A Great Trip Needs An Extraordinary Destination ...Hallo Bay? ABSOLUTELY

Monday, August 31, 2009

Wolf: Patiently Waiting for Chris!

Wolf: Patiently Waiting for Chris!
Simyra © Hallo Bay Camp

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Simyra's Camp Diary: August 2009


New photo workshop group arrived today. Happy and fired up tonight. Earlier, one group went with John up past the rock gorge, and another worked the lower creek with Simyra. The Group with John observed Audrey going through the gorge from a 100 feet above looking straight down at her. Audrey also did close up visit with Simyra's group. She gets everywhere! A large light brown male fished the rapids below the gorge. To finish the day on the walk back to camp a dark brown sub-adult male was spoted moving through the willows just off the creek.
---
When you put your hand in a flowing stream,
you touch the last that has gone before
and the first of what is still to come.
- Leonardo Da Vinci

Bears: The Clam Diggers by D Tudor

Bear: Backing Off by D Tudor

WEATHER: Monday 083109



Observed Weather at Hallo Bay Camp
7:00 AM


Weather Conditions: Partly Cloudy
Visibility: 30 miles
Ceiling: Clear
Wind: 5 mph out of ESE
Wind Gusts: to 8 mph

Current Temp: 49F 9.44c
High Daytime Temp Yesterday: 59F 15c
Barometric Pressure: 30.13 and rising
Outside Humidity: 79%
Rainfall: 0.00 total inches last 24 hours
(24 hour period begins at midnight)
Rainfall: 5.67 Total inches for August
Rainfall: 23.25 total inches since May 12, 2009
Observed Sea Swell off Beach: 0 to 1.0 feet
Homer Webcam
Tigger Forecast: no report
Actual Sunrise: 7:15 AM AKDT
Actual Sunset: 9:25 PM AKDT
Civil Twilight Sunrise: 6:31 AM
Civil Twilight Sunset: 10:09 PM

Moon Rise: 8:24 PM
Moon Set: 2:14 AM
Moon: Waxing Gibbous, 85% of Moon illuminated
Length of Visible Daylight: 15h 38m
Length of Day: 14h 09m
Tomorrow will be 5m 16s shorter
Have a Safe Day
This date in Alaska History: August 31, 1953 -
Ted Stevens was appointed as the U.S. District Attorney in Fairbanks, his first government job in Alaska.


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Simyra's Camp Diary: August 2009

gray pawAugust 27:
Hot spot up creek! Two males fished backwater simultaneously. One hauled his catch up the bank into cover to eat in peace. Two medium-sized males played king of the log surrounded by lime grass near the beach. A couple more bears fished the "honey hole" as we returned from exploring the hidden meadow.

gray pawAugust 28:
Some Chums making their way up the Congo today, "dogs" in the fishing parlance. Young Chocolate male hastily entered the gravel bar, looked over his shoulder, caught his breath just in time to escape Audrey who was in hot pursuit, assumably due to bear etiquette transgressed, chased him plumb through a willow thicket, maybe to Kodiak. Several times, two bears fished the narrow creek concurrently.

gray pawAugust 29:
A slow start to an exciting day in the Hot spot up the creek. After a couple of hours of hopeful waiting a lone well fed Audrey made her daily appearance to show of her robust figure. While the group was contently photographing Audrey a high speed chase had found its way through the gravel bar we were perched upon. The two bears running at full speed and moving with the silence and agility only a wild animal could poses blasted by the group within several meters paying no mind to the bold humans oddly hanging out in "their" house. Audrey was less than amused paying no attention to the hooligan bears and their childish games for Audrey it was all business, the business of working up her full bodied figure she is so proud of.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Fish: Killer Salmon!


Before the BBC visits a location, they are asked to write up a possible incident report on things that could happen to them while they are in the field filming. As with anything, no one can predict everything or anything that could go wrong, it is an impossible task to even comprehend what could happen to one while visiting a location. We were bored one afternoon and I photographed Gavin Thurston at the creek being attacked by the infamous Alaskan killer salmon. They sent the photo back to their boss to inform them that they had forgot to mention that this could happen to them.....the boss was not impressed, but it was pretty funny.

