The Great Bear Rainforest and the Legend of Spirit Bear The Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia is the largest piece of intact temperate rainforest left on the planet. Towering green, forested mountains give way to richly bio-diverse river valley bottoms and estuaries which teem with wild salmon. It is the home of the great Grizzly Bear, coastal wolves, cougar and many other terrestrial mammals. The Pacific Ocean, which laps the forest’s shores, is home to pods of Orca and Humpback Whales who swim and hunt in the labyrinthine complex of fiords and channels. It is here in the Great Bear Rainforest that the Kitasoo/ Xai’xais First Nation has lived since time immemorial. They have shared the forest and the salmon with a very special creature they call moskgm’ol (white bear). Their legend of the origin of moskgm’ol holds that “Goowee (Raven) made one in every ten black bears white to remind the people of a time when glaciers covered this land and how the people should be thankful for the lush and beautiful land of today.” Many of the Kitasoo/ Xai’xais believe the Spirit Bears hold super-natural powers, hence the name Spirit Bear – a name that suits its mythical like presence.
In the Heart of the Rainforest Spirit Bear Lodge is situated in the small, remote Kitasoo/Xai’xais fishing village of Klemtu. Located 280 nautical miles north of Vancouver, Klemtu is truly in the heart of the rainforest. Nestled in a remote archipelago of small islands and thus protected from the wild Pacific, Klemtu is centrally positioned to offer unparalleled access to some of the best grizzly and Spirit Bear viewing in the region. Because Spirit Bear Lodge is owned and operated by First Nations, our staff, many of whom were born and raised in Klemtu, have exclusive access to some of the special Spirit Bear viewing areas in the recently created Spirit Bear Conservancy.
Photos courtesy Doug Neasloss, Cael Cook & Philip Charles
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Spirit Bears Grizzly Bears and First Nations Culture in BC’s Great Bear Rainforest
Grizzly bear viewing and the quest for the Spirit Bear Each day our bear viewing program takes us to different pristine river valleys and estuaries located in our traditional territory which, in good weather, are typically about 90 minutes from the lodge. On arrival at our destination we will disembark the water taxi to explore the lush river valleys and broad, braided estuaries on foot. Our guides have an intimate knowledge of the behavior and movement patterns of the bears and will often situate guests under the forest canopy or on a rocky outcropping to get intimate and special eye-level viewing and photographic opportunities as the bears forage for roots, berries or feast on salmon. Depending on our location we may also board small zodiacs and propel silently under oar or by small outboard motor deeper up a river or into the braided channels of an estuary to view bears. Anyone over the age of 11 years old who is active and mobile is suitable for our tours. It is truly an exhilarating and unforgettable once-ina-lifetime experience to be in the company of wild bears whilst taking advantage of the experience and judgement of our seasoned bear guides. Grizzly bears are active from early June to mid October as the bears move from early foraging for roots in the Spring to savouring wild berries in the Summer before moving on to the great Fall feast during salmon spawning. Guests can come for grizzly viewing on packages which range from 4 days/3 nights (SBL4) to 7 days/6 nights (SBL7). Guests who are intent on viewing the elusive Spirit Bear are strongly suggested to consider a minimum 5 day/4 night package (SBL5) or longer and to consider coming in August, September or October. While our guests who choose the 4 days/3 nights (SBL4) package and who come
earlier in the season may well see the Spirit Bear, this creature is elusive and shy and generally those who stay for longer – on the 5, 6 or 7 day packages – are more likely to get rewarded with the moving experience of seeing the bear known as . Although these are wild animals and we can never guarantee Spirit Bear sightings, Spirit Bear Lodge guests will benefit from the experience of local First Nations skippers and guides who work closely with the Coastal Guardian Network of ‘watchmen’ in the region who all communicate with each other to maximize viewing opportunities. We also utilize an extensive network of remote, infra-red trail cameras to assist in targeting specific river systems for viewing and research.
Of course, in addition to bear viewing, our guests will have the opportunity to visit culturally significant sites including our spectacular Big House and learn about the First Nations culture that has flourished in this area for thousands of years.
Spirit Bear Lodge Architecturally, the exterior of Spirit Bear Lodge pays homage to the traditional long houses built for thousands of years by West Coast First Nations. Inside, the atmosphere is modern and relaxing. After a day of Spirit bear viewing, share stories with fellow guests in “The Great Room”, an intimate central room with comfy couches, 20-foot high, ocean view windows, local Tsimshian Art and two 12-foot, solid cedar dining tables. Gaze out towards the grey blue waters of the Pacific Ocean and watch for passing Orcas, White-Sided Dolphins and Sea Lions. Listen to the silence as you revel in the natural wonders of the pristine and raw landscapes that surrounds you in this unique culturally authentic accommodation. Each room in the Spirit Bear Lodge is afforded with a private bathroom and all rooms take full advantage of the ocean and rainforest viewscapes.