Brown Bear Molt ©CAndersonTX

Hallo Bay Bear Camp

Bear Molt

Chris AndersonTX © Hallo Bay Bear Camp

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Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Species: BROWN BEAR Ursus Arctos

- - -

Molt:

Latitude, sex and age influence molting of hair in the brown bear.  Brown bears replace their hair annually.  In general, adult males begin to molt first, followed by young males and other lone individuals; females with dependent young molt last.  Molt is generally complete by late July or August.  Color, color pattern, and general appearance change markedly over time.  Quimby and Snarski found that dark colored bears predominated in spring and fall, whereas lighter color predomate during summer.  They attributed these trends to differenences in timing of emergence, sex-specific differences in color, bleaching, and observability. Rausch, Troyer and Hansel examined spring hides with rub marks suggesting that molting may begin at emergence from dens; they noted substantially less rubbing in the fall.

Source:  CLICK HERE

"Jack-o-lanterns burning bright..."

May Jack-o-lanterns burning bright

Of soft and golden hue

Pierce through the future’s veil and show

What fate now holds for you.

~Author Unknown

Weather: Monday 10.31.11

October Daily Weather Report
Hallo Bay * Homer 
Webcams:  Live 24/7

Homer~Kachemak Bay

Homer Birdcam 

HOMER
Lat/Lon: 59.7° N 151.5° W
Weather Conditions:  Snow today, with snow accumulation up to 2 inch. Tonight will be mostly cloudy. A chance of snow in the evening. Lows in the lower 20F to lower 30F (-6.7c to -1.1c). Highs in the lower 30F (-1.1c)   
Visibility:   10 miles  
Ceiling:   3,300'  
Wind:    NE 10 to 15 mph. Around Kachemak Bay: SE 15 mph in the morning becoming light, then tonight Variable to 10 mph  
Barometric Pressure:   29.64 Rising  
Outside Humidity:   92%  
Tigger Forecast:   snoozing in a warm spot!  
Actual Sunrise:   9:24 AM AKDT  
Actual Sunset:   6:13 PM AKDT  
Civil Twilight Sunrise:   8:39 AM  
Civil Twilight Sunset:   6:58 PM  
Moon Rise:   3:12 PM  
Moon Set:   10:32 PM  
Moon:   Waxing Crescent, 32% of Moon illuminated   
Length of Visible Daylight:   10h 18m  
Length of Day:   8h 49m  
Tomorrow will be 5m 7s shorter      
THIS DATE IN ALASKA HISTORY:   October 31, 1935 -
Ferry service between Juneau and Douglas (Douglas Island), which had commenced in the 1880, was discontinued upon completion of a bridge  /more: Juneau/Douglas Bridge and Gastineau Channel and Alexander Archipelago   
AURORA FORECAST:   Moderate (3)  
AURORA LIVECAM
METEOR SHOWERS:   South Taurids: November 2~4   

HALLO BAY
58º 34’10.10 N, 153º 53’57.58 W
Weather Conditions:   Cloudy with areas of snow this morning, mixing with rain in the afternoon. Snow accumulation up to 1 inch except 1 to 3 inches toward the mountains. Tonight mostly cloudy with scattered snow showers. Lows 15F to 20F (-9.4c to -6.7c). Highs in the upper 20F to mid 30F (-3.3c to 1.7c). Wind S 10 to 20 mph. Local gusts to 30 mph, then tonight becoming N 15 mph    
Actual Sunrise:   9:39 AM AKDT  
Actual Sunset:   6:29 PM AKDT  
Civil Twilight Sunrise:   8:54 AM  
Civil Twilight Sunset:   7:13 PM  
Moon Rise:   3:27 PM  
Moon Set:   10:48 PM  
Have a Safe Halloween!

HOMER SPIT • KACHEMAK BAY • COOK INLET • WEBCAM

Rosie's Cub in the Meadow by ©RChou

Hallo Bay Bear Camp

Rosie's Cub in the Meadow

Roger Chou © Hallo Bay Bear Camp

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Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Species: BROWN BEAR Ursus Arctos

Clint's Thoughts: Alaska's Bears—India's Tigers?

Clint's Thoughts:

I have no doubt that every single business that is a member of KPTMC does their very best to preserve the future of their business while fulfilling commitments to their customers and meeting the needs of their family. Sometimes though I believe many of us are more than a little guilty of what I refer to as the “more is better syndrome”.