PS.....the fish had no body, it is just the head of the fish that he has attached to his leg.

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Say Ah-hhhh!
Simyra © Hallo Bay Camp

Hope you enjoyed our Sunday Funny!

WEATHER: Sunday 083009


Observed Weather at Hallo Bay Camp
7:00 AM

Weather Conditions: Blue Sky
Visibility: Unlimited
Ceiling: Clear
Wind: 7 mph out of ESE
Wind Gusts: to 12 mph
Current Temp: 52F 11.11c
High Daytime Temp Yesterday: 59F 15c
Barometric Pressure: 30.06 and rising
Outside Humidity: 65%
Rainfall: 0.00 Total inches last 24 hours
(24 hour period begins at midnight)
Rainfall: 5.67 Total inches for August
Rainfall: 23.25 Total inches since May 12, 2009
Observed Sea Swell off Beach: 0 to 1.0 feet
Homer Webcam
Tigger Forecast: No report...
Actual Sunrise: 7:13 AM AKDT
Actual Sunset: 9:28 PM AKDT
Civil Twilight Sunrise: 6:28 AM
Civil Twilight Sunset: 10:12 PM
Moon Rise: 8:12 PM
Moon Set: 12:54 AM
Moon: Waxing Gibbous, 79% of Moon illuminated
Length of Visibile Daylight: 15h 43m
Length of Day: 14h 14m
Tomorrow will be 5m 16s shorter
Have a Safe Day
This date in Alaska History: August 30, 1918 -
Father William Duncan died at Metlakatla, a town he was instrumental in founding in 1887.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Polar Bear: Just resting by Simyra

Just Resting!
Simyra © Hallo Bay Camp

Polar Bear Adventure
A Wildlife Photography Tour

Trip Date:
October 31 - November 7, 2009
8 days / 7 nights

Polar bear line

John's Camp Diary: August 2009


Audrey & Firecracker fished in the "Y" at Clint's creek. Firecracker hauled fish up into the grass, Audrey followed the scent, and Firecracker returned to creek. Merry-go- round! Several more young male bears were catching fishing up-river. Found outstanding sand/gravel bar from which to catch excellent action photos. Bears appeared and disappeared like ghost in willow thickets.
---
“Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit”
- Edward Abbey

Bear: Cover Girl by D Tudor

Landmark: Hallo Bay Inland Vista

This vista is looking true north from Hallo Bay Camp.
We were sitting on the meadow looking behind us
to the left of Yak Mtn. across Big River.

Don Tudor © Hallo Bay Camp

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WEATHER: Saturday 082909


Observed Weather at Hallo Bay Camp
7:00 AM

Weather Conditions: Mostly Cloudy
Visibility: 10 miles
Ceiling: 4,000 feet
Wind: 2 mph out of NE
Wind Gusts: to 5 mph
Current Temp: 48.8F 8.89c
High Daytime Temp Yesterday: 52.9F 11.11c
Barometric Pressure: 29.75 and rising
Outside Humidity: 96%
Rainfall: 0.00 total inches last 24 hours
(24 hour period begins at midnight)
Rainfall: 5.67 Total inches for August
Rainfall: 23.25 Total inches since May 12, 2009
Observed Sea Swell off Beach: 0 to 1.0 feet
Homer Webcam
Tigger Forecast: No report...
Actual Sunrise: 7:11 AM AKDT
Actual Sunset: 9:31 PM AKDT
Civil Twilight Sunrise: 6:25 AM
Civil Twilight Sunset: 10:15 PM
Moon Rise: 7:52 PM
Moon Set: No Moon Set
Moon: Waxing Gibbous, 71% of Moon illuminated
Length of Visible Daylight: 15h 49m
Length of Day: 14h 19m
Tomorrow will be 5m 16s shorter
Have a Safe Day
This date in Alaska History: August 29, 1885 - Lieutenant Henry Allen reached St. Michael after exploring the Copper and Yukon Rivers.

