Three commercial flights, a float plane, a two-hundred-ton marine vessel, and a raft; followed by a trek through swamps, rocky shorelines, and dense brush. This was my journey to the isolated wilderness of Alaska’s Katmai Peninsula.
A mother bear and cub sit in the tidal flats at Hallo Bay on Alaska’s Katmai Peninsula. © WWF-US/Megan Chinsky
As a member of WWF’s Media & External Affairs team, I work from my desk in Washington D.C. communicating the importance of conservation to the public. However, until recently, most of what I knew about the threatened species and places we work to protect was from words and pictures. That changed this summer when I joined WWF and Nat Hab on their Great Alaskan Grizzly Encounter . Through this opportunity, I was able to experience the pristine, untamed landscape of a region hidden to most of the world and begin to understand firsthand why saving this ecosystem is not only crucial for wildlife, but also for the local communities and livelihoods it supports.
A sub-adult male bear fishes off shore at Hallo Bay. © WWF-US/Megan Chinsky
The Katmai Peninsula is home to the world’s largest concentration of brown bears and one of the few remaining unaltered habitats with sustainable populations of wild salmon. These elements build the foundation for a tourism industry centered around fishing and bear watching.
Nat Hab Expedition Leader Brad Josephs and group encounter a mother bear and cub at Hallo Bay. © WWF-US/Megan Chinsky
Still, what makes Katmai unique is the balance that exists between bears and humans. Few people make the trip each year, limiting bears’ exposure to humans, and hunters are not permitted, allowing them to roam without fear. Furthermore, local expedition leaders like Nat Hab’s Brad Josephs maintain a delicate trust and promote respect for nature through sustainable travel. That’s why only here can visitors observe these creatures up close and witness their most intimate moments.
A mother bear nurses two first-year cubs.
Two first-year cubs allow our group to watch them play. © WWF-US/Megan Chinsky
This balance could all be destroyed with the proposed Pebble Mine nearby. Bristol Bay , located off the Katmai coast, is the desired site of the mine, as well as home to the world’s largest wild salmon fishery. Plans for the mine include an infrastructure of pipelines, roads, and shipping lanes that would devastate the area and jeopardize salmon runs. Bears along with species including sea otters, beluga whales, humpback whales, eagles, caribou, and moose would be in danger.
A mother bear fishes in the tidal flats at Katmai’s Hallo Bay. © WWF-US/Megan Chinsky
Additionally, at risk would be thousands of jobs dependent on the salmon trade and wildlife tourism; from expedition leaders to boat crews, pilots, and hospitality staff. All the voices heard along our trip informed the group’s knowledge and enriched our time in Alaska. Upsettingly, the proposed construction could devastate this locality that has built a diverse economy centered around community and the effective management of its resources.
NatHab Expedition Leader Brad Josephs guides our raft to shore as a mother bear feeds on berries and wildflowers. © WWF-US/Megan Chinsky
Upon leaving Alaska and returning to my desk at WWF, I am eager to get back to work. I feel fortunate to have traveled alongside Nat Hab’s experts and glimpsed a corner of our planet few ever reach. This adventure taught me it is imperative to share my stories with the outside world and advocate to preserve this ecosystem for future generations. As of August 2018, nearly 220,000 WWF Activists spoke up and took a stand against Pebble Mine, but the fight is not over. The Army Corps of Engineers is expected to submit its assessment of the mine’s environmental impact this winter— so raise your voice. Together, we can maintain our balance with nature. Creating a future where both people and wildlife thrive in this vast, unparalleled land and beyond.
Megan Chinsky sits on the Media & External Affairs team at World Wildlife Fund and is based in Washington, D.C. © WWF-US/Megan Chinsky
By Megan Chinsky, WWF
Request Your 2025/2026 Catalog
Discover the World's Best
Nature Travel Experiences
Together, Natural Habitat Adventures and World Wildlife Fund have teamed up to arrange nearly 100 nature travel experiences around the planet, while helping to protect the magnificent places we visit and their wild inhabitants.
Request Your 2025/2026 Catalog
Discover the World's Best
Nature Travel Experiences
Together, Natural Habitat Adventures and World Wildlife Fund have teamed up to arrange nearly 100 nature travel experiences around the planet, while helping to protect the magnificent places we visit and their wild inhabitants.
