Spirit Bears of the Great Bear Rainforest

2024 Workshop Information Packet

Workshop Dates: Oct 3–8, 2024

Instructor/Leader: Leighton Lum

WELCOME!

Thanks again for joining our 2024 Spirit Bears of the Great Bear Rainforest photography adventure! We can’t wait to share the magnificence of the Great Bear Rainforest and its inhabitants with you. But first, a bit of planning is needed to make sure everything goes smoothly. This document contains important information to help you prepare for our journey. Please take some time to read it carefully and don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

WORKSHOP OVERVIEW

  • The workshop begins at 3pm on Oct 3 in Prince Rupert, British Columbia and ends upon our return to Prince Rupert on the afternoon of Oct 8. 

  • We will overnight in Prince Rupert on Oct 3 and travel to the Gitga’at First Nations community of Hartley Bay by private water taxi the following morning. We’ll check into the Hartley Bay guesthouse, which will be our home base for the remainder of the trip.  After dropping off our luggage in our rooms,  we’ll head out into the field ASAP for our first bear photography session, returning after sunset.

  • For the next 3 days, we will travel by boat each morning from Hartley Bay to one of several sites where we hope to find and photograph bears fishing for salmon in the streams. We will pack a sack lunch each day to eat in the field.

  • Breakfasts and dinners will be served at the guesthouse. Wi-Fi is available at the guesthouse. Cell phone service in Hartley Bay exists but may or may not work for you depending upon your carrier. On the final day (Oct 6), we will board the water taxi mid-morning for the journey back to Prince Rupert. We should be back in Prince Rupert by 2pm  

TRAVEL TO/FROM PRINCE RUPERT

Arrival – Plan your arrival to Prince Rupert (airport code: YPR-aka Digby Island) for no later than ~1pm on Oct 3.  Air Canada is the only commercial airline flying in/out of Prince Rupert (although you may book your flight itinerary through other airlines).  

Note 1  – if you are not a Canadian or American citizen, you will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to travel to Canada. Most applications are approved within minutes and costs only $7.  Americans do not need an eTA, but a valid passport is required.

Note 2 – The town of Prince Rupert is on Kaien Island, but the airport (YPR) is on nearby Digby Island. Upon your arrival at the airport, a free shuttle/ferry service will take you and your luggage to the shuttle station in town where you will claim your checked bags. From the shuttle station it is only about a quarter mile to the Crest Hotel. Taxi service is available or you can walk (note: Uber/Lyft is NOT available in Prince Rupert).

Lodging in Prince Rupert ­ – We’ve reserved a block of rooms at the Crest Hotel for the nights of Oct 3 and Oct 8 but you must book your own reservation to confirm your stay.  Please let them know you are part of the ‘Art of Seeing’ group when making your reservation.

Note: Accommodations and meals in Prince Rupert are NOT included in the workshop fee. Staying at the Crest Hotel is most convenient but other options are available also. The nightly rates for our group are:

Crest Hotel – 2024 rates TBA. Should be similar to 2023 rates which were $205 CAD (~$144 USD) per night plus taxes.

Departure – ***IMPORTANT NOTE –We should be back in Prince Rupert by 2pm on Oct 8. You might be able to fly out that evening but there is always the possibility of our water taxi being delayed due to weather or other reasons. So, it is much safer to overnight in Prince Rupert the night of Oct 8 and fly out the following morning. ***

ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS 

The remainder of your workshop fees are due as follows:

  • April 1, 2024:  $2500

  • June 1, 2024:  Remaining balance.

You will receive an invoice by email approximately 30 days before each due date. Payment can be made online by debit/credit card. Let us know if you wish to use another form of payment. Your on-time payments are greatly appreciated.

HEALTH/MEDICAL

Medications - make sure to pack an adequate supply of any prescription and non-prescription medications you take (pain relievers, sleep aids, supplements, etc.) as there are no stores or services in Hartley Bay.  You may also want to carry a course of antibiotics, just in case (always a good idea when traveling). Request a prescription for travelers’ diarrhea from your doctor or travel clinic.

WJ Medical Form – our logistics partner, Wildlife Journeys, requires all participants to complete their online medical & liability waiver form. They take this requirement very seriously. Please click this link and complete & submit this form ASAP.

