For our Alaska trip in 2026 we returned to the Silver Salmon Creek Lodge in Lake Clark National Park. We also spent a few days exploring east of Anchorage along the Glenn Highway after our visit to Lake Clark
This year we had the opportunity to watch and photograph a lot of cubs. One mom (Crimp Ear, an old friend) with 3 cubs, 2 moms with 2 cubs and the mom with her two cubs from last year, now so much bigger! The weather was a bit challenging on this trip, as we had a lot of heavy rain which took a toll on my equipment.
A very wet Cub of Year (COY) eating sedge grass
We were watching this bear when it decided to lay down in the flowers and take a nap
Standing up to get a better view
A little wrestling on the beach
Beach racing
Dancing a little jig
Looking for an opening
Mom scratching her back
Found a stick!
Maybe a spear?
Yearling cubs facing off
Patty Cake?
Shaking off the rain
Scratching with a stick
What's that?
Checking out another bear
Beautiful eagle
Fluffing its feathers
The triplets
Watching mom
Two out of three
Are you supposed to sit on mom's head while you're nursing?
I can't watch
There's always one that won't go down
So many bears int he meadow
Bear on the bank
Coming down the trail to the beach
Crossing the meadow
Found a stick!
Bears along the creek
Slope mountain
Greater Yellowlegs
Another unconventional nursing position
Mirror mirror...
Drinking reflection
Coming at you
Taking a break
Cuteness
Mom and the two yearlings on the beach
Mom nursing in her dug out recliner
Mom nodding off after the cubs finished nursing
A foot!
Beautiful light on the bear
Mountain reflection
Our first few days in Talkeetna were very rainy, so we weren't able to do our hikes to see Denali and the mountain ranges. We did get to see a bull moose near the Anchorage airport before we flew to Lake Clark.
After leaving Lake Clark we stayed a few nights in the Glacier View area and did some hiking and exploring, enjoying the last few days of nice temperatures before returning to the North Carolina summer heat.
Bull moose in Kincaid Park
Eating leaves from the tree
View of Matanuska Glacier from the deck of our cabin
Lori looking out at Matanuska Glacier
View up the valley of Matanuska Glacier
View of Matanuska Glacier
