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I know my wife will ask me this question, so I need to ask you. How was the bathroom/shower situation at the lodge and the bathroom on the rover?

 

If there were not polar bears beckoning one from the confines of the loos, they might just serve as a comfortable spot to linger and repose. Both the rover and the lodge loos had fixtures that you would find in any nice accommodation. And these fixtures functioned. There were a few times when one of the four bathrooms in the lodge had an "Out of Service" sign on the door. But lodge manager, Robin, was always right there to fix the problem. That had to be one of the less glamorous aspects of running a tundra lodge. But there was never any overflowing or gross situation that I was aware of. As for the shower, I never used it. Instead I used the nice washcloth and towels provided, in combination with the warm/hot water from the tap. You could drink the water right out of the tap because safe drinking water was delivered every couple of days.

 

With respect to bathrooms and everything else, Nat Hab does a very good job of removing any ick factor. There is a cost to that level of service that is borne by the clients, but there are very high standards upheld by Nat Hab.

 

@@Atravelynn, fantastic report on a location that's high on my wishlist. It's just so far waaayyy up there from waaayyy down here. great to see the comparison between the companies/lodges.

 

It is very far away. But looking at a map, it is not as far north as many of us might think, me included. In fact Winnipeg, the launching point of the trip which is 600 miles south of Churchill, is designated the center of North America. That means there's another 50% of land (or so) above it.

post-108-0-42957400-1450032984_thumb.jpg

 

 

Seems nothing was overlooked on your trip, right down to the chilling wine bottles with the Polar Bear labels. Very true. This is an example of those high standards mentioned above. In fact, our guide Justin, was the photographer for that wine bottle image. He had a different polar bear photo label for the red wine.

 

Another example of attention to detail and quality: The candy dishes out in the lounge area had Lindt Truffle Balls. No little cellophane wrapped butterscotch hard candies in this place. No sir! They set out the fancy stuff!

 

 

Having the Polar Bear looking up at you through the metal mesh floor must be so exciting, hope they check all those screws and bolts regularly. Truly magnificent creatures. Yes, this is one of the most important areas of attention to detail. Really, attention to survival! I think Nat Hab even uses this wire mesh floor as a selling point that distinguishes it from what other companies can provide.

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The trip report has ended, now a bit about the plight of the polar bear. Nat Hab’s affiliation with WWF provides a wealth of knowledge both as a general overview for clients and as current science for the guides to utilize.

 

As of 2014, there are 19 populations of polar bears around the world with 20,000-25,000 bears total. Of those 19 populations:

 

- 9 regions contain around 6,000 bears are so remote that there is no data on how the bears are doing and what the population trends are. So for a quarter of the bear population, we don’t know.

 

- 3 regions are declining (2 near Greenland and 1 near Alaska). Those have 3,000- 4,000 bears.

 

- 6 regions are considered stable. These are the more southern populations, which included the Western Hudson Bay bears of Churchill. 7,000-8,000 bears live in this section.

 

- 1 region, not far from Western Hudson Bay is increasing in numbers that are currently 200-500. The reason for the increase is the decrease in permissible hunting.

 

Overall the polar is listed as Vulnerable, meaning it is threatened, but short of endangered.

 

The hierarchy generally goes like this (from bad to good)

 

EXTINCT

~ Extinct

~ Extinct in the Wild

 

THREATENED

~Critically Endangered

~ Endangered

~ Vulnerable (which is what the polar bears are now, internationally as a whole)

 

LOWER RISK

~ Near Threatened

~ Conservation Dependent

~ Least Concern

 

Then, falling off the chart are the categories of

Data Deficient and Not Evaluated

 

On a country by country basis of those that have polar bears…

 

Canada (60%-80% of the bears reside in Canada, but they are highly mobile): Special Concern, Canada’s designation under its Species at Risk Act. “Special Concern” is a category used to prevent the species from becoming threatened or endangered. So while the worldwide population is "vulnerable," a category under "threatened," the bears in Canada are faring slightly better at this time.