Discover the World's Best
Nature Travel Experiences
Our weekly eNewsletter highlights new adventures, exclusive offers, webinars, nature news, travel ideas, photography tips and more. Sign up today!
Discover the World's Best
Nature Travel Experiences
Our weekly eNewsletter highlights new adventures, exclusive offers, webinars, nature news, travel ideas, photography tips and more. Sign up today!
Hidden form View
Home Trips Trips Catalog Catalog Contact Contact More More
Have a question or comment? Click any of the buttons below to get in touch with us.Hours Mountain Time
×
Home
Trips
Trips
Catalog
Catalog
Book
Contact
Contact
More
More
[ebook-modal-wrapper]
[ebook-modal-wrapper]
[full-width-start]
[full-width-start]
[full-width-end]
[full-width-end]
[aside-height-start]
[aside-height-start]
[aside-height-end form-start]
[aside-height-end form-start]
[aside-content-start aside-text-start]
[aside-content-start aside-text-start]
[aside-text-end]
[aside-text-end]
[aside-image-start]
[aside-image-start]
[aside-image-end aside-content-end]
[aside-image-end aside-content-end]
[content-start subheader-start]
[content-start subheader-start]
[subheader-end main-header-start]
[subheader-end main-header-start]
[main-header-end image-height-start]
[main-header-end image-height-start]
[image-height-end content-end]
[image-height-end content-end]
[ebook-header-optin]
[ebook-header-optin]
[ebook-subheader-optin]
[ebook-subheader-optin]
[ebook-aside-image]
[ebook-aside-image]
[ebook-aside-text]
[ebook-aside-text]
[ebook-logos]
[ebook-logos]
[form-header-start]
[form-header-start]
[form-header-end form-start]
[form-header-end form-start]
[ebook-header-form]
[ebook-header-form]
[privacy-policy]
[privacy-policy]
[ebook-form-sms-text-wrapper]
[ebook-form-sms-text-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-privacy-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-privacy-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-fine-print]
[ebook-sms-fine-print]
[ebook-submit-button]
[ebook-submit-button]
[ebook-header-success]
[ebook-header-success]
[ebook-success-text]
[ebook-success-text]
[thank-you-start]
[thank-you-start]
[thank-you-end link-text-start]
[thank-you-end link-text-start]
[link-text-end]
[link-text-end]
[aside-start]
[aside-start]
[aside-end form-start]
[aside-end form-start]
[content-start]
[content-start]
[content-end]
[content-end]
[aside-content-start aside-image-start]
[aside-content-start aside-image-start]
[aside-image-end]
[aside-image-end]
[aside-text-start logos-start]
[aside-text-start logos-start]
[aside-text-end logos-end aside-content-end]
[aside-text-end logos-end aside-content-end]
[subheader-start]
[subheader-start]
[main-header-end aside-image-start aside-text-start]
[main-header-end aside-image-start aside-text-start]
[aside-text-end logos-start]
[aside-text-end logos-start]
[aside-image-end logos-end]
[aside-image-end logos-end]
[ebook-modal-wrapper]
[ebook-modal-wrapper]
[full-width-start]
[full-width-start]
[full-width-end]
[full-width-end]
[aside-height-start]
[aside-height-start]
[aside-height-end form-start]
[aside-height-end form-start]
[aside-content-start aside-text-start]
[aside-content-start aside-text-start]
[aside-text-end]
[aside-text-end]
[aside-image-start]
[aside-image-start]
[aside-image-end aside-content-end]
[aside-image-end aside-content-end]
[content-start subheader-start]
[content-start subheader-start]
[subheader-end main-header-start]
[subheader-end main-header-start]
[main-header-end image-height-start]
[main-header-end image-height-start]
[image-height-end content-end]
[image-height-end content-end]
[ebook-header-optin]
[ebook-header-optin]
[ebook-subheader-optin]
[ebook-subheader-optin]
[ebook-aside-image]
[ebook-aside-image]
[ebook-aside-text]
[ebook-aside-text]
[ebook-logos]
[ebook-logos]
[form-header-start]
[form-header-start]
[form-header-end form-start]
[form-header-end form-start]
[ebook-header-form]
[ebook-header-form]
[privacy-policy]
[privacy-policy]
[ebook-form-sms-text-wrapper]
