fauna – Page 37 – besthike.com

December 6, 2007

National Geographic Photography Winners

When I saw the Adventure Blog had submitted photos to National Geographic, I thought … why not me too?

I’ll make a New Year’s Resolution to submit my best photos to contests in 2008.

If only I could come up with something like this contest winner:

About 10 years ago I saw a monkey in India admiring himself with a stolen hand mirror. But had no camera at the time.

National Geographic has announced the winners of this year’s photography contest and has begun displaying the winners and honorable mentions online. …

As you would expect, there are some stunning images here, each of which will be published in the January issue of National Geographic. Sadly, none of my entries made the cut, and after seeing some of these shots I can see why. Of course, with 148,203 photos entered, I can’t imagine trying to whittle it down to these few. It must have been an incredibly tough job. …

The Adventure Blog: National Geographic Announce Photography Winners

December 4, 2007

polar bear attack – explicit photos

If this happened to you, are you prepared? Take the quiz: How to survive a polar bear attack.

December 3, 2007

the entertaining coatis of Tikal

Mollie Rolfe took this photo of the Coatis at Tikal in Guatemala. They were almost as mobile as monkeys in the big trees.

I enjoyed watching the coatis just as much as much as climbing the ruins, in fact.

The name coati is applied to any of three species of small neotropical mammals in the genus Nasua, family Procyonidae, ranging from southern Arizona to north of Argentina. They are largely insectivorous, but also eat fruit. A fourth animal, the dwarf Mountain Coati, is not a true coati, and belongs to the genus Nasuella. Genetic studies have shown that the closest relatives of the coatis are the olingos.

Distinctive features of all species of coati include a long, ringed tail, which is often held erect.

Unlike most members of the raccoon family, coatis are primarily diurnal.

Coati have long, pointed muzzles, and long, bushy, ringed tails, and brownish fur. They range in size from 13 to 27 inches including their tails, which can be just as long as their bodies. They weigh from 7 to 15 pounds. Males are larger than females.

Coati – Wikipedia

They must be related to the ringtails that brazenly marauded our campsite in the Baja.

Watching unusual wildlife is one of the great joys of the wilderness.

November 23, 2007

Gray Jay – the flying thief

Our old friend, the Whiskey-Jack, is my favourite bird in the Canadian Rockies. Pretty, and brazenly courageous, many days you have at least one at your campsite during breakfast.

This Camp Robber, the Gray Jay, is also known variously as venison-hawk, grease-bird, lumberjack, meat-bird, Canada Jay or even Moose Bird in various parts of it’s range.

Crow wants a wild Gray Jay as a “pet” at her cabin. She had had a magic experience with those birds on the trail:

One morning, high up a pass in the North Cascades, I woke up on a wide section of trail that I had decided was as far as I could go the night before. Lying in my bag, looking out at the glorious view and the morning sun, I reach into my food sack and pulled out a bar for breakfast. As I unwrapped it, a Gray Jay lighted by me. Even though I donâ€™t approve of feeding animals, I held a piece of my bar between my fingers; it hopped on over and took it. Then two others showed up. One landed on my pack that was laying next to me; we finished off the bar together. When the bar was gone, so were they. …

as the Crow flies

I’ve had them alight on me. Here’s a hiker who had one land on her head:

Image – Wikipedia

November 11, 2007

Plague cause of death in Grand Canyon

An Arizona-based wildlife biologist likely died of the plague, officials from Grand Canyon National Park announced on Friday.

Autopsy reports for Eric York, a 37-year-old wildlife biologist for the National Park Service, showed that he had plague in his body. …

Officials said York was most likely exposed to the plague when he performed an autopsy on a mountain lion that had been infected and most likely killed by it. York was the only person to come in contact with the dead mountain lion, according to officials.

York presented symptoms of exposure on Oct. 30, three days after the mountain lion autopsy. He went to Grand Canyon Clinic, located on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, with flu-like symptoms. York was sent home that day because the symptoms of plague are difficult to detect and are often confused with the flu, officials said.

