Morning Stroll

The mist rose from Moraine Creek in the chilly September dawn. As we walked along a stream filled with spawning salmon, the air sharp with the odor of rot and the cries of birds, we came upon a brown bear who seemed to share the same plans for the day—fishing in the fine fall weather. Humans and bears have shared this landscape in a remote area of Katmai National Park for hundreds if not thousands of years, and today would be no different. The big bruin looked at me, meeting my eyes, and continued on its way.