[ebook-form-sms-text-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-privacy-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-privacy-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-fine-print]
[ebook-sms-fine-print]
[ebook-submit-button]
[ebook-submit-button]
[ebook-header-success]
[ebook-header-success]
[ebook-success-text]
[ebook-success-text]
[thank-you-start]
[thank-you-start]
[thank-you-end link-text-start]
[thank-you-end link-text-start]
[link-text-end]
[link-text-end]
[aside-start]
[aside-start]
[aside-end form-start]
[aside-end form-start]
[content-start]
[content-start]
[content-end]
[content-end]
[aside-content-start aside-image-start]
[aside-content-start aside-image-start]
[aside-image-end]
[aside-image-end]
[aside-text-start logos-start]
[aside-text-start logos-start]
[aside-text-end logos-end aside-content-end]
[aside-text-end logos-end aside-content-end]
[subheader-start]
[subheader-start]
[main-header-end aside-image-start aside-text-start]
[main-header-end aside-image-start aside-text-start]
[aside-text-end logos-start]
[aside-text-end logos-start]
[aside-image-end logos-end]
[aside-image-end logos-end]
[ebook-modal-wrapper]
[ebook-modal-wrapper]
[ebook-background-image]
[ebook-background-image]
[ebook-header-optin]
[ebook-header-optin]
[ebook-subheader-optin]
[ebook-subheader-optin]
[privacy-policy]
[privacy-policy]
[ebook-form-sms-text-wrapper]
[ebook-form-sms-text-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-privacy-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-privacy-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-fine-print]
[ebook-sms-fine-print]
[ebook-submit-button]
[ebook-submit-button]
[ebook-header-success]
[ebook-header-success]
[ebook-success-text]
[ebook-success-text]
[full-width-start]
[full-width-start]
[full-width-end]
[full-width-end]
[image-height-start]
[image-height-start]
[image-height-end content-start]
[image-height-end content-start]
[content-end]
[content-end]
[content-start subheader-start]
[content-start subheader-start]
[subheader-end main-header-start]
[subheader-end main-header-start]
[main-header-end form-start]
[main-header-end form-start]
[form-end content-end]
[form-end content-end]
[full-width-start logos-start]
[full-width-start logos-start]
[image-height-start logos-start]
[image-height-start logos-start]
[logos-start]
[logos-start]
[logos-end content-start]
[logos-end content-start]
[full-height-start]
[full-height-start]
[logos-start content-start]
[logos-start content-start]
[logos-end content-end full-height-end]
[logos-end content-end full-height-end]
[main-header-start]
[main-header-start]
[main-header-end subheader-start]
[main-header-end subheader-start]
[subheader-end form-start]
[subheader-end form-start]
[thank-you-start]
[thank-you-start]
[thank-you-end link-text-start]
[thank-you-end link-text-start]
[link-text-end]
[link-text-end]
[ebook-modal-wrapper]
[ebook-modal-wrapper]
[ebook-background-image]
[ebook-background-image]
[ebook-header-optin]
[ebook-header-optin]
[ebook-subheader-optin]
[ebook-subheader-optin]
[privacy-policy]
[privacy-policy]
[ebook-form-sms-text-wrapper]
[ebook-form-sms-text-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-privacy-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-privacy-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-fine-print]
[ebook-sms-fine-print]
[ebook-submit-button]
[ebook-submit-button]
[ebook-header-success]
[ebook-header-success]
[ebook-success-text]
[ebook-success-text]
[full-width-start]
[full-width-start]
[full-width-end]
[full-width-end]
[image-height-start]
[image-height-start]
[image-height-end content-start]
[image-height-end content-start]
[content-end]
[content-end]
[content-start subheader-start]
[content-start subheader-start]
[subheader-end main-header-start]
[subheader-end main-header-start]
[main-header-end form-start]
[main-header-end form-start]
[form-end content-end]
[form-end content-end]
[full-width-start logos-start]
[full-width-start logos-start]
[image-height-start logos-start]
[image-height-start logos-start]
[logos-start]
[logos-start]
[logos-end content-start]