 

Greenland/Denmark: Vulnerable

Norway: Vulnerable

Russia: Indeterminate, Rare, or Recovering using their terminology and depending which sub-population.

United States: (Alaska) Threatened

 

Anecdotally, when a mother with 2 cubs was spotted on this past trip, the guides were quite thrilled because pairs of cubs were not as common of a sight as they used to be. Single cubs have been the norm the last years, as females with less body fat (due to less food because of less ice on which to hunt) produce fewer offspring.

 

We also were told that cubs seem to be staying with Mom 3 years now (which had been less the norm in the in the past) instead of the more common 2 years because of a decreased opportunity for these young bears to provide for themselves when there is less ice. That cuts down on the total offspring a female can produce over her life.

 

When polar bear tourism started in the 80s, the rule of thumb was to leave the tundra about Nov 7 due to the freezeup of the Bay. Now when you look at scheduled trips (excluding the Cape Churchill trips in a different location), they easily extend another week plus.

 

I have read where the average size of the polar bear is decreasing due to less nourishment available. Perhaps this will be a helpful adaptation. But the polar bear can’t do it alone with the pace of warming temps.

Edited by Atravelynn
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@@Atravelynn

 

I love your report and would love to go one day myself. I have not seen a polar bear since I was 4 month old in Greenland, which I obviously do not remember :rolleyes:

What is the source of the above report?

To my knowledge the population of polar bears in Denmark is quite stable as the all live in Zoo`s :D

Denmark does not have (or has had) a population of polar bears unless you count Greenland that is mentioned separately in the report.

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@@Atravelynn

 

I love your report and would love to go one day myself. I have not seen a polar bear since I was 4 month old in Greenland, which I obviously do not remember :rolleyes:But maybe the polar bear remembered you!

What is the source of the above report? WWF info given to us on the trip.

To my knowledge the population of polar bears in Denmark is quite stable as the all live in Zoo`s :D

Denmark does not have (or has had) a population of polar bears unless you count Greenland that is mentioned separately in the report. You are right I went back and saw that listing was shown as Greenland/Denmark. Thank you for your speedy editing.

Edited by Atravelynn
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Hi Lynn,

thank you for this beautiful, informative and enjoyable trip report. Absolutely great photos of the polar bears! I've seen polar bears in Svalbard, but not as close and in such numbers! Churchill is now on my list !

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@@Atravelynn

Thank you for a wonderful report.

You give a real flavour of being there - photos are excellent in what must be difficult conditions.

How did your camera (and you!) cope with exposing white polar bears on white snow? Any tips?

Seeing information from the 2 trips and seeing information about the different options is really helpful.

It is a shame our fellow guests didn't recognise your polar bear ears - but at least we all got to see (and admire) them.

 

His has been a really enjoyable report - though the information about the status of the bears is very worrying

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I've long wanted to see polar bears, but was never sure where exactly to go for them. Now I know.

 

As always, you have provided a trove of helpful and practical information. Now all I need is to book a trip!

 

It's a shame that the weather kept the Northern Lights hidden away this trip, but I think that the plentiful and amazing photos of the bears can excuse that. Love the gyrfalcon, too.

 

Room 202 around Halloween? I'm not sure I would have slept so soundly. I love that you jumped at the chance to swap rooms in order for a chance to experience its hauntings, though. Good for you, even if the ghosts didn't see fit to introduce themselves.

Edited by Alexander33
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Great job Lynn. All I ever wanted to know and then some. Thanks for the report.

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Hi Lynn,

thank you for this beautiful, informative and enjoyable trip report. Absolutely great photos of the polar bears! I've seen polar bears in Svalbard, but not as close and in such numbers! Churchill is now on my list !

And did you see this comment I made a couple of posts above yours? Another example of attention to detail and quality: The candy dishes out in the lounge area had Lindt Truffle Balls. No little cellophane wrapped butterscotch hard candies in this place. The chocolate may place this higher on "the list."

