FAREWELL AT VANDERHOOF, BC

So, after 60 days together our trip came to and end in Vanderhoof, BC which is about 50 miles from Prince George.  At times the weather got us "down" but there was so much to see and do that we did them in spite of the rain and cold.  For us, it was sad to say good-bye.  We met some great people, made some new friends and renewed some old friendships.  We were glad to return to Alaska for this trip but we are equally as glad to head south for some warmer weather. 

Our farewell dinner was great and after hugs and godd-byes the next morning, the group was on their own to head home or to their next adventure. Ours will be to visit other friends in Oregon, re-visit Newport, OR and head to CA for our cruise.  We hope everyone has enjoyed "traveling" with us.

Dick Mullins got pictures of this eagle while he was waiting to see some bear. Thanks to Dick and others that supplied some pictures to suplement mine throught the trip

 

THIS IS A NATIVE FISH NETING OPERATION WHERE THE HARVEST THE FEMALE SALMON EGGS AS THEY ARE GOING UP THE RIVER TO SPAWN.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAUL

BYE BYE EVERYONE

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. 

 

ON THE ROAD TO HYDER

THE PICTURES BELOW ARE OF BEAR GLACIER NOTICE THE CHANGES BETWEEN THE 2004 AND 2011 PICTURES THAT I TOOK

BEAR GLACIER 2004

BEAR GLACIER 2011



DINING IN STEWART

FINE DINING IN HYDER

BETTY WAS ABLE TO GET  REAL CLOSE TO A BEAR

NOTE THE SPAWNING SALMON THE REASON FOR BEAR ACTIVITY IN THE AREA

JUST ANOTHER WATERFALL

THE TOE OR LEFT FORK

SALMON GLACIER FROM THE SUMMIT

NOTE THE WAY THE GLACIER SPLITS TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT

THESE PICTURES ARE OF THE RIGHT FORK WHICH IS CALVING

THE CALVING LINE FROM ABOVE

THE CALVE LINE FROM FURTHER AWAY

LOOKING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE ACCROSS TO THE LEFT SIDE, JUST MASSIVE

 

JUST MORE GLACIERS NOTE THE ONE ON THE LEFT GOING AROUNT AN OUT CROPPING OF ROCK

 

THIS AREA USED TO BE A GOLD AND COPPER MINING AREA IN THE 1920s. NOW THERE IS LOTS OF RENEWED ACTIVITY

UNKNOWN STRUCTURE

 OLD TUNNEL TO MINES PRIOR TO ROAD BUILT AROUND THE MOUNTAIN

SKAGWAY, ALASKA

Our last stop in Alaska was Skagway.  It is also a port of call for most of the cruise ships, including the Disney Wonder.  The significance of that one is that we will be on it in a month for a Mexican Riviera cruise with the kids.  In Skagway we did some last minute souvenir shopping because they were having "end of the season" sales.  We also saw the "Soapy Smith and the Days of '98" show and did some gambling with fake money.  All had a great time and learned that there actually was a Soapy Smith during the Gold Rush days and that he was not a nice guy.  I also found out that Princess steamships have been coming to Skagway since the 1920's and the Soapy Smith show has been running for all that time. We also took a day cruise to Juneau which included viewing wildlife, a bus tour of the downtown and a trip to Mendenhall glacier. 

The wildlife viewing was spectacular and we saw both orca (killer) and humpback whales, seals and sea lions.  We actually saw an eagle floating into shore with his prey.  The main cause of death for eagles are people and salmon.  They can drown because once they grab their catch their talons dig in so, if it is a big one,  it will pull the eagle under.  Just another interesting bit of trivia.
On Friday morning the staff prepared a pancake breakfast for everyone and, since it was raining, we had it outside under the awnings.  One thing you learn while RVing is to be flexible.

About the weather, it has been cold and rainy for most of our time in Alaska.  People we talk to refer to the month of August as fall and the weather is very unpredictable.  We have gotten to the point that we can predict it - RAIN and more RAIN.  But we are having a good time in spite of it.

DOWNTOWN SKAGWAY

DISNEY WONDER

The Red Dog Saloon use to be a Coast Guard hangout when CG ships were in port. I was looking for a life ring we hung on the wall 1976 but alas it is no longer there. The Red Dog is now a tourist destination 

DOWNTOWN JUNEAU

MENDENHALL GLACIER

 

Play gambling prior to the Soap Smith show

SOAPY SMITH SHOW

PANCAKE BREAKFAST IN THE RAIN