Skagit Hydroelectric Project visitor Steve Hall shared this photo of the first bear spotted this season during the ride across DiabloLake on Seattle City Light’s boat, the Cascadian.
This black bear was spotted by passengers on Seattle City Light’s boat, the Cascadian, as it crossed Diablo Lake. Photo courtesy of Steve Hall.
Skagit Hydroelectric Project visitor Steve Hall shared this photo of the first black bear spotted this season during the ride across Diablo Lake on Seattle City Light’s boat, the Cascadian.
Hall described the experience this way:
The Hall family saw the bear as we were returning from a trip to Ross Lake, where we spent Fathers’ Day and had a ceremony for my brother, Howard, who died in January from cancer.
Howard took his family to Ross Lake every summer for the past 15 years and it was clearly his favorite place on earth. He always enjoyed the boat trip on Diablo Lake and would usually stand quietly near an open window, watching the shoreline pass by.
This time, the first time his wife Cindy and two children, Cate and John, had gone to the Lake without Howard, we saw the bear after another passenger called it out. The boat’s first mate yelled “bear!” to the captain, who immediately stopped the boat so we could all get a good look.
The bear didn’t seem to mind us at all as he slowly swaggered up the hill, and we all got great views and a great picture. Afterwards, we half-joking said that Howard must have sent the bear to tell the family that all was well, and everything was going to be all right. It was a powerful moment that we will remember all of our lives.
Thanks to all at Seattle City Light for making such a beautiful place accessible for the public to enjoy. And of course — a special thanks to the wonderful crew of the Cascadian for stopping for us!
We’re glad you enjoyed your visit, Steve. Thanks for sharing the great photo.
Our Skagit Hydroelectric Project produces about 19 percent of the electricity our customers use. It also creates Ross, Diablo and Gorge lakes where thousands of people enjoy outdoor recreation every year, including those who take a Skagit Tour.
If you’ve got a photo or a story to share from your visit to the Skagit Hydroelectric Project or a Skagit Tour, we’d love to see and hear about them.