ItineraryIncluded meals are shown following the daily itinerary B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner

SEP 26 Depart Calgary for the short flight to Vancouver followed by our connecting flight to the community of Bella Bella in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest. Upon arrival, transfer to the dock and take a 90-minute water taxi ride to Spirit Bear Lodge in Klemtu, the small native community on Swindle Island. (D)

SEP 27 After breakfast we board our private 12-passenger boat to search for grizzly bears fishing for salmon, an amusing and entertaining spectacle to witness. A grizzly may use as many as two dozen different fishing techniques, but a few of these are more successful than others. In shallow water, the ‘run-and-scatter’ method is especially popular. Then there is the ‘snorkel-and-lunge’ technique. A snorkelling bear only submerges its face, so as it swings its head back and forth through the water searching for salmon, its ears resemble twin periscopes riding along the surface. If that is not endearing enough, a bear often blows bubbles while its face is submerged. The most common way for a bear to fish is to simply stand in the current and wait for a hapless salmon to swim within reach. (B, L, D)

SEP 28 We will spend today watching hungry coastal grizzlies pack on the pounds in preparation for winter hibernation. We also continue our exploration of the diversity and beauty of the Great Bear Rainforest — a remote, largely uninhabited, region of coastal British Columbia that stretches between Vancouver Island and Southeast Alaska. Spanning 32,000 sq. km, the

The Great Bear Rainforest: Spirit Bears, Grizzlies and Ancient ForestsSEPTEMBER 26 – OCTOBER 1, 2017

The temperate rainforests are one of the richest habitats on Earth; supporting more biomass than their tropical counterparts.

The largest expanse of these ancient forests stretches along the verdant coastline of British Columbia. Migrating salmon and hungry coastal bears go together like popcorn at the movies and the Great Bear Rainforest is one of the world’s best places to witness this primordial drama.

British Columbia, with roughly 150,000 black bears and 15,000 grizzly bears shuffling through its forested wild lands, is home to the largest combined population of these two bears in the world. Here, in the cool, shadowed woodlands of the coast, you can also find a rare white subspecies of the American black bear. Scientists call this enigmatic ursine carnivore the Kermode bear, but First Nations people know it as the ‘spirit bear.’ Our quest on this trip will be to experience the rich biological diversity of an overlooked corner of Canada, while at the same time experiencing exciting bear-viewing, bald eagles and gulls squabbling for leftovers, and the fragrance and spectacle of 90-metre-tall Sitka spruces and 1,000-year-old western red cedars.

OrientationThe orientation course will consist of one Wednesday evening, September 20, 2017, 7 – 9:30 pm, held at the University of Calgary campus. Topics for discussion will include the ecology of the temperate rainforest, one of the most fertile landscapes on the planet. As well, we will explore the general biology, behaviour and ecology of American black bears, spirit bears, and grizzlies. Subjects of additional interest to the instructor include the natural history of coastal wolves, bald eagles, Steller’s sea lions, and the biological complexity of the intertidal zone. The itinerary, travel arrangements and health matters will be discussed in detail.

Wildlife of the Great Bear Rainforest, Photos courtesy of Dr. Wayne Lynch

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area is five times larger than Banff National Park and is the largest remaining tract of unspoiled temperate rainforests in the world. (B, L, D)

SEP 29 – 30 The next two days will be spent cruising the numerous deep coastal fjords and remote forested shoreline of Princess Royal Island and other nearby coastal islands which have the greatest number of spirit bears in the province. The spirit bear is an American black bear that has creamy-white fur due to a recessive gene. On Princess Royal, one in ten black bears is born white. The beautiful photogenic spirit bear is not an albino, as it typically has a brown nose and eyes. We begin every day with an early breakfast after which we board our private boat to search hidden fjords and estuaries in the Spirit Bear Conservancy for its namesake bruins. In addition to spirit bears, grizzlies, and black bears, the area has an abundance of other wildlife including wolves, whales and dolphins. The conservancy lands are also home to ancient Tsimshian village sites and architecture. Local guides will weave a compelling narrative that highlights the unique cultural and ecological knowledge that has been passed down from generation to generation for thousands of years. Some days we make short hikes through the captivating cathedral forests to specially constructed viewing platforms over active salmon streams where we can easily and safely watch bears as they fish. After dinner, we may enjoy optional evening programs, including a cultural tour of Klemtu. (B, L, D)

OCT 1 After breakfast, choose between a rainforest walk and a morning kayak paddling along the ocean shores south of Klemtu. Later in the morning we will take a water taxi for the 90-minute return trip to Bella Bella where we catch our afternoon flight to Vancouver and then on to Calgary. (B)

Accompanying Resource Person Dr. Wayne Lynch is an internationally-recognized naturalist, science writer and professional wildlife photographer. His photo credits include hundreds of magazine covers, thousands of calendar shots, and tens of thousands of images published in over 60 dozen countries. He is also a popular guest speaker, and audiences worldwide appreciate his practical and entertaining approach to natural history. He is the author and photographer of three books on the biology of bears and experts still applaud his 1997 book, Bears: Monarchs of the Northern Wilderness, as one of the best bear books ever written. As well, he is also the author and photographer of over 50 natural history books for children, young adults and adults. He is an elected fellow of the Explorers Club and the Arctic Institute of North America, and his biography has been included in the Canadian Who’s Who, published by the University of Toronto, since 1996. This is Wayne’s 3rd Continuing Education trip to Great Bear Rainforest.

Costs Airfare $400 Land, tuition and other costs $6,600GST $50TOTAL $7,050 Single Supplement $3,200

Cost includes: Tuition and orientation course, airfare, accommodation, transfers, all surface travel, and meals as listed in the itinerary. A deposit of $500 is required with the registration form. There is a $200 withdrawal fee prior to the final payment date. Final payment is due on March 5, 2017. Please see the Refund Policy section for withdrawal/refund procedures and liabilities. Fees are based on the information available at the time of print and are subject to change to reflect any changes in currency rates, airfares, or land costs. There are possibilities of decreases or increases, and any changes will be reflected on the final payment and passed on to the participant. All fees are based on double occupancy.

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2538016University of Calgary Continuing Education2500 University Drive NWCalgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4

Choose your adventure:o Routes of Spain, Kenneth Brown May 1 – 17, 2017 TRA 190-001

o Iceland and Scotland, John Gilchrist May 27 – June 9, 2017 TRA 188-001

o Wildlife Treasures of East Africa, Dr. Wayne Lynch August 5 – 19, 2017 TRA 146-002

o Emperors and Artists: Italy through the Ages, Scott Norris September 2 – 16, 2017 TRA 189-001

o Great Cities of the Adriatic: From Dubrovnik to Venice, Marina Fischer September 7 – 21, 2017 TRA 187-001

o The Great Bear Rainforest: Spirit Bears, Grizzlies and Ancient Forests, Dr. Wayne Lynch September 26 – October 1, 2017 TRA 175-004

o Falkland Islands and Southern Andes: Their Wildlife and Scenic Splendour, Dr. Wayne Lynch October 26 – November 16, 2017 TRA 191-001

o South India Only, Valery Efimenko January 15 – 29, 2018 TRA 186-001

o South India with Extension to Sri Lanka, Valery Efimenko January 15 – February 4, 2018 TRA 186-002

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