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mckinneyman · 07-31-2011, 12:18 PM

I am heading up to bear country this week...and then if I still have my arms and legs, I'm going to take in some Vancouver.
Just wondering if anyone has experieced either of these two little adventures and what experiences you may have in this area.
Your feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Hellsgate http://www.hellsgateairtram.com/see-do.html

AnAn Bear Observatory http://www.islandwings.com/bear-viewing-tours

hd · 08-01-2011, 07:07 AM

BC is beautiful country. I did the drive Vancouver to Whistler and then up to Williams and west to Bella Coola and ferry'ed to Vancouver Island. If you do Vancouver Island, try hitting Telegraph Cove and do Stubb's Whale boat (Orca's) great place to stay. I did it twice within a few years.

I didn't do the tram though, only did the Sandia one in New Mexico.

Pick up a can of bear spray in Canada if you do hiking with someone or by yourself. I still carry that can with me here when I walk my dogs. It shoots a stream 30ft out, great stuff for stopping anything just about anything.

I'm headed for Idaho next week myself. can't wait to get the hell out of this heat!

Guest020720 · 08-01-2011, 11:21 AM

I just looked at them...

I would choose the bear one much more over the other.

You can ride a tram just bout anywhere - if I were to do anything in Hell's Gate - it would be to RIDE the rapids!

Also - If you do the bear one - please, please - to make it worth while...get yourself a digital SLR camera...and learn how to adjust the apeture & what not so that you don't use flash and can still get AMAZING pictures.

mckinneyman · 08-01-2011, 11:40 PM

I'm doing them both, I got lucky on the bear observatory cause they limit the passes. The woman that owns and flies that plane went above and beyond to get me a couple of permits. I am trying to think what I can bring her from Texas as a thank you gift.... any ideas? I really am stumped. I want to take her something "cool" and hopefully something she might actually like. Oh I also booked a lil' trip to see some whales and orcas. I hope to have some great photos and life experiences.

HD, thanks man...I looked that up and I got a few of your tips scheduled now. Sounds great. I'll basically have all day Friday and Sat in Vancouver so I think I can get that in. I'll probably not check out downtown Vancouver this time around...

mckinneyman · 08-01-2011, 11:43 PM

Oh....by the way Angie....we never met....but we used to talk a few years back on aspd. I don't actually live in McKinney anymore....that city just wasn't ready for the traffic all of us created by moving out there.

hd · 08-02-2011, 07:35 AM

Telegraph Cove is on the upper end of the Island and almost a days drive from Victoria, so you have to plan for that. But I saw Minke whales, the Orca pod, dolphins, sea otters, eagles. I didn't kayak, but people who did were treated to up close encounters with the orcas while they rubbed their bodies on the shore rocks. The kayakers had to pull in their oars becuase they were that close. Unforgetable memories. I came back with great pics, wish I knew how to paste one in here for you.

seventonine · 08-02-2011, 09:43 AM

mckinneyman, I'm glad to see you arranged both trips. The whale watching tour out of Telegraph is a fun trip.

I went on a guided bear hunt to BC in May of this year. Although my guide and I did carry spray with us to fight off the non-trophies, a 300 Weatherby Mag worked to my advantage.

If you're into adventure, there are guides to take you Mako shark hunting off the Cali coast. This isn't tag and release fishing. You hunt with a spear gun. No scuba diving required.