Generally the “more is better syndrome” begins to show its colors when the demand for a product or service exceeds the current local or regional supply. Demand for particular products or services is generally an indication product popularity and or product quality, however in the limited areas of the bear viewing business these very things are also encompassing a fast growing population of visitors and outside business interests moving into the marketplace to score the easy buck.


Bear viewing operators in Southwest and South Central Alaska are attempting to meet the demand, but there is the question, should we? Too many operators and too many flights with too many people are certain to displace the bears and other wildlife, not to mention the impact on the habitat and this my friends is where we will kill the golden goose.


How might we prevent this from happening? Personally I do not believe this is going to be and easy thing to do as human greed has accelerated to the point that most people today will blindly sacrifice a finite resource to “get their share”, even something as simple as water of which there seems to be no end, but there is and generations yet to come will pay a heavy price for the legacy we may leave them.


I believe if we all would be satisfied in making a fair profit, fulfilling the needs of our family and maintaining the quality of our visitor businesses so as not to damage the environment for the long term things might stabilize, but as long as we have those who live by “more is better” demanding “their share” the quality of the bear viewing product we market to our visitors will continue to erode.


The choice is ours. Do we self regulate or do we have happen to us what happened to India’s tiger reserves? In India wise game managers recognized the impact of too many people, using more and more motorized off-road travel making it easier to access to the tigers and effectively displacing the tigers. India attempted to close those reserves to all so that the tigers would not be displaced and ultimately destroyed. The outcry from the tour operators, tour organizations and professional photographers was tremendous, screaming bloody murder “you cannot close these areas as it feeds and supports so many people and businesses”, ah yes, it does…..too many and now it is too late for the tigers.

“One way to open your eyes is to ask yourself,

‘What if I had never seen this before?

What if I knew I would never see it again?”

RACHEL CARSON

Weather: Sunday 10.30.11

October Daily Weather Report
Hallo Bay * Homer
Webcams:  Live 24/7
Homer~Kachemak Bay
Homer Birdcam 


HOMER
Lat/Lon: 59.7° N 151.5° W
Weather Conditions:   Snow showers briefly mixed with rain this morning. Partial clearing this afternoon with snow showers tapering off from the west. Snow accumulations around 1 inch. Tonight increasing clouds with snow likely after midnight. Snow accumulation around 1 inch. Lows in the lower 20F to lower 30F (-6.7c to -1.1c). Highs in the 30F (-1.1c)  
Visibility:   10 miles  
Ceiling:   Unlimited  
Wind:   Today SW 10 to 15 mph, except W 15 to 30 mph around Kachemak Bay. Tonight Variable 10 mph, except S 10 to 20 mph around Kachemak Bay  
Barometric Pressure:   29.55 Steady  
Outside Humidity:   54%  
Tigger Forecast:   watching birdfeeder   
Actual Sunrise:   9:21 AM AKDT  
Actual Sunset:   6:16 PM AKDT   
Civil Twilight Sunrise:   8:37 AM  
Civil Twilight Sunset:   7:00 PM  
Moon Rise:   2:39 PM  
Moon Set:   9:09 PM  
Moon:   Waxing Crescent, 22% of Moon illuminated   
Length of Visible Daylight:   10h 23m  
Length of Day:   8h 54m  
Tomorrow will be 5m 7s shorter       
THIS DATE IN ALASKA HISTORY:   October 30, 1938 -
The cornerstone was laid at the Shrine of St. Terese on Shrine Island, near Juneau /more: Lynn Canal and Frommer's Alaska  
AURORA FORECAST:   Moderate (3)  
AURORA LIVECAM
METEOR SHOWERS:   South Taurids: November 2~4  

HALLO BAY
58º 34’10.10 N, 153º 53’57.58 W
Weather Conditions:   Partly sunny. Isolated snow and rain showers. Along the Alaska Peninsula: scattered rain and snow showers in the morning, then rain and snow showers likely in the afternoon. No snow accumulation. Snow and rain developing from the west in the evening, then snow after midnight. Snow accumulation 1 to 3 inches. Lows in the mid 20F to lower 30F (-3.9c to -1.1c). Highs in the lower to mid 30F (-1.1c to 1.7c). Wind Variable 10 mph, becoming S in the afternoon, then tonight becoming SE 15 to 25 mph. Along the western capes there will be gusts to 35 mph   
Actual Sunrise:   9:36 AM AKDT  
Actual Sunset:   6:31 PM AKDT  
Civil Twilight Sunrise:   8:52 AM  
Civil Twilight Sunset:   7:16 PM AKDT  
Moon Rise:   2:54 PM  
Moon Set:   9:26 PM  
Have a Safe Day!