PHOTO EQUIPMENT

Below is a list of general photo gear recommendations. I’m happy to answer questions specific to your kit, just ask.

In addition to the actual equipment, the main things to consider are the low light and possibly (very) wet conditions.

If you are tempted to buy new gear for this trip, make sure to give yourself enough time to get to know it before you leave home. You don’t want to be fumbling through camera settings or an owner’s manual when a bear pounces on a salmon in the river. Also, consider renting instead of buying…there are several excellent services out there including lensrentals.com and borrowlenses.com that rent camera bodies and lenses at reasonable rates.

Camera(s) – pretty much any modern dSLR or mirrorless body can do the job. Good low light performance is a big plus…you will frequently be shooting at ISO 1600 and above when we are under forest canopy. Super high frame rates aren’t necessary but features like animal eye tracking will noticeably imcrease your keeper rate. Nice to have, but not a must.

We also strongly recommend bringing a digital or paper copy of your operating manual.

Lenses – in general your telephoto lenses will be the workhorses of this trip but the distance to our primary subjects (bears) changes constantly as they move up and down the river looking for salmon.

  • 400mm+ – nice to have for longer range shots and frame-filling portraits.

  • 100-400mm – the sweet spot focal length-wise for most situations

  • Shorter focal lengths – handy for environmental portraits, landscapes and when the critters get really close. Also, modern smartphone cameras are simply great cameras – you should bring yours.

  • Make sure your rain protection is compatible with all your lenses.

Camera Rain Protection – is essential. It’s called a rainforest for a reason. There are many choices available and I’ve tried quite a few, but I haven’t found anything better than OP/Tech’s Rainsleeve, which happens to be one of the least expensive options. Make sure to get the right size(s) to fit all your lenses.

Extra Memory Cards Batteries & Charger – you will be shooting a lot, sometimes as many as 1000-2000 images per day and there is no place in the field to charge batteries or download memory cards. It is critical that you bring enough spare batteries to make it through each day and enough memory cards for the entire trip. I highly recommend NOT erasing/formatting memory cards until you are back home. Don’t forget your battery charger!

Laptop –  highly recommended. Your photography will improve if you review your images daily. Doing preliminary selects and ratings also makes the mountain of images more manageable when you get home. We will also have several sessions on post processing and image management. Make sure you have enough available space on your internal hard drive or bring a small external drive.

Tripod or Monopod– also HIGHLY recommended. Something that is both relatively sturdy and lightweight with a ball or gimbal head and quick release camera plate is ideal. Don’t forget to pack the quick release plate – I recommend purchasing an extra plate(s) to leave permanently attached to your long lens(es).

Camera bag or backpack – there are an infinite number of options out there – it’s really a matter of personal preference. My advice is to choose something that is no bigger than it has to be. It should be able to hold your camera gear, a sack lunch, a water bottle and your rain jacket. The jacket and bottle typically go in exterior pockets or attach by straps. Many models come with a rain cover. Your bag should fit under an airplane seat, so you are not forced to check your precious gear.

Polarizing filter – helps reduce glare on water and foliage which adds richness/saturation to colors and removes distracting highlights. It’s very handy but a polarizer also reduces light reaching your sensor which can make shooting in dark environments even harder. Overall, well worth having on hand when conditions allow its use.

Small Microfiber towel(s) – a couple of these inside zip-loc bags will ensure you always have a dry towel to wipe moisture from cameras and lenses.

Large Silica Gel Pack  - is an optional item you can throw in your camera bag to absorb excess moisture.

CLOTHING & OTHER ITEMS

General Notes

  • Proper clothing, particularly truly waterproof, not water-resistant, raingear is ESSENTIAL! Lack of these items is a safety hazard to the entire group, and you may not be allowed to participate in some or all of the in-the-field activities if you show up without suitable rain protection.

  • Although temperatures rarely dip below freezing, we will be standing/sitting in cool temps for long periods. Make sure to bring appropriate base and mid-layers, especially if you tend to get cold easily.

Footwear:

  • You must have some kind of waterproof footwear. We will be getting in and out of boats at the water’s edge and walking through shallow streams and on muddy trails. 


