July 16 : Alaska Ultimate Safaris Bear Viewing at Chinitna Bay
There were numerous bear tour operators in Homer. After visiting a few, I decided to go with Alaska Ultimate Safaris. Among other reasons, they were the only one operating helicopters, and I needed a change from fixed wing :) The pilot-guides were great, and the trip was well worth it! Due to weather delays in the morning, instead of staying with out with one group with the chopper, they were ferrying people back and forth in overlapping groups. As a result, there was an hour or so where we were out there with the bears and without a ride. Not long enough, actually!
With rain forecast in Homer the next few days, and good weather on the Alaskan Panhandle, it was time to start the journey home in earnest. The first leg from Homer to Yakutat offered some glacier scenery. The coast around Yakutat was similarly beautiful. On the second leg to Juneau, despite some reasonable remote camera views in my flight weather briefing, the showers and clouds had moved in near Cape Spencer and I made good use of Class G VFR rules flying through low over the water.