Photo: Wendy Van Norden Bears of Katmai, a Backpacking and Canoeing Adventure,
Alaska Highlights:
Includes:
Trip Number: 08021B Price: $1,725 Deposit: $200 Capacity: 10 Leader:
The Trip  Photo: Wendy Van Norden We will see grizzly bears in Katmai National Park, probably before our plane even lands. The bears will be busy eating salmon and can be viewed safely by following sensible guidelines. Katmai is renowned for its brown bear population. The bears, although the same species as a “grizzly” bear, are considerably larger than their inland cousins. Males can weigh over 1,000 lbs. There are between 40-60 bears present at Brooks Camp and vicinity during our stay which coincides with the world’s greatest sockeye salmon run. Brooks Camp, with its viewing platform for bear viewing at Brooks Falls, is the ideal place for photography. However, we will be happy to leave the hoards of photographers behind, as we head into the rugged wilderness and have the opportunity to see wildlife in a quieter, more pristine setting. Participants will be instructed in safe conduct practices for bear country. Katmai is a land created by fire and ice. In 1912 a volcanic eruption covered a valley with 100-700 feet of volcanic ash and debris. The valley no longer has “10,000 Smokes” created by steam from the cooling lava, but it has a surreal landscape of great beauty. Rivers have carved dramatic gorges through the ash. Although there are as many as 17 active volcanoes in the park, none of them are presently erupting. We will visit the lakes at the base of the larger volcanoes, which are carved by glaciers. We will backpack up Baked Mountain and explore the old geology research cabins on the east side of the north ridge and search for fossils of the Naknek Formation. From here we will walk to the Novarupta Caldera area, where active fumaroles steam and warm spring areas form bright green oases in the desert-like environment of the valley. If time and weather permits, we can attempt to climb Katmai Pass for even more spectacular views. The leader is a geology teacher who will be eager to share her understanding of the geologic phenomena that make the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes so unique.  Photo: Wendy Van Norden Other animals in the park include moose, lynx, red fox, hare, beaver, porcupine, wolverine, ermine and otter. Commonly seen birds include the arctic tern, bald eagle, yellowlegs, spruce grouse and ptarmigan. Fish include rainbow and lake trout, arctic char, sockeye salmon, arctic grayling, and northern pike. Anyone who would like to fish may purchase an Alaskan fishing license for $50 at Brooks Lodge. Naknek Lake, colored an aqua blue by the glacial streams, will provide us with the opportunity to explore pristine islands by canoe as bald eagles soar overhead. We will camp on the islands which are less likely to be visited by bears than the mainland.
Day 1: Fly from Anchorage to King Salmon and take a float plane from King Salmon to Brooks Camp in Katmai National Park. View bears at Brooks Falls and stay in NPS campground Day 2: Take shuttle to Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. Backpack to 6-mile camping site Day 3: Backpack to lakes Day 4: Choice of backpacking to more lakes or day hiking to Katmai Pass and Novarupta volcano.  Photo: Wendy Van Norden Day 5: Backpack to Valley overlook. Take shuttle back to Brooks Camp. Stay in campground Day 6-8: Paddle canoes on Naknek Lake exploring and camping on islands. Day 9: Return to Brooks Camp and stay in NPS campground. Day 10: Fly from Brooks Camp to King Salmon and from King Salmon to Anchorage
In Brooks Camp we will be staying at a National Park Service campground, which is provided with an electric fence to discourage bears and with storage cabins for food and gear. While backpacking and canoeing, we will store food in bear-proof containers and avoid bear trails. All meals and snacks are included in the trip fee, beginning with lunch on day one and ending with lunch on the last day. As usual on Sierra Club outings, all members help with cooking and cleanup chores. Any special diet requirements should be discussed with the leaders well in advance to be sure they can be accommodated. Trip members and leaders will all share in carrying trip food and equipment.
This trip is rated as light/intermediate in difficulty. Some basic canoeing and backpacking skills are required. The backpacking portion of the trip is only 3-days long and does not involve significant elevation gain or great distances, with the exception of a day-hike up Katmai Pass. Strong winds called williwaws can be a problem, and if we are backpacking during extreme winds, we have the option of staying in an old USGS shack, which is not scenic, but will be a welcome shelter from the wind. When hiking on a windy day, goggles and a bandana may be useful.  Photo: Wendy Van Norden In order to see the bears, we must be in Katmai at the same time as the mosquitoes and the black flies (known as white socks). Island campsites provide breezes that discourage insects and the Valley of 10,000 smokes has little vegetation, so it does not have a large insect population. It is strongly recommended that participants use mosquito head nets and mosquito repellant. Rain is likely at any time, and the temperature can range from the 40’s to the 70’s.
