Finding Magic in the Great Bear Rainforest: A Photo Journal

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I’ve always thought of Dr. Seuss books as magical, transporting me to the most creative landscapes I’d ever known as a child. Winding shapes, curious plants, fantastical fauna…

So when I stumbled upon a Dr. Seuss-like forest along the rugged and remote coast of British Columbia, it occurred to me that maybe I’d discovered one of the most magical places on Earth.

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Truly, nothing else describes my spirit bear trip with Natural Habitat Adventures better than this singular word: magical. It may not have been a Dr. Seuss book, save for that one spot in the lush rainforest, but it was a different kind of magic, revealed in the green of the rainforest and the blue of the water. In the early-morning howls of wolves and the innocent gaze of a curious bear cub. In misty, fjord-shrouded meadows and the microcosms of wild mushrooms and berries.

And it was absolutely a photographer’s paradise at every turn! I’ve never experienced more joy trying to capture the essence of a place in an image than on this trip.

> Wildlife Guide: Spirit Bears

Here are a few of my favorite shots from this stunning adventure:

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The Island Roamer, a 68-foot sailing ketch and our home for 9 days.

 

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My Dr. Seuss moment in the forests surrounding Salmon Bay: red alder trees covered in mounds of moss.

 

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The Fiordland Conservancy.

 

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6:30am: Sipping coffee and enjoying a freshly baked blueberry muffin on the top deck while listening to wolf howls from our anchorage in Mussel Inlet.

 

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Searching for grizzlies in Mussel Inlet.

 

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Microcosms of the intertidal zone.

 

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Wild huckleberries.

 

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Shoreline wildlife in Mussel Inlet.

 

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Our expert and superbly talented Expedition Leader & resident photographer Melissa Scott reminded us to take note of the finer details in the landscape.

 

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Exploring the ghost town of Butedale.

 

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Our first spirit bear sighting!

 

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A white spirit bear mama and her two black cubs enjoy a salmon snack.

 

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A spirit bear carefully scans the water for fish.

 

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Magical sun rays shine down on our cozy bear-viewing spot by a creek. See the spirit bear on the right?

 

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A nose itch made for a bashful-looking bear!

 

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The incredibly lush habitat of the spirit bear.

 

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Having the right gear is essential.

 

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Wild mushroom growing on the side of a tree.

 

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A sunset kayaking excursion in Salmon Bay on the final evening of our trip.

 

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Watching a humpback whale from the Island Roamer deck.

Follow in Megan’s footsteps on Nat Hab’ Spirit Bears, Humpbacks & Wildlife of BC adventure. Learn more and see the full itinerary here.

All photos (c) Megan Koelemay.

The post Finding Magic in the Great Bear Rainforest: A Photo Journal first appeared on Good Nature Travel Blog.

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