  • Over the calf rubber boots or neoprene “muck boots” are the simplest and most cost-effective solution.

  • Hiking boots alone are not a good substitute for rubber boots because we may have to walk through water up to our calves. If you feel you really need the ankle support of hiking boots, then we recommend getting a pair of Neos overshoes to help keep you dry.

Other Footwear Options 



  • If you own, or can borrow, a pair of breathable fishing waders and wading boots (or just a pair of old running shoes that you don’t mind getting wet) that you can walk in and wear comfortably all day, they are a great solution. As a bonus you won’t need to bring additional rain pants. These  are a good value 


  • Dry pants with built-in waterproof socks are another option. They are a bit less bulky than chest waders to wear, and pack down smaller than waders or rubber boots. Here is another option.

  • A  pair of sandals or comfortable footwear for around the guest house.  


Other Clothing:

  • Base Layers (i.e. long underwear tops and bottoms). Midweight or heavier merino wool are the best but can be pricey. Here are couple of brands (1, 2) that are good value. Synthetic materials are also an option but avoid cotton.

  • Mid Layers – long sleeve shirts, sweaters, “puffy” down jackets/vests, fleece to keep you warm. Multiple light or midweight layers are much better than one heavy layer.

  • Suitable long outdoor pants (e.g. tough quick-dry nylon pants are best). Avoid cotton pants and jeans.

  • Raingear – as previously noted, truly waterproof jacket AND pants are a must


  • Warm hat or beanie 


  • Gloves or mittens – form fitting gloves which allow you to operate your camera or “photographer gloves” are best

Personal items: 


  • Sunglasses 


  • Spare eyeglasses and contact lenses 


  • Personal toiletries 


  • Personal medications labeled clearly. Consider bringing Dramamine (or similar) if you are susceptible to seasickness, as we will spend time in boats. 


  • Sun block 


  • Refillable water bottle 


  • A small amount of bug spray

  • If you think you’d like the security of a walking stick, bring a collapsible model.

MISC

Things to Do in Prince Rupert - I suggest a trip to Cowpuccino’s cafe followed by a visit to the Museum of Northern BC and a stroll around the docks. If you’re eager to experience some temperate rainforest, then go for a hike on the Butze Rapids trail. It is a five km taxi trip to the trailhead, but there is also local bus service as described in this government brochure. The trail itself is 5 km (1.5 hours) and will take you through some lovely old forests, coastal wetlands and interesting forest bogs.

If you have more time, some guests really enjoy a trip to the North Pacific Cannery National Historic Site. The history of the salmon canneries on the BC coast is fascinating. Public transportation is available and departs from the Museum of Northern BC in Prince Rupert.

Hartley Bay – is a very small isolated residential community in the heart of the Great Bear Rain Forest. There are no roads or services here. The only access is by boat or seaplane and members of the Gitga’at First Nations tribe get around by walking or with ATV’s on elevated boardwalks. The environs around Hartley Bay also happen to be the best place in the world to see Spirit Bears.

Note: alcohol is prohibited in Hartley Bay. Please respect the community’s decision to keep alcohol out of their town. Also, there are NO services in Hartley Bay, not even a souvenir shop or convenience store. You must bring everything you need.

A Word About Gratuities – Like many service businesses, outfitters/guides rely on gratuities for a substantial portion of their income. I think you will find the Hartley Bay crew to be outstanding at what they do. If you feel you’ve received good service, a token of your appreciation is greatly appreciated. People always ask me for guidance on amounts and I always feel uncomfortable answering – what I can say is that the typical range I see is anywhere between $100 and $200 USD total.

All tips are shared among the naturalist guides & staff (boat crew, cooks, guesthouse staff). Canadian currency is preferred. Please bring cash, there are no atm’s in Hartely Bay.

A final word - Lastly, and most importantly, please bring your enthusiasm and appreciation for wildlife, natural beauty and First Nations’ culture. As with any wildlife trip, it is always an asset to bring along a good dose of patience and an ability to appreciate your surroundings. 


Again, if you have any questions about the information contained here or any other aspect of this workshop, please contact us.

Thank you,

Ken Lee

+1 949-282-9660 mobile/text
ken@artofseeing.com