Plague blamed for biologist’s death – USATODAY.com

UPDATE:

Plague Confirmed As Cause of Death for Grand Canyon Biologist

November 11, 2007

wolf pack kills a man

I am for reintroduction of wolves to the wilderness.

Elk and porcupine worry me more than wolves in the wild. But this is significant. The first documented case of wolves hunting and killing a man:

Environmentalists backing the re-wolfing of the American West have often said, â€œDonâ€™t worry, thereâ€™s no documented instance of wolves killing any person.â€

That reassurance came under question with the discovery of the body of a 22-year-old college student, Kenton Joel Carnegie, two years ago in northern Saskatchewan. …

GOAT – A High Country News Blog Â» Wolf pack killed a man

At the Banff Mountain Film Festival I saw a fantastic slide show on some of the wildest wolves in the world.

Then watched a preview of the PBS Nature TV special:

In 1995, the first gray wolves were transported from Alberta, Canada to Yellowstone National Park, to repopulate the sprawling landscape with the species, absent for more than 70 years. …

In the Valley of the Wolves was produced and shot in High Definition by Emmy-award winning filmmaker Bob Landis.

On the Web site for In the Valley of the Wolves, you’ll learn how the successful reintroduction of Yellowstone’s apex predator has changed the entire ecosystem of the park, and about the threats that these majestic animals continue to face on their road to recovery.

Watch an exclusive online podcast. In this podcast, Emmy Award-winning wildlife cinematographer Bob Landis discusses the making of the film, including the ideal circumstances for filming a predation scene; the importance of spending a vast amount of time in the field; the uniqueness of Yellowstone’s Druid wolf pack, and more.

Watch the video clip – PBS Nature

Bob Landis has spent more time with wolves than anyone. I trust his opinion most.

Bob, of course, is in favour of humans learning to co-exist with wolves.

November 1, 2007

Ian McAllister – wildlife photographer

At the Banff Mountain Book Festival we were treated to one of the most amazing slideshows I’ve ever seen.

Ian McAllister gave an overview of his life story vis-a-vis bears and wolves.

He’s very angry about big game trophy hunting. (And Ian’s a hunter who kills deer to feed his family.) There’s no reason to tag bear or wolf.

Ian McAllister is a nature photographer, writer, and conservationist who has dedicated his life to exploring the remote wilds of the British Columbia coast. Born in Vancouver, his exploration and adventures in the provinceâ€™s rugged West Coast began at a young age, and inspired in him a passion for conservation which led him to become one of Canadaâ€™s leading advocates for rainforest protection.

With a keen interest in wildlife behaviour, ecology, and sailing, McAllister has spent much of the last 20 years travelling along the north coastline of British Columbia, observing the behaviour of coastal wolves and grizzly bears. For the last 17 years, McAllister has lived in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest, one of the last places on earth where wolves live relatively undisturbed by humans. In his latest book, The Last Wild Wolves, he documents the behaviour of two packs, one in the extreme outer coastal islands and another farther inland.

McAllisterâ€™s first book, The Great Bear Rainforest (1997), was instrumental in helping Greenpeace, the Sierra Club, Ian and Karen McAllisterâ€™s Raincoast Preservation Society, and other environmental groups to successfully lobby British Columbiaâ€™s provincial government to impose a moratorium on grizzly bear hunting and to designate a large portion of the provinceâ€™s mainland coast as parkland in 2001.

McAllister is a founding member of the Raincoast Conservation Society, and his images have appeared in numerous publications including International Wildlife, BBC Wildlife, Audubon, Sierra, and Beautiful British Columbia. Also a filmmaker, his footage has been used by National Geographic TV, Discovery Channel, and the BBC.

Mountain Festivals at The Banff Centre

His two books:

The Great Bear Rainforest: Canada’s Forgotten Coast

The Last Wild Wolves: Ghosts of the Rain Forest

October 10, 2007

by pack raft to Juneau, Alaska

I’ve been following The Journey on the Wild Coast blog since July. That’s the 9 month pack raft trip from Seattle to the Aleutian Islands in Alaska by human power â€” Erin McKittrick and Bretwood (Hig) Higman.

