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5 essential pieces of clothing to bring to the Great Bear Rainforest

A grizzly bear sits in a field of sedge in the Great Bear Rainforest

The Great Bear Rainforest of the Central Coast of British Columbia, Canada is an extraordinary place to find and photograph, you guessed it, bears. I’ve been a guide in the Great Bear Rainforest for visitors looking to find these beautiful creatures for over a decade now. I began guiding there in 2013 and have since spent hundreds upon hundreds of days exploring the coastlines, estuaries, and rivers on foot and by boat. During my time in the field, I have picked up a few ways to best prepare yourself for successful a bear photography adventure. Here are five essential things I always with me.

Lots of sitting and waiting for bears in the Great Bear Rainforest

1 – Rain Gear (test it first)

The Great Bear Rainforest no doubt comes with rain and there’s not much way around it. I have found through consistent trial and error that you’re more likely that not to get at least some rain during a week long trip. When it rains hard, it can feel like you’ve got raindrops coming from every direction, and there is very little you can do to keep yourself dry. That said, the best rain gear I’ve found for long days of waiting around for bears and other wildlife to appear is a full rubberized rain suit. Now, rubberized rain gear doesn’t breath much, but I’m usually not moving a whole lot as I wait for wildlife to show. I’ve been using the Storm Waterproof Rain Jacket and Gale Waterproof Rain Bib Pants.This heavy duty set from Helly Hansen’s work-wear line keeps me dry on the rainiest of days, and, because they are just an outer shell, they dry out pretty quickly overnight so their ready for a new day.


2 – Merino Base Layer

If there is one layer of clothing I’ve absolutely fallen in love with for almost any adventure purpose in almost any weather condition, it’s got to be my merino wool base layer long sleeved top. Merino wool’s ability to keep you warm even when it’s a bit damp is iconic. I’ve been using a Smartwool Mid-weight base layer for years and have been thoroughly impressed with their comfort and durability.

Grizzly Bear Shaking off some water

3 – Warm, Dry Footwear

I’ve started a lot of days in the field by jumping out of my skiff and heading to the beach, only to arrive on land with thoroughly soaked feet. Occasionally, a creek crossing or deep mud is the culprit. Either way, Hiking boots and most rubber boots don’t make sense in a lot of coastal exploration. I’ve gone through a few different styles of boots over the years, but the ones that have lasted the longest and have endured the barnacle clad shorelines, sticky mud beaches, and salty ocean have been my Muck Boots. My first pair lasted 10 years and over 1000 days in the field before I retired them. My second pair looks nearly new even after a couple of years and hundreds of days in the field. I’ve been using their Wetland model the entire time. The boots neoprene build also helps insulate against the cold.

Grizzly Bear Shaking off some water in the Great Bear Rainforest

4 – Hats & Gloves

Some may suggest I’ve got an interesting “Rainforest Style”, but I assure you it’s exceptionally functional. For my hats, I like to wear a ball cap and a loose woven tuque on top. The brim of the ball cap keeps raindrops off my forehead and out of my eyes, and also helps keep the toque from sliding down my forehead. The toque does it’s job of insulating. Also, if I get too warm I can pop off the toque and keep the ball cap and retain the ball caps endearing qualities while cooling down. It works, I promise. For my gloves, I try to keep them as simple as possible. In most situations, I prefer a synthetic glove liner. synthetic glove that breaks a bit of wind, warms a little bit, but allows me to retain dexterity in my hands for handing cameras, clasps, tripods, etc. I’ve been using Dakota T-Max work gloves for a few years and replace them when they wear out – usually every 1.5 to 2 years of heavy use.


5 – The Field Pack

Same as my rain gear, I like to ensure my field pack is totally waterproof and ready for the near complete water immersion that comes with a rainy day in the Great Bear Rainforest. I’ve used a variety of lightweight packs with waistbelts, suspension, and rain covers. They work lots of the time, but I’ve found a few flaws over the years. Setting a pack down on the ground gets soaked from the bottom up. Removing the rain cover to retrieve something allows water to soak the fabric. And the vulnerable backpack strap and suspension area can never really be fully protected. If I’m carrying valuable camera equipment or dry layers, or notebooks, etc, I don’t want that much risk of water ingress. A common sight up and down the coast of British Columbia, Canada is what’s called a “Dry Pack”. Rubberized and durable material in the form of a roll-top waterproof bag. Essentially, it’s a dry-bag with backpack straps. I’ve been using the MEC Slogg 35L Dry Pack for the last decade. I’ve never had a leak, and never had wet gear.

Grizzly bear cubs walking across a rocky islet in the Great Bear Rainforest

Conclusion

Having the right clothing before heading into The Great Bear Rainforest is essential to having a successful and enjoyable trip. Keeping yourself warm and dry makes everything else about searching for and photographing bears that much more fun. I never head into the field without the above items as I know they stand up to whatever is thrown my way!

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