 

@@Atravelynn

 

Excellent polar bear report. Wonderful pictures and lots and lots of brilliant details

Thanks, a far cry from Zim that's for sure.

 

@@Atravelynn

How did your camera (and you!) cope with exposing white polar bears on white snow? Any tips? It was not to sunny, so no problem. One of the serious photographers on the trip mentioned a few times that she was relieved there was no sun for the most part. I'd probably first focus on the brightest spot, pushing the button halfway down, if there had been a lot of sun.

 

Seeing information from the 2 trips and seeing information about the different options is really helpful.

It is a shame our fellow guests didn't recognise your polar bear ears - but at least we all got to see (and admire) them. Thank you for your admiration. Everyone was lovely and congenial, but maybe they lacked spotting skills when it came to bear ears. There also was free wine at happy hour before dinner and at the meal. That might have contributed to overlooking a subtle costume.

 

His has been a really enjoyable report - though the information about the status of the bears is very worrying. I know, Arctic species are vulnerable.

 

 

It's a shame that the weather kept the Northern Lights hidden away this trip, but I think that the plentiful and amazing photos of the bears can excuse that. Love the gyrfalcon, too. I'll trade the lights for the bears.

 

Room 202 around Halloween? I'm not sure I would have slept so soundly. I love that you jumped at the chance to swap rooms in order for a chance to experience its hauntings, though. Good for you, even if the ghosts didn't see fit to introduce themselves.

The guide that helped me make the switch said he had stayed there on Halloween a few years back and 2 more consecutive days, too. Nothing happened for him either. Oh well, I'll trade the ghost for the bears also.

 

 

Great job Lynn. All I ever wanted to know and then some. Thanks for the report. Hope you can wander up there some time.

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Lynn, you really shouldn´t have mentioned the chocolate part, now I will be forced to go to Churchill! And here I thought I could get away with Svalbard! :o

 

Really enjoyed all the bear pics, and especially all the info about the trip itself and the situation of the species itself, very educational. You´re pretty mad for wanting to spend the night with a poltergeist - in a good way of course! ;)

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Lynn, you really shouldn´t have mentioned the chocolate part, now I will be forced to go to Churchill! And here I thought I could get away with Svalbard! :o Svalbard and some truffles should work as a good alternative. At least they won't melt.

 

Really enjoyed all the bear pics, and especially all the info about the trip itself and the situation of the species itself, very educational. You´re pretty mad for wanting to spend the night with a poltergeist - in a good way of course! ;) But the poltergeist did not want to spend the night with me.

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And did you see this comment I made a couple of posts above yours? Another example of attention to detail and quality: The candy dishes out in the lounge area had Lindt Truffle Balls. No little cellophane wrapped butterscotch hard candies in this place. The chocolate may place this higher on "the list."

 

That settles it, then! I´m off to Churchill. :)

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  • 2 weeks later...

I've been wanting to read this report for a while and finally got to it now. As expected, a great combo of practical info and compelling photos @@Atravelynn! Hard to believe how far ahead these trips can book up, but definitely something I'd like to do in the future.

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Just got to finish this report, you were writing while I was away. Just Fabulous - REALLY want to do this trip and you are so generous with all the details. You got great photos as well! Thanks for another super duper @@Atravelynn Trip Report!

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What great report! I had looked into these trips this year but the cost was too much for me. Which did you fined to be the better value for money Lynn?

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I really loved this trip report. So very interesting and beautiful! I enjoyed the fact "boxes" so much. The comment about polar bears trying to open the human can reminded me of an old Far Side cartoon. I sort of remember it like this....Polar bears eating frozen humans and commenting that they were crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside!!

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Far Side is a favorite but I would not want to end up like the humans in that cartoon.

 

What great report! I had looked into these trips this year but the cost was too much for me. Which did you fined to be the better value for money Lynn?

