Rio Travelers: STEWART, BC / HYDER, AK

Our last stop in Alaska was Hyder which is in southeastern AK and is just across the border from Stewart, BC. We actually stayed in Stewart and drove across the border to Hyder. Stewart is the northern most ice free port in Canada and is on the Portland canal which leads directly into the Pacific ocean. Hyder's main claim to fame is bears and glaciers and renewed interest in gold mining. Stewart is a nice little town with paved roads; as soon as you cross the border into AK the paved road ends and you drive on a dirt road with many ruts and potholes. It is almost as if you are going back to the gold rush days. Outside of the town is Fish Creek which is in the Tongass National Forest. There is a raised boardwalk along the creek where people can safely watch black and grizzly bear come down to feed on the salmon that have come "home" to spawn and die. The bear pictures are from around the veiwing area. They must have eaten enough fish and were more intrested in berries. The Salmon glacier which is further out of town is spectacular. It is one of the larger glaciers we have seen and you view it by looking down on it. It is also rather unique in that it divides and has two terminations. The left fork called the foot and continues to melt away. The right fork ends in a dry valley but the face of the glacier calves off. It was well worth the drive. There are also glaciers along the road to Stewart one is Bear glacier not to far from town.