Today we were split into smaller groups - the six in our group were with another in the morning for a return to Mussel for more grizzly bear viewing, then in the afternoon we separated and went to Big Bay.
It was a cold and very wet day so the break for lunch, between activities, in the warm cabin at Mussel, where the community stay when looking after the bears, was really welcome!
We had a good mornings viewing - the bears were out in force and waiting for us when we arrived. The mother and 3 big cubs were on the river bank as we chugged up a small parallel inlet, in the motorized punt, to our viewing point. They were eating sedge and slowly made their way up towards us stopping not far away to eat crab apples - mum was sniffing the air - no doubt smelling us and a bear on the opposite bank - she was very respectful and although close kept her distance. However one youngster was looking at us mischievously and started to move towards us but was deftly deflected by Chris the guide who shouted at him - mum, did the bear equivalent, of clipping him round the ear and taking all three away across the inlet to some sedge and crab apples a little way away! Once across the inlet two cubs had a play fight to get rid of their excess energy (today's photo ).
That was a great, memorable and well managed encounter with grizzlies.
When we finally stopped watching the bears and looked down we realized the river was up and many of us were standing in water - and some rucksacks were floating - the tide was, needless to say, much higher today!
Not long after we were collected and went to the cabin for that much needed warmup. As I was now drier I thought we might have to rebel and do less or even no standing out in the rain during the afternoon but when we left and headed to Big Bay the weather improved markedly. However the water levels were up so we couldn't walk up the river to the waterfalls and potential bears so instead we had to literally 'bush whack' our way through very thick undergrowth. There was plenty of evidence of bears - lots of half eaten salmon and some quite fresh.
A couple of the guys went right to the top of the falls while the rest stayed at the bottom watching the salmon and hoping for bears but none emerged.
En route back we had took a slightly different route - but the undergrowth was still thick - as it was wet, and water was spraying off the branches, our heads were down which was bad news as I walked straight into a thick branch with such force I fell backwards. I was worried as it seemed to go straight into my eye. Luckily Yuki our Japanese guide was a paramedic and quickly sorted everything out - we stopped the bleeding on the edge of my eyebrow and taped it up. It was sore but apart from gritty bits in my eye which were eventually washed out and bruising I had thankfully done no other damage. I gingerly continued and we amazingly emerged from the undergrowth very close to the boat - slightly more luck than judgement me thinks!!
Back on board we headed back to the lodge where Yuki reexamined my injury and expertly patched it up.
In the evening her speaking talents were called upon as she gave a talk on the small Japanese boat we had seen by the cabin in Mussel - it had arrived in Canada as a result of the Japanese Tsunami a couple of years ago. As a consequence earlier in the summer the original owner visited and was reunited with his boat. An emotional event as it brought back memories - but he didn't take it back as he already had a new boat thanks to his insurance!