HOMER SPIT • KACHEMAK BAY • COOK INLET • WEBCAM

HALLO BAY BIRD LIST • ALASKA BIRDS

KACHEMAK BAY BIRDING • SHOREBIRD FESTIVAL

"I Remember..." photo: ©CAndersonTX

I remember a hundred lovely lakes,

and recall the fragrant breath of pine and fir

and cedar and poplar trees.

The trail has strung upon it,

as upon a thread of silk,

opalescent dawns and saffron sunsets.

It has given me blessed release from care and worry

and the troubled thinking of our modern day.

It has been a return to the primitive and the peaceful.

Whenever the pressure of our complex city life

thins my blood and benumbs my brain,

I seek relief in the trail;

and when I hear the coyote wailing to the yellow dawn,

my cares fall from me -

I am happy.

HAMLIN GARLAND

What? You Lookin' At Me? ©CAndersonTX

Hallo Bay Bear Camp

What? You Lookin' At Me?

Chris AndersonTX © Hallo Bay Bear Camp

- - -

Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Species:  BROWN BEAR Ursus Arctos

- - -

The human spirit

needs places where nature

has not been rearranged

by the hand of man.

 ~Author Unknown

Katmai Hunt Prospectus: October 2011 Update!

We'd like to draw your attention

to a couple of items of interest from

Friends of Katmai:

Katmai Hunt Prospectus will now have to provide

an Environmental Assessment, with work to begin

in November and take 9 to 12 months to complete.

Katmai Hunt Prospectus: CLICK HERE

News Release:  CLICK HERE

FAQ: CLICK HERE

Also, a very interesting news article about

State of Alaska Sues Over Pebble Mine Initiative:

 CLICK HERE

Weather: Saturday 10.29.11

October Daily Weather Report
Hallo Bay * Homer
Webcams:  Live 24/7
Homer~Kachemak Bay
Homer Birdcam 


HOMER
Lat/Lon: 59.7° N 151.5° W
Weather Conditions:  Mostly cloudy today with scattered rain showers around Kachemak Bay. Tonight cloudy with isolated rain and snow showers in the evening, then scattered snow showers after midnight. Lows in the mid 20F to lower 30F (-3.9c to -1.1c). Highs in the mid 30F to lower 40F (1.7c to 4.4c)  
Visibility:   10 miles  
Ceiling:   5,500'  
Wind:   N 10 to 25 mph, becoming Variable to 10 mph, except W 15 to 30 mph around Kachemak Bay   
Barometric Pressure:   29.00 Steady  
Outside Humidity:   79%  
Tigger Forecast:   curled up in a warm spot, now snoozing!  
Actual Sunrise:   9:19 AM AKDT  
Actual Sunset:   6:19 PM AKDT  
Civil Twilight Sunrise:   8:35 AM  
Civil Twilight Sunset:   7:03 PM  
Moon Rise:   1:49 PM  
Moon Set:   7:56 PM  
Moon:   Waxing Crescent, 13% of Moon illuminated  
Length of Visible Daylight:   10h 27m  
Length of Day:   8h 59m  
Tomorrow will be 5m 8s shorter      
THIS DATE IN ALASKA HISTORY:   October 29, 1904 -
The Knik post office was established at the head of Knik Arm of Cook Inlet  /more: Cook Inletkeeper     
AURORA FORECAST:   not available  
AURORA LIVECAM
METEOR SHOWERS:   South Taurids: November 2~4  

HALLO BAY
58º 34’10.10 N, 153º 53’57.58 W
Weather Conditions:   Mostly cloudy with rain and snow showers. Snow accumulation up to 1 inch. Tonight mostly cloudy with scattered snow showers mainly along the Aleutian Range. Lows in the 20F (-6.7c). Highs in the lower 30F to lower 40F (-1.1c to 4.4c). Wind NW 10 to 20 mph, except NW 20 to 35 mph along the western capes and Alaska Peninsula, then tonight becoming W 10 to 20 mph   
Actual Sunrise:   9:34 AM AKDT  
Actual Sunset:   6:34 PM AKDT  
Civil Twilight Sunrise:   8:50 AM  
Civil Twilight Sunset:   7:18 PM  
Moon Rise:   2:04 PM  
Moon Set:   8:13 PM  
Have a Safe Day!

