Cove
website127009.gif website127010.gif website127009.gif website127008.gif
early in the morning: after we have donned the suits there is time for a quick bite before we board the zodiac
3
website127010.gif website127009.gif website127008.gif website127010.gif website127009.gif website127008.gif website127010.gif website127009.gif website127008.gif
yep, that sure looks like a grizzly bear alright
website127010.gif website127009.gif website127008.gif website127010.gif website127009.gif website127008.gif website127010.gif website127009.gif website127008.gif website127010.gif website127009.gif website127008.gif website127010.gif website127009.gif website127008.gif website127010.gif website127009.gif website127008.gif website127010.gif website127009.gif website127008.gif website127010.gif website127009.gif website127008.gif website127010.gif website127009.gif website127008.gif website127010.gif website127009.gif website127008.gif
we refuel the zodiac and enjoy a solid lunch at this local restaurant before we head home
website127010.gif website127009.gif website127008.gif
here comes a late arrival
website127007.jpg website127006.jpg website127005.jpg website127004.jpg website127003.gif