We have just returned this evening from a really amazing eye opening 'recci' to Finland. We travelled there to assess conditions for running a Bear, Wolf, Wolverine and birding photographic expedition in '08 and '09.
After flying to Helsinki, an internal flight north, stocking up on provisions at the local supermarket (cheese, local bread, pasta etc), then a 150 km car journey, then a mile in a snowmobile (steered by Adam ... very scary) we arrived at our home for the next 100 hours. The hide was in No-Mans Land which is a mere 700 metres from the Russian border. It was one of the best hides we have ever seen. Despite being about -15 degrees outside, the oil stove kept us warm inside and a small meths cooking stove warmed up our pasta. The only downside, no running water or toilets! THAT was the one time requiring us to race out into the cold ...
We were there in the low season. The bears were still fast asleep in their dens. They wake up usually in early April when the snow melts and runs into their nests. They wake up VERY hungry having lost about 40% of their body weight over the winter. From April until perhaps October they are out and about before settling down to sleep again for the winter. The wolves had been heard just before we got there, but aside from some tracks we did not see any. Once the Bears are out, the Wolves tend to follow them, sharing the meat that the bears find.
The highlight for us was seeing a Wolverine really close up. These are very strong and quite fierce creatures ... photos to follow.
Our expeditions will be to the same area, but in the "high season" where there is a very good chance of getting pretty close to the bears. We will be staying in an old logging camp, each evening being left at the hide to wait for the bears to come down to eat the carcasses which are left to attract them and returning to camp for hot showers, hot food, charging batteries etc the next morning. Relax round the camp during the day, a sauna if you dare, a big dinner and then back to the hide. We cannot wait!
A view here of the hide we bunkered down in and Julie on watch! More to follow.
Julie and Adam
Finland - 100 hours in a hide - 24 March 2008
Snow in Finland - 20 March 2008
From the heat of Africa to the snow in Finland; sometimes we think we are mad! This morning we are off to Finland. We are travelling close to the border with Russia (for which permits are required. Very Jason Bourne) to a remote hide. No electricity no running water (very, very Jason Bourne). We will stay there for the best part of a week simply waiting to see what comes by (very, very, very Jason Bourne). Depending on the season this includes Wolves, Bears, Golden Eagles, Wolverines, Woodpeckers etc, etc. So when packing, we put away our hot weather clothes from Uganda/Rwanda and brought out Arctic gear. Given there is no electricity, no computers, chargers, cables, adaptors and other gizmos. Hence we are traveling light. Just the 600 F4, the 500 F4, three Canon bodies and the Hassey.
Current temperature where we are going as we write this .... -14 c with snow is forecast for the next three days!
Julie [Bourne] and Adam [Bourne]
Gorillas - 17 March 2008
A few shots of the Gorillas that we like. As you can tell from these, some of the conditions were ideal and some were somewhat challenging. Whatever the conditions, being with the Gorillas was a real privilege. All these photographs taken with medium length lenses. 
and another we love. 
It is fair to say that it sometimes rained!
Looking at these photographs really reminds us of the unique pull primates have over man.
Julie and Adam
A beautiful country - 17 March 2007
Well, we (with the help of the wonderful Steff) managed to get our Blog to take some photographs. So we can show you a few of our photographs from the expedition.
This was the view each morning as we climbed above the clouds on our way to the Gorillas. As you can see that particular morning it was not raining!
It makes us want to fly straight back!
Julie and Adam
Uganda and Rwanda - Chimps and Gorillas - 15 March 2008
Gorillas and Chimps Expedition - What an Adrenaline Rush!
Hello
We are just back from our expedition to Uganda and Rwanda. We are almost finished writing up the trip report which will go onto the site soon! We are having a little trouble with our server and unfortunately cannot upload our photographs as yet, GGGRRRRRR!
Highlights for our clients were:
1. Treking Chimps in Uganda for two days. The Chimps are really noisy and when moving along the floor of the rainforest they are always screaming to let each other know where they are and what they are doing. The photography was really difficult as the light is pretty poor but we managed to get some good shots of some of the males looking up from the jungle floor, staring in fact and waiting their turn with a female who was "in heat". Racing along to keep up with them on one particular day with bodies and lenses weighing us down was exhilarating and bloody hard work to say the least, but what fun and it certainly got the adrenaline pumping as much as watching a Lion kill.
2. Treking the Gorillas in Uganda for two days and THEN Rwanda for three days AS WELL. This was really hard work - I don't think our group will mind our saying we were not a group of Olympic athletes! But we were all determined to see what we had come for and we came, we saw, and we conquered those treks! Some days we think awards were deserved! It was all good fun though and the pictures our clients were able to get are really very impressive. We provided the opportunity, and they, to their credit, provided the rest.
Uganda Gorilla treks (2 treks): The second day was the hardest. It was raining, we had to cross a raging river, and the last climb was very hard. We eventually caught up with the Gorillas and to our delight the sun came out and we were treated to a wonderful display by the Silverback (yes, he beat his chest), some of the young and the entire family stretching out along a valley. We came back tired, wet but on a complete high! We also had the opportunity of photographing a group of Gorillas in the rain which was quite beautiful and serene.
Rwanda Gorilla treks (3 treks): This was much easier. The views were great and we all managed to get a good portfolio of really interesting shots. On our first trek, we were sitting more comfortably than usual on a bank looking down at a female and a baby when without any warning a blackback (young male Gorilla, but BIG) walked past the front of the group, brushing our legs, it then turned, took one look at Marian, decided she was the one and slapped her on her leg. Marian, if not all of us, will be telling this story for years. We all managed to do what we had been told to do in the briefing ie we kept remarkably quiet during what was a phenomenally exciting wildlife encounter but once we were out of the forest.... what a high!
Prize giving on the last night of our trip saw the overall prize for consistently good photographs from every trek going to Wendy. The prize being five yards of printing from Shutterspeed Travel's 24inch HP printer - this will allow Wendy to print poster size on art quality paper, we are looking forward to the results. Murray and Lisa also won prizes, but what goes on tour stays on tour!
A great, great trip. Please take a look back at this blog at Easter when hopefully our server issues will have been solved and the photos will be up here in the Blog. Our full trip report and the library database photos should be on the site then as well.
Julie and Adam