by Doreen Booth, Adventure Travel Specialist, Churchill Wild
Julie, Jeff & Doreen. Ready. Set. Go! – Photo Credit: Terry Allen
This year I finally had the opportunity to join a group of our winter guests at Seal River Heritage Lodge. I was able to squeeze in on our last trip of the season – the Polar Bear Photo Safari!
I had a couple of guests, Julie and Jeff, looking to add something extra to their trip, and they had decided to charter a helicopter to the Lodge. When they found out I would be joining them on their departure, they very generously offered me the extra seat they had on their helicopter flight.
I have to admit, I’m a nervous flier, so I wasn’t sure what to say at first, but I didn’t know when an opportunity like this would come again. I accepted their offer with butterflies in my stomach and off I went!
November had come and gone quickly and before I knew it I was done organizing our winter season. My dinner presentations were complete and our final guests were on their way to the Lodge, so I headed up to Churchill for my “partial” holiday. When you’re part of the family, your work is never done.
I met up with Julie and Jeff in Churchill and we headed out to collect their winter gear before making our way to Hudson Bay Helicopters. I was feeling pretty good – a little nervous maybe – but totally excited! I didn’t want anyone to know how I was really feeling. Our pilot took our bags and gave us a rundown on the safety guidelines for the chopper, we buckled in, put on our headsets, and it was time to take flight!
The take off was surprisingly smooth. The winds were calm that day so we were in for a good 30-minute ride. We flew over the town of Churchill and headed up the coastline of Hudson Bay. It was amazing to see the sprawling tundra with a fresh coat of snow. I had forgotten how flat the land is up there.
Half way through the trip we flew over our Dymond Lake Lodge and noticed that some of the staff had ventured outside to wave to us. How nice! A short time later our pilot came on the headset and asked me where we should land at the polar bear lodge.
Doreen Booth, Adventure Travel Specialist, Churchill Wild
I wasn’t sure, so I told him to pick the best place he could find. He thought that would be right outside the front door of the Lodge! Needless to say, the staff didn’t have to bring out the luggage buggy to meet us. And the polar bears kept their distance!
A few months have gone by now and I’ve had time to think about that wonderful trip and the emotions I experienced while flying in a helicopter for the first time. I have to say it was an amazing experience and I would love to do it again.
Thanks again to my friends Julie and Jeff, for helping me check another item off my life’s to do list!
I read your interesting blog. I am interested in going to Churchill in Oct/Nov to photograph the polar bears. However, there are a lot of tour companies that for excessive fees will take care of your every need. However, to save money, I do things on my own. However, I am way out of my element here.
Is it possible to fly to Winnipeg, then contract with Hudson Bay Helicopters (or others?), to fly me up to Churchill? Then when I get there, where would I stay, eat, etc. Plus, I would need to contract a guide service to take me out on the tundra. I need to photograph the bears from the ground level, not up in a helicopter.
Thus, maybe you can help with these and other questions.
BTW, next week I am leaving for Fairbanks, Alaska for a week of photographing the northern lights.
Mike Malloy
Corpus Christi, Tx