Hyder

Bear watching area. These are chum salmon and the bears least favorite and we missed the few bears that did show up.

Steward has a few stores and Hyder a few less. Both towns are in wind down mode as the tourist season is ending. We crossed into Hyder and then up to the fish viewing area. Plenty of fish but the bears were elsewhere. While the fish look great they are worn out, consumed all of their energy (they don’t eat once they enter fresh water) and aren’t good to eat unless you are a bear. 22 miles up the gravel road is Salmon Glacier where the view is spectacular. Along the way this young black bear was dining along the road and we followed him for about 15 minutes. 

He was likely weaned by mom and about 3 years old. We’ve become such bear experts!

He was close and kept an eye on Diane!

The view up to Salmon Glacier and the glacier itself is spectacular. This and other glaciers are part of the Cambria Ice field. The Salmon Glacier is the fifth largest in Canada. The most recent glaciations period is known at the Fraser Glaciation which covered most of Alaska and British Columbia 14,000 years ago. Then the ice sheet began its slow retreat which continues today.

Canada? We started in BC, crossed into Hyder, Alaska and then the gravel road to Salmon Glacier crossed back into BC. On the return we crossed back into the US – trust me there is nowhere else to go and I’m sure if we tried we would either freeze or starve. So now we have been in Canada, US, Canada and then the US again without any customs. We must be illegal immigrants or tourists or something. But returning to Steward we did go through Canadian Customs. He asked “where are you going” – to our motorhome “do you have any firearms” no “have a nice day”. I’m sure his job description requires him to ask us something! However in 1920-50 when going to the mines in Canada from Hyder there was a Canadian Customs office but apparently a free trip back into the US.

The black spot an the end of the glacier is actually a very large ice cave with the river flowing out of it!

The environment is harsh

Premier Mines along the road has been an active mine off and on since 1910. The mine is again active. And another mine may be active. This was important to us as the signs indicate they maintain the roads.

Since this is our last stop in Alaska I should mention that Alaska has a unique university program where you can get a PHD in Driving as in driving a car!

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PHD – As in Pot Hole Dodging!