ALASKA/CALGARY 2012: Day 57: Travel to Stewart, BC/Hyder, Alaska

I just want to reiterate, “be careful about swatting flies when Betty is looking for a volunteer!” LOL – This is a travel day from Dease Lake to Stewart, British Columbia (about 242 miles or 390 kilometers).

The day started out dreary and misty. As we traveled along Cassiar Highway and the Stewart-Hyder Access Road, we saw rain, clouds covering the mountains, and then the sun peeking through. The road turned out to be one of the best roads we have traveled on even though at times it was curvy and narrow; but a good part of the road was freshly paved and we drove on it as though it was a two-lane freeway.

Another view of the beautiful Mountains & Lakes

Mountains looked like they were smoking for the fog

Most of the many bridges we crossed had wood surfaces rather than pavement. We still were stopped by construction, and we saw more mountains, lakes, and fireweed. The fireweed is now going to seed, but is still majestic with its fiery red leaves. And let us not forget the many waterfalls. If there is a mountain and a crevice, there is a long flowing waterfall.

Fireweed -- (When Fireweed goes to cotton, summer is
soon forgotten)

Construction for the one lane bridge

We stopped for lunch at Bell II Crossing and delighted in the warm soup and sandwiches. About 20 miles before arriving at our destination, we were treated to a view of Bear Glacier. At our travel briefing at Bear River RV Park, everyone but two reported seeing black bears during the day; some had as many as 6 sightings!

Bear Glacier

Bell II Crossing

About 6 pm most of us carpooled to Fish Creek Wildlife Viewing Area which is 3 miles north of Hyder, Alaska; Hyder is next door (but across the border) from Stewart. These towns are located at the head of Portland Canal, a narrow fjord about 90 miles in length. Stewart boasts of being Canada’s most northerly ice-free port.

Hyder Alaska

Fish Creek, operated by the U.S. Forest Service, has a raised boardwalk for viewing the bears (both grizzly and black) as they fish for salmon in the shallow waters of the creek. What a treat! We saw many salmon in the crystal clear water; then we saw two bears at separate times as they rustled in the bushes, splashed in the water, walked along the creek and “hunted” for salmon.