Bears, moose, caribou and more bears

Copyright 2007 Lydia Hinshaw

DENALI NATIONAL PARK, AK -- My customers were feeling satisfied. They'd come mostly to see bears and they'd seen several, all at a distance, but that's how we usually see bears here.
Then, driving uphill along a Polychrome Mountain ledge, we spotted a grizzly climbing the steep slope toward the road. He crossed in front of us and headed up the even steeper slope above us. He was close enough that we could hear him breathing.
Then he put on a show, striking poses on the top of a ridge in full view of,

now, two buses, since another had happened along. He looked dignified, above, and angry, at left, and at other times merely comical, sitting slouched like a big, furry, beanbag chair.
Grizzlies scope out their neighborhoods in part by sniffing the air with their mouths open, which is what the bear is actually doing in the left photo. They might detect a dead animal (meat for lunch!) or, more likely in this case, diesel exhaust.
It was one of those days when luck and timing rode at my elbow. Prior to spotting this big fellow, we'd also seen several moose, including two bulls with antlers big as bird-baths. Later, twice, we would watch as caribou cross the road in front of us.
And still later, we'd happen upon a sow grizzly and her two spring cubs (less than a year old.) They were crossing a mostly dry river bed, mom in front, while her two offspring kept losing focus. They'd box or wrestle with each other, or splash in one of the river's braids (channels), and then race to catch up with their mother, only to become bored with this journey and start playing again.
Sadly, they were too far away for my point-and-shoot, which is the only camera I take along when I'm working.
For my customers, this was once-in-a-lifetime. For me, it was an excellent day at work, a day to remember how lucky I am to be spending four months in this amazing place.