Strolling in the Khutzeymateen
Canon 5DIII camera with a Canon 500mm lens: 1/800th of a second at f/4 on ISO 800
After having photographed the Grizzly bear named Blondie on the first day in the Khutzeymateen, we met up with her again on two separate occasions. Here she was at the mouth of the main river in the estuary. She had been in the water just before and the droplets were still shaking loose as she stepped across the sand. She noticed us right away but showed little interest and kept on her hunt for fish.
Canon 5DIII camera with a Canon 500mm lens: 1/2500th of a second at f/4 on ISO 800
She had swum around the grassy sandbar we were moored beside and carried on around another bend a few minutes later.
Canon 5DIII camera with a Canon 500mm lens: 1/1250th of a second at f/4 on ISO 800
Christopher Martin Photography 
Wonderful photos of a magnificent bear. You really make me think that a 500mm lens may be in my future. MInd you, in 45 years of backpacking I have had a number of grizzly encounters that could have been caught with a 35mm, if only I had stayed around long enough.
September 11, 2013 at 3:26 pm
Great shots, what a wonderful opportunity! When you are there, is it easy to tell them apart? And are they ever tagged?
September 9, 2013 at 1:41 pm
Hi Jane,
A few of the bears have unique features which make it relatively easy to identify those individuals.
Dan Wakeman, the captain and guide I traveled with has been in the Khutzeymateen for 35 years. He can identify individuals and has a depth of knowledge about many of them. I can’t say enough about his respect for, care of and knowledge that Dan has for this population of Grizzly bears.
I asked Dan about tagging and he said that they used to tag them but it has not been done for at least 15+ years if my memory serves. Either way, they are not tagged now. Sometimes bears come in from other locations and may have tags so you may see a tagged bear if you go but they are in the minority.
September 10, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Love the bears!
I put a link to your blog in my latest post for anyone that needs a “bear fix” … I am enjoying your photos very much.
September 9, 2013 at 6:05 am
Thanks BW!
I’m glad you are enjoying the bear photographs.
I read that you haven’t had a chance to see bears for a while – I hope that changes soon!
Cheers,
Chris
September 10, 2013 at 12:33 pm