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Friday, August 28, 2009

Bear: Lost in Thought by C Anderson

Simyra's Camp Diary: August 2009


As we walked to the creek the other day, the sun was shining and the wind was gently sending a breeze through the tall grass up on the sand dunes. In the tree line that borders the one side of the creek, the Chickadees could be heard singing their sweet songs, just enough to remind us that they were happily fluttering around. We had stopped at the mouth of the creek to do a quick visual to see what bears may be fishing further up stream. From approximately 100 yards away, over by the tree line, a wolf stepped out onto the grass and over to the driftwood line. She looked at us in the way she has looked at us so many times before, with clever coyness and curiosity. She began to walk over to our direction so we quickly sat down on the sand in hopes that we would not scare her off. Quite the contrary. She casually walked over until she was 20 feet away from us, looking at us with those serious steel eyes. After five minutes she became bored with her admirers and casually walked to the creek to begin her fishing for the afternoon.


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Wolf Viewing Us!
Simyra © Hallo Bay Camp

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WEATHER: Friday 082809



Observed Weather at Hallo Bay
7:00 AM

Weather Conditions: Overcast
Visibility: 6 miles
Ceiling: 5,000 feet
Wind: 5 mph out of NW
Wind Gusts: to 7 mph
Current Temp: 51F 10.56c
High Daytime Temp Yesterday: 56F 13.33c
Barometric Pressure: 29.38 and steady
Outside Humidity: 95%
Rainfall: 0.10 Total inches last 24 hours
(24 hour period begins at midnight)
Rainfall: 5.67 Total inches for August
Rainfall: 23.25 Total inches since May 12, 2009
Observed Sea Swell off Beach: 0 to 1.0 feet
Homer Webcam
Tigger Forecast: No Report!
-however, Elmo (the Cnadian Russian Blue from the pound) is now moving up to providing weather reporting indicators. This is very strange: two cats that can predict the weather!
Actual Sunrise: 7:08 AM AKDT
Actual Sunset: 9:33 PM AKDT
Civil Twilight Sunrise: 6:23 AM
Civil Twilight Sunset: 10:28 PM
Moon Rise: 7:18 PM
Moon Set: 11:45 PM
Moon: First Quarter, 62% of Moon illuminated
Length of Visible Daylight: 15h 55m
Length of Day: 14h 25m
Tomorrow will be 5m 16s shorter
Have a Safe Day
This date in Alaska History: August 28, 1903 -
The Santa Ana landed 200 people at Seward. The date was long observed there as Founders Day.


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Webcam 1

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Webcam 2

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Bears: Lunch Time! by J Braswell

WEATHER: Thursday 082709


Observed Weather at Hallo Bay Camp
7:00 AM

Weather Conditions: Overcast w/moderate rain
Visibility: 0 miles
Ceiling: 0 feet
Wind: 18 mph out of NE
Wind Gusts: to 22 mph
Current Temp: 53F 11.67
High Daytime Temp Yesterday: 66F 18.89c
Barometric Pressure: 29.66 and steady
Outside Humidity: 96%
Rainfall: 0.72 Total inches last 24 hours
(24 hour period begins at midnight)
Rainfall: 5.23 Total inches for August
Rainfall: 22.82 total inches since May 12, 2009
Observed Sea Swell off Beach: 2.0 to 3.0 feet
Homer Webcam
Tigger Forecast: Called it right again!
Actual Sunrise: 7:06 AM AKDT
Actual Sunrise: 9:36 PM AKDT
Civil Twilight Sunrise: 6:20 AM
Civil Twilight Sunrise: 10:22 PM
Moon Rise: 6:22 PM
Moon Set: 10:54 PM
Moon: First Quarter, 52% of Moon illuminated
Length of Visibile Daylight: 16h 01m
Length of Day: 14h 30m
Tomorrow will be 5m 15s shorter
Have a Safe Day
This date in Alaska History: August 27, 1911 -
G/s F.S. Redfield stranded on Cape Prince of Wales. All 23 people aboard survived.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Wolf: Yawning by Simyra


Simyra's Camp Diary: It had been a hot day and fishing all morning does tire one out. After a morning of fishing for salmon at the creek, our wolf was getting a bit sleepy. She would lay down on the sand bank near the creek and try to take a quick nap. Every so often, her ears would perk up as she heard the tell tale noise of fish frantically swimming up the creek. She would get up, look around and sit back down. We had the opportunity to see her yawn quite a few times and at the end of each yawn her lips would curl back to reveal those white razor sharp teeth.