[logos-end content-start]
[full-height-start]
[full-height-start]
[logos-start content-start]
[logos-start content-start]
[logos-end content-end full-height-end]
[logos-end content-end full-height-end]
[main-header-start]
[main-header-start]
[main-header-end subheader-start]
[main-header-end subheader-start]
[subheader-end form-start]
[subheader-end form-start]
[thank-you-start]
[thank-you-start]
[thank-you-end link-text-start]
[thank-you-end link-text-start]
[link-text-end]
[link-text-end]
[ebook-modal-wrapper]
[ebook-modal-wrapper]
[ebook-background-image]
[ebook-background-image]
[ebook-header-optin]
[ebook-header-optin]
[ebook-subheader-optin]
[ebook-subheader-optin]
[privacy-policy]
[privacy-policy]
[ebook-form-sms-text-wrapper]
[ebook-form-sms-text-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-privacy-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-privacy-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-fine-print]
[ebook-sms-fine-print]
[ebook-submit-button]
[ebook-submit-button]
[content-start main-header-start]
[content-start main-header-start]
[main-header-end subheader-start]
[main-header-end subheader-start]
[subheader-end content-end]
[subheader-end content-end]
[ebook-header-success]
[ebook-header-success]
[ebook-success-text]
[ebook-success-text]
[full-width-start]
[full-width-start]
[full-width-end]
[full-width-end]
[image-height-start]
[image-height-start]
[image-height-end content-start]
[image-height-end content-start]
[content-end]
[content-end]
[content-start subheader-start]
[content-start subheader-start]
[subheader-end main-header-start]
[subheader-end main-header-start]
[main-header-end form-start]
[main-header-end form-start]
[form-end content-end]
[form-end content-end]
[full-width-start logos-start]
[full-width-start logos-start]
[image-height-start logos-start]
[image-height-start logos-start]
[logos-start]
[logos-start]
[logos-end content-start]
[logos-end content-start]
[full-height-start]
[full-height-start]
[logos-start content-start]
[logos-start content-start]
[logos-end content-end full-height-end]
[logos-end content-end full-height-end]
[main-header-start]
[main-header-start]
[subheader-end form-start]
[subheader-end form-start]
[thank-you-start]
[thank-you-start]
[thank-you-end link-text-start]
[thank-you-end link-text-start]
[link-text-end]
[link-text-end]
[ebook-modal-wrapper]
[ebook-modal-wrapper]
[ebook-background-image]
[ebook-background-image]
[ebook-header-optin]
[ebook-header-optin]
[ebook-subheader-optin]
[ebook-subheader-optin]
[privacy-policy]
[privacy-policy]
[ebook-form-sms-text-wrapper]
[ebook-form-sms-text-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-privacy-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-privacy-wrapper]
[ebook-sms-fine-print]
[ebook-sms-fine-print]
[ebook-submit-button]
[ebook-submit-button]
[ebook-header-success]
[ebook-header-success]
[ebook-success-text]
[ebook-success-text]
[full-width-start]
[full-width-start]
[full-width-end]
[full-width-end]
[image-height-start]
[image-height-start]
[image-height-end content-start]
[image-height-end content-start]
[content-end]
[content-end]
[content-start subheader-start]
[content-start subheader-start]
[subheader-end main-header-start]
[subheader-end main-header-start]
[main-header-end form-start]
[main-header-end form-start]
[form-end content-end]
[form-end content-end]
[full-width-start logos-start]
[full-width-start logos-start]
[image-height-start logos-start]
[image-height-start logos-start]
[logos-start]
[logos-start]
[logos-end content-start]
[logos-end content-start]
[full-height-start]
[full-height-start]
[logos-start content-start]
[logos-start content-start]
[logos-end content-end full-height-end]
[logos-end content-end full-height-end]
[main-header-start]
[main-header-start]
[main-header-end subheader-start]
[main-header-end subheader-start]
[subheader-end form-start]
[subheader-end form-start]
[thank-you-start]
[thank-you-start]
[thank-you-end link-text-start]
[thank-you-end link-text-start]
[link-text-end]
[link-text-end]