I think this is their best post yet:

… After four months in the Inside Passage, we had come to wonder how much it had left to offer us: thinking of drizzly coastlines and thick forest brush, and turning our thoughts prematurely to the open Gulf of Alaska coastâ€¦ But there are always suprises. The ocean between Petersburg and Juneau was one of the most alive chunks of coast weâ€™ve seen the whole trip.

Humpback whales sang for us the rest of that night, and a good part of the next one. During the day, white columns of whale breath were visible everywhere we looked, cruising Stephens Passage. We could hear the spouting, honking, and squeals of the closest whales, watching their rounded backs and the occasional graceful flash of a tail.

Humpback whale tail

Just when we were wondering if we might get close enough for a picture, a humpback surfaced twenty feet from my packraft. Half of me was terrified it would flip me, while the other half marveled at the knobby texture of the whaleâ€™s skin, imagining that great big eye underwater, peering at my small yellow boatâ€¦

October 6, 2007

Thunder River/Deer Creek Loop, Grand Canyon

Graywolf likes, as one of the best hikes in the world, the Thunder River/Deer Creek Loop in the Grand Canyon:

It is a very demanding and beautiful 26 to 43 (w/side trips) mile hike from the North Rim to the river and back. Awesome scenery, beautiful river, creeks, and falls and a wonderful play area in the Deer Creek narrows. To enjoy the fullest, plan on 5 night/6 day trip which would include a layover day in Deer Creek.

Start from the north rim on the Thunder River Trail, descending about 4600′ (1400m) to the Colorado.

Return to the north rim via the Deer Creek Trail.

This hike is strenuous and can be dangerous: severe weather, over-exertion, dehydration. Even flash flood. Desert hiking experience essential.

No need to carry canyon climbing gear â€” though you can use it if you do.

Deer Creek Narrows – larger original – flickr

Mike Miles posted a most entertaining trip report – Hiking Grand Canyon; an adventure on the Bill Hall, Thunder River and Deer Creek trails. They were physically challenged, injured and bothered by a marauding ring-trail cat.

Colorado River mile 134 beach camp

We’ve added the Thunder River/Deer Creek Loop to our list of the best hikes in North America.

October 2, 2007

hike and bushwhack the Donjek Route, Yukon

Owen (the fool with wit) is a big time Canadian hiker.

His favourite Canuck hike is little known Donjek Glacier in Kluane National Park.

On a 2005 adventure during high season, Owen was told there were only 10 people in Kluane’s 22000 square kilometers!

… No signage. No one around but bears, wolves and mountains.

… creek crossings in frigid conditions. Pure good times.

Fantastic Donjek photos and video clips are posted on his unique website: eyecsed.com

eyecsed.com

After my own Tombstone hike in the Yukon this past summer, the Donjek Route appeals. It’s next on my list.

The Donjek is almost a loop if you access the trail off the Alaska Highway at Duke River and finish 11km (7mi.) south of where you started at Copper Joe Creek.

I’ll check these details with Owen:

The 96-kilometre (60-mi.) advanced wilderness trek requires map and compass abilities and good trail-finding skills. It takes you across rolling open meadows, up and down steep ridges and through deep gullies before arriving at the sprawling glacier mass.

Distance:100 km (approx.)
Time:8 -10 days
Maximum Elevation: (7100′) …

Note: A route is not a trail. Routes are not marked with signs or maintained in any manner. The route described here is only a suggestion that may help guide you on your trip. It describes only one of many options for hiking to the Donjek Glacier. …

Overview:

One of the most popular hikes for wilderness enthusiasts is the Donjek Route. Rising over the vast alpine of the Burwash Uplands and then descending to the toe of the Donjek Glacier, this hike typifies “pristine mountain wilderness“.

… The route follows creek and river drainage for the most part with some sections along an old road, horse and wildlife trails, and some sections, without any obvious trail at all. Route finding abilities and solid wilderness experience is essential …

Parks Canada – Kluane National Park and Reserve of Canada – Activities – Hiking – Summary of Trails and Routes – Donjek Route

If you need more inspiration, Patrick Verheyen also posted photos of his 2003 hike in the region: A walk in Kluane National Park – PBase

Ruth with her pack – larger original