HOMER SPIT • KACHEMAK BAY • COOK INLET • WEBCAM

HALLO BAY BIRD LIST • ALASKA BIRDS

KACHEMAK BAY BIRDING • SHOREBIRD FESTIVAL

The 10 Rules For Visiting Alaska!

The 10 Rules For Visiting Alaska

My accumulation of 25 years of watching visitors make the same mistakes over and over again has led me to list 10 basic rules to assist a visitor better prepare for their Alaska Adventure:


DO


1) Do—Purchase Travel Insurance.

2) Do—Leave at least one day open between reserved tours.

3) Do—Make your reservations well in advance. (7-9+ months is good)

4) Do—Map out the distances between your activities and consider the time you will need to spend traveling between points.

5) Do—Research Alaska Department of Fish and Game information pages.

6) Do—Speak with your tour company's wilderness guide to get a clear understanding of what is offered and what your expectations are.

7) Do—Choose one primary Region of Alaska for each visit,  i.e. The Kenai Peninsula for example.

8) Do—Contact the Kenai Peninsula Tourism Marketing Council for accurate Regional information.


DO NOT


9) Do Not—Generalize Alaska information: i.e. salmon runs for example, as the various Regions throughout Alaska and even individual rivers within those regions can vary tremendously, which affects the fishing and the bear viewing. Vested, knowledgeable local guides are your best source of accurate information here.

10) Do Not—Attempt to see the entire State of Alaska in one 10 day trip.

Create Memories For A Lifetime

Of Exciting Outdoor Aventure

and Breathtaking Alaska Scenery

Come See.  Come Stay. Come Back!

Hallo Bay Bear Camp

Lesser Yellowlegs by ©RChou

Hallo Bay Bear Camp

Lesser Yellowlegs

Roger Chou © Hallo Bay Bear Camp

- - -

Species: LESSER YELLOWLEGS

Weather: Wednesday 10.26.11

October Daily Weather Report
Hallo Bay * Homer
Webcams:  Live 24/7
Homer~Kachemak Bay
Homer Birdcam 


HOMER
Lat/Lon: 59.7° N 151.5° W
Weather Conditions:  Scattered rain and snow showers this morning along the mountains. Tonight mostly cloudy with patchy fog after midnight. Lows in the lower 20F to lower 30F (-6.7c to -1.1c). Highs  dropping into 30F (-1.1c) today  
Visibility:   9 Miles  
Ceiling:   Unlimited  
Wind:   Today W 10 to 20 mph. Around Kachemak Bay:  W 20 to 35 mph becoming SW 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Tonight wind will be E 15 mph   
Barometric Pressure:   29.47 Steady  
Outside Humidity:   65%  
Tigger Forecast:   watching birdfeeder or snoozing!  
Actual Sunrise:   9:11 AM AKDT  
Actual Sunset:   6:27 PM AKDT  
Civil Twilight Sunrise:   8:28 AM  
Civil Twilight Sunset:   7:10 PM  
Moon Rise:   9:30 AM  
Moon Set:   5:53 PM  
Moon:   NEW MOON, 0% of Moon illuninated  
Length of Visible Daylight:   10h 42m  
Length of Day:   9h 15m  
Tomorrow will be 5m 11s shorter      
THIS DATE IN ALASKA HISTORY:   October 26, 1909 -
Alfred P. Swineford, the second governor of the District of Alaska (1885-1889) died at Juneau /more: digital archives     
AURORA FORECAST:   Low (2)  
AURORA LIVECAM
METEOR SHOWERS:   South Taurids: November 2~4   

HALLO BAY
58º 34’10.10 N, 153º 53’57.58 W
Weather Conditions:   Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow and rain. Tonight cloudy with a chance of rain and snow in the evening, becoming scattered rain and snow showers after midnight. Lows in the mid 20F to mid 30F (-3.9c to 1.7c). Highs in the mid 30F to lower 40F (-1.1c to 4.4c). Wind SE to 15 mph. Local gusts to 35 mph in the afternoon. Winds tonight will be NE to 15 mph   
Actual Sunrise:  9:26 AM AKDT  
Actual Sunset:   6:42 PM AKDT  
Civil Twilight Sunrise:   8:43 AM  
Civil Twilight Sunset:   7:25 PM  
Moon Rise:   9:46 AM  
Moon Set:   6:09 PM  
Have a Safe Day!

