This past week we set out remote cameras at our Grizzly Intercept Feeding sites. Since most of these locations are so remote it is much easier to go in by helicopter than to hike in and you'll see by some of the pictures that there is quite a bit of snow, I was totally bagged by the end of the day! Next week we will be dropping carcasses at each one of these sites.
Our helicopter coming in for a landing at
Waterton Lakes NP helipad.
On the left of the picture you can see some mule deer running away from the helipad.
Down in a cloud of fresh snow.
Topping up with fuel.
Waterton Lakes NP park office.
The
Prince of Wales Hotel.
The
Air Sickness Bags stayed where they were!
The spruce tree in the centre of the photo is where we hiked into last week and placed our first camera (see the pictures from "
Another Rough Week at the Office").
The helicopter setting down after dropping us off. Because of the slope and snow cover he had to nose the helicopter into the side of the mountain and hover while we jumped out with our gear, he would than land in the valley and wait for us to call for a pick up.
The LZ (Landing Zone).
Me enjoying the ride in the backseat; you can hardly tell that I'm jacked up on
Gravol!
My partner, Perry, up to his
nuts in the snow! It was an adventure
every time you hopped out of the helicopter to see how far you sunk into the snow.
Coming in for a pickup!
Me looking for a good site to set a camera. We had to be very picky since we don't want spring bear hunters or hikers coming across our sites.
Our ride leaving us on the side of a mountain.
One of the 12 cameras we set out; angled, armed and cable locked to a tree.
After placing the camera at this particular site it was easier to hike down into the valley to the waiting helicopter than try to climb back up the mountain side and then try to get back into it.
Our ride awaits. Right beside the helicopter we found a set of fresh grizzly tracks! We didn't see any bears, only moose, one was up to her belly in snow!
Hiking through the snow back to the
LZ, even with snow shoes on we were sinking a good 2 feet into the fresh powder.
Castle Mountain!
Our
Wildlife Biologist, Greg, standing on a
buried alder, when he stepped off the skid of the helicopter all the pilot could see was his head!
Our trail from the
LZ to the tree where we would place the camera.
The bubble windows in the back of the
Jet Ranger III made for some great pictures; here is the
Gladstone River.
Me standing by my ride at the end of a physically demanding day, even though it was a lot of fun I'm glad not every day was like this one. We managed to get into 10 sites, one we were unable to land due to the winds, next week we are planning to hike into it which should take an entire day.
Perry, Greg and I after a job well done!
