Most epic flyfishing trip ever? Yes, quite possibly!
This trip was sponsored by: Alaska Flyfishing Goods Temsco Helicopters and FisheWear
Pack Creek
Pack Creek Bear Tours (click link for excursions)
It had always been on my ‘local’ bucket list to eventually make it to this famous bear viewing area. I had the chance to experience Pack Creek in 2017 when Pack Creek Bear Tours asked me to tag along and photograph on one of their trips, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity!
Pack Creek (Fortress of the Bears) is located about 30 miles south of Juneau on Admiralty Island, accessible by float plane or watercraft only. If you don’t already know, Admiralty Island is well known for having the highest concentration of brown bears in the world, about one every square mile, that’s an estimated 1,600 brown bears!
Between 1956-1989, bear man Stan Price resided amongst the bears at Pack Creek. His kind nature and presence at Pack Creek was embodied into its core population of bears, creating a co-habitation, and allowing for the bears to tolerate and live among the presence of the visiting human population. In 1989 Stan Price passed away, and Alaska honored him by making Pack Creek a state wildlife sanctuary. Now about a thousand visitors enjoy the long standing work of Stan Price every summer.
What you take away from this trip is so much more than some photos and stories. You find that bears have been greatly misunderstood and sensationalized. I myself as a young child in Alaska had a great fear and misunderstanding of bears, and was guilty of this into my late teenage years.
If you are interested in making this trip out to Pack Creek, I highly suggest booking a tour with Pack Creek Bear Tours. Their staff is amazing, and a wealth of information. Before you head out, know that the trip is about 5 hours long, there are no bathrooms (so you’ll be going as the bears do), and no cell phone service (hallelujah!). If you wanted to venture here on your own, please make sure you do your research first, especially if you do not feel comfortable around bears. I’d suggest contacting the US Forest Services and getting briefed on how to conduct yourself while in the area. There are Forest Service employees on site at all times during the opening of July 5-August 25th. Please note that you are required to have a permit.
Here you can see the outflow of Pack Creek.
Our float plane arriving to pick us up after our amazing day at Pack Creek!
Dutch Harbor (Unalaska), AK
Dutch Harbor November 2017