These trips are expensive, there is no doubt. The highest ratio of bears per dollar spent would have to go to the tundra lodge over the stay in town trip.

 

I think Frontiers North has a departure that is considerably less expensive than the Natural Habitat/Great White Bear Trips because it packs a lot more people into their tundra buggy. As I recall Frontiers North has 3 levels of trips: Adventurer (least costly), Enthusiast (middle), and Specialist (most costly.) The Adventurer level trip serves a good purpose for people who'd like to see a polar bear or several at minimal cost. Getting very high quality photos would not be a priority on that kind of trip with all the other bodies on board.

 

There also does not seem to be a way to save by going in the shoulder season, at least not with Natural Habitat/Great White Bear. The trips are the same price throughout the season. Of course with only about a month of polar bear viewing, there is little room for a shoulder season.

 

Finding deals and extra value is tough in this location. I can only see prices increasing in the future because the waiting lists for Nat Hab polar bear trips equaled the # of participants. Very high demand.

 

The flight alone, if done commercially and not through a charter, is $1200 round trip from Winnipeg 30+ days in advance. Under 30 days, it is $1800 round trip during polar bear season. The train costs less, and there may be some itineraries (though not with Nat Hab) that cut costs with the train.

 

On the 2 trips I took, I think everyone seemed to feel they got their money's worth, despite it being a lot of money.

Edited by Atravelynn
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  • 2 months later...

Somehow, I missed this up until now, I have no idea how...

 

But wow! So glad I found it. Fantastic TR, pictures and great info all around. Thanks a lot. I was looking for a short trip in the winter of 2017, now this is a big contender! And thanks for mentioning the pod bean bag, that seems to be very useful in many occasions.

 

Too bad there were no northern lights...but the bears sightings were amazing. I have something to think about now :)

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  • 2 weeks later...

 

Thanks a lot, @@xyz99.
"I was looking for a short trip in the winter of 2017, now this is a big contender! And thanks for mentioning the pod bean bag, that seems to be very useful in many occasions."
So glad you found the report useful. For Oct/Nov of 2017, don't delay in booking. You might even need to jump to 2018! The pod just went on another trip with me. Very, very useful and compact.
Edited by Atravelynn
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  • 1 year later...

I hope you are still responding to this post. My wife and I are doing this trip in Nov 2017. If you have a moment for some questions....

 

How long are the beds in the lodge? I'm 6'2".

 

Given the small storage space in the charter flight, where did you keep you camera gear? I am very hesitant to place it in checked baggage or even have it gate-checked and claimed plane-side.

 

Thank you!

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Just in case you do not spot the question above...................... @@Atravelynn

 

@@Tango if you use the mention button to the left of the text box you can alert people to your questions/comment.

 

I have done it for you this time so Atravelynn will spot it when she is next in ST.

 

How nice you are heading for the Polar Bears :)

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Time to get back to the forum. Thanks for the heads up @@wilddog. My answers are not very definitive, @@Tango.

 

I would go right to the source to ask about beds. Perhaps Na tHab even has some longer ones in certain "cabins" for their tall guests. They fit a 5' 4" frame just fine so I never took note of their length. You could sleep in the lounge area on the couches, I suppose. That area is comfortable and expansive. So expansive, you could even tango in it!

 

Starting with the commercial flight from Minneapolis to Winnipeg, duffelbags and wheelies were gate-checked. I think I flew United, but don't remember for sure. If the flight were not as packed, then larger carry-ons might not have been taken. On the charter they took people's big stuff as they boarded the plane. Since many people have extensive photo gear for this kind of trip and Nat Hab is very customer service oriented, I don't think the charter flight would be an issue as it contains only Nat Hab clients. My stuff went with me, but none of the other 28 guests mentioned any trouble with any luggage, including the serious photographers. But again, I would ask Nat Hab directly. I am sure this question comes up often.

 

Hope you go. You'll have a wonderful time!

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