The Sierra Club will provide stoves, cooking pots and utensils, water purification tablets, cooking tent, first aid, repair kit, food, and satellite phone. Participants are expected to bring the following: • Backpack: Good quality, large volume, internal or external frame, and a pack rain cover. Must be able to accommodate a bear-container. • Tent: Free-standing three- or four-season with full coverage rain fly. Should be able to withstand high winds. We prefer that people share tents to minimize pack weight and the impact of the group. • Sleeping bag: Down or synthetic. Should realistically be comfortable down to 15 degrees. Should be in a waterproof stuff sack. • Sleeping pad: Either inflatable or closed-cell foam type. • Hiking boots: Must be well broken-in to avoid the most frequent first-aid problem on Alaska trips--blisters. Water shoes may be worn during the canoeing part of the trip. • Rain gear: Two-piece (jacket and pants) of good quality. Useful for wind as well as rain protection. Gore-Tex or coated nylon. No lightweight plastic. No ponchos. • Clothing: Wool or polypro pants and shirt. No cotton jeans. Polypro underwear tops and bottoms--two sets. Three pairs of socks. Warm jacket or vest, wool gloves and cap, and mosquito headnet. • Miscellaneous: Basic personal hygiene and first-aid items, eating utensils (cup, bowl, and spoon), one-quart water bottle, insect repellent. Optional: camera, light-weight binoculars, small day pack, pocket knife, bandanna, and hiking stick. A more complete equipment list will be sent to participants. Your backpack should weigh no more than 35 lbs without group food and gear. You will be expected to carry food in a bear-proof container and some group gear. You may want to include waterproof dry bags for the canoeing portion of the trip, although this is not absolutely necessary as long as you have enough sturdy plastic bags.
• Bohn, Dave, Rambles Through an Alaskan Wild: Katmai and the Valley of the Smokes • Pratt, Verna, Alaskan Wildflowers • Smith, Dave, Bear Basics • Hoshino, Michio, Moose • Breiter, Matthias, The Bears of Katmai • McPhee, John, Coming into the Country Conservation Katmai National Park, originally set aside in 1918 and expanded in 1980 by
the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act encompasses 4 million acres.
Most of that is untrammeled wilderness, but the Brooks Camp area is becoming
overused, and it is feared that the thousands of visitors are adversely affecting
the area and interfering with the bears. The area has also become a mecca for
sports fishermen and hunters, creating a conflict between sportsmen and subsistence
use. It will be our responsibility to behave responsibly in bear country, keep
a respectful distance from the wildlife, and to Leave No Trace of
our presence. Travel in Alaska and the Arctic Sierra Club outings in Alaska are special experiences in true wilderness, but they also carry an element of risk. Trip locales are often remote, away from the amenities of civilization, including sophisticated medical care and immediate evacuation possibilities. Many of our Alaska trips now carry satellite phones, but even with this technology, communication with the outside world can be difficult and emergency assistance can be days away. Weather in Alaska is unpredictable, and inclement weather can be severe. Among other hazards are cold river and stream crossings, tidal activity, calving glaciers, the psychological effects of remoteness, and the presence of large wild animals. You’re in good hands, though, so don't worry: Your trip leaders have vast experience in the Last Frontier, and they’ll provide all the guidance you need.
See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy. The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.
Leader:
General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
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Andrew Ogden lives in Boulder, Colorado, the home base from which
he pursues his passion for outdoor adventure and travel. Andrew is an
experienced backpacker, alpine and backcountry skier, climber, and a veteran of several treks in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge
as well as other parts of Alaska. Andrew enjoys helping others access the Alaskan
wilderness, and safely and respectfully travel in backcountry
areas. He also uses his political and legal experience to support the
efforts of the Sierra Club and other environmental organizations. Andrew
hopes that you will contact him with any questions about this trip.
Janet Cerretani, an art director from Boulder, Colorado has backpacked,
climbed, hiked and canoed in Alaska, the Northeast, the Tetons, and in the Rocky Mountains. She hopes all participants will share her enthusiasm in viewing and protecting the amazing wilderness of Alaska.