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Bears: Home Schooling by J Braswell

John's Camp Diary: August 2009


Yesterday we saw a couple of bears at the creek in the morning, looking for fish or dozing. There were three wolves that greeted us at the marsh creek opening, just as we topped a beach dune. One wolf vanished into willows immediately, then two others stood broadside for a minute or so before leaving us.
---
Quote: "Only by going alone in silence, without baggage, can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness. All other travel is mere dust and hotels and baggage and chatter." -- John Muir

Wolf: Curiosity by Simyra

Wolf Curiosity!
Simyra © Hallo Bay Camp


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WEATHER: Wednesday 082609


Observed Weather at Hallo Bay Camp
7:00 AM

Weather Conditions: Partly Cloudy
Visibility: 40 miles
Ceiling: 8,000 feet
Wind: 0 mph out of NW
Wind Gusts: to 2 mph
Current Temp: 46F 7.78c
High Daytime Temp Yesterday: 64F 17.78c
Barometric Pressure: 29.79 and rising
Outside Humidity: 70%
Rainfall: 0.00 Total inches last 24 hours
(24 hour period begins at midnight)
Rainfall: 4.50 Total inches for August
Rainfall: 22.08 Total inches since May 12, 2009
Observed Sea Swell off Beach: 0 to 1.0 feet
Homer Webcam
Tigger Forecast: no report
Actual Sunrise: 7:04 AM AKDT
Actual Sunset: 9:39 PM AKDT
Civil Twilight Sunrise: 6:18 AM
Civil Twilight Sunset: 10:25 PM
Moon Rise: 5:06 PM
Moon Set: 10:23 PM
Length of Visible Daylight: 16h 07m
Length of Day: 14h 35m
Tomorrow will be 5m 14s shorter
Have a Safe Day
This date in Alaska History: August 26, 1958 -
Voters in the first Alaska State Primary Election approved the Statehood Enabling Act 40,452 to 8,010 and nominated candidates for Governor, Secretary of State, members of Congress and for the first State Legislature.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Bears: Look at Me, Mom!

Bears: Tag, You're It!

WEATHER: Tuesday 082509


Observed Weather at Hallo Bay Camp
7:00 AM

Weather Conditions: Blue sky w/few clouds
Visibility: 40 miles
Ceiling: Clear
Wind: 6 mph out of NW
Wind Gusts: to 7 mph
Current Temp: 42F 5.56c
High Daytime Temp Yesterday: 69F 20.56c
Barometric Pressure: 29.57 and steady
Outside Humidity: 82%
Rainfall: 0.00 Total inches last 24 hours
(24 hour period begins at midnight)
Rainfall: 4.50 Total inches for August
Rainfall: 22.08 Total inches since May 12, 2009
Observed Sea Swell off Beach: 0 to 1.0 feet
Homer Webcam
Tigger Forecast: sleeping
Actual Sunrise: 7:01 AM AKDT
Actual Sunset: 9:42 PM AKDT
Civil Twilight Sunrise: 6:15 AM
Civil Twilight Sunset: 10:28 PM
Moon Rise: 3:37 PM
Moon Set: 10:05 PM
Moon: Waxing Crescent, 32% of Moon illuminated
Length of Visible Daylight: 16h 13m
Length of Day: 14h 40m
Tomorrow will be 5m 14s shorter
Have a Safe Day
This date in Alaska History: August 25, 1900 -
The USS Wheeling arrived in Sitka from the Philippines after taking part in the Spanish-American War.


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