HOMER SPIT • KACHEMAK BAY • COOK INLET • WEBCAM

HALLO BAY BIRD LIST • ALASKA BIRDS

KACHEMAK BAY BIRDING • SHOREBIRD FESTIVAL

John Muir Autumn Quote...

"The winds will blow their own freshness into you,

and the storms their energy,

while cares will drop away from you

like the leaves of Autumn."

JOHN MUIR

Sow with Cub, Relaxing on the Beach by ©RChou

Hallo Bay Bear Camp

Sow with Cub

Relaxing on the Beach

Roger Chou © Hallo Bay Bear Camp

- - -

Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Species: BROWN BEAR Ursus Arctos

Weather: Tuesday 10.25.11

October Daily Weather Report
Hallo Bay * Homer
Webcams:  Live 24/7
Homer~Kachemak Bay
Homer Birdcam 


HOMER
Lat/Lon: 59.7° N 151.5° W
Weather Conditions:   Rain south of Ninilchik as well as inland. Elsewhere, mostly cloudy with a slight chance of rain. Rain likely along the coast during the evening, then rain and snow likely inland after midnight. Up to 1 inch snow accumulation inland. Lows in the mid 20F to mid 30F (-3.9c to 1.7c). Highs in the mid 40F to lower 50F (7.2c to 10c)  
Visibility:   3 miles  
Ceiling:   2,700'   
Wind:   E increasing to 15 to 30 mph, with local gusts to 40 mph this morning, then becoming NE 10 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Around Kachemak Bay: E 20 to 35 mph with gusts to 50 mph becoming NE 15 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Tonight N 10 to 25 mph, becoming W after midnight. Around Kachemak Bay: W increasing to 30 to 45 mph by late evening  
Barometric Pressure:   28.78 Falling  
Outside Humidity:   97%  
Tigger Forecast:   found a cozy spot and is now snoozing!  
Actual Sunrise:   9:09 AM AKDT  
Actual Sunset:   6:29 PM AKDT  
Civil Twilight Sunrise:   8:25 AM  
Civil Twilight Sunset:   7:12 PM  
Moon Rise:   7:50 AM  
Moon Set:   5:34 PM  
Moon:   Waning Crescent, 2% of Moon illuminated  
Length of Visible Daylight:   10h 47m  
Length of Day:   9h 20m  
Tomorrow will be 5m 12s shorter      
THIS DATE IN ALASKA HISTORY:   October 25, 1916 -
The Old Kasaan National Monument was established at a deserted Indian village on Prince of Wales island  /more: Kavilco/Kassan and Kaigani Haida  
AURORA FORECAST:   Low (2)  
AURORA LIVECAM
METEOR SHOWERS:   South Taurids: November 2~4   

HALLO BAY
58º 34’10.10 N, 153º 53’57.58 W
Weather Conditions:   Numerous rain and snow showers in the morning, then rain mixed with snow in the afternoon. No snow accumulation. Tonight mostly cloudy with scattered snow showers. Lows in the mid 20F to lower 30F (-3.9c to -1.1c). Highs around 40F (4.4c). Wind NW 20 to 35 mph with local gusts to 50 mph. Along the western capes: NW 45 to 55 mph with gusts to 65 mph.  Then tonight becoming W 20 to 35 mph with gusts to 45 mph decreasing to 10 to 20 mph after midnight   
Actual Sunrise:   9:24 AM AKDT  
Actual Sunset:   6:45 PM AKDT  
Civil Twilight Sunrise:   8:40 AM  
Civil Twilight Sunset:   7:28 PM  
Moon Rise:   8:06 AM  
Moon Set:   5:50 PM  
Have a Safe Day!

HOMER SPIT • KACHEMAK BAY • COOK INLET • WEBCAM

HALLO BAY BIRD LIST • ALASKA BIRDS

KACHEMAK BAY BIRDING • SHOREBIRD FESTIVAL

Blue Autumn Skies by ©BGarasky

"Those who contemplate

the beauty of the earth

find reserves of strength

that will endure as long as life lasts."

RACHEL CARSON