A final for Hyder

This is one of the waterfalls on the edge of the road up to Salmon Glacier.

One of the shops in Hyder. Note the streets are dirt. We were told that the town has snow removal equipment but no one to run it. The locals took turns clearing the snow from the streets. Much fun for them. By the way, they have a school in Hyder. it is K-12. A teacher's aide for the kindergarden children in one room. There is a teacher and an aide in the other room for the 1-12 children. There were 24 students last year. We were told that everyone of the graduates of this school have place in the top 5% in the nation on the SAT exam.

The brass marker is the US-Canada border between Hyder and Steward. Note the cut out border in the background. It is re-brushed every 10 years. The stone building just behind the marker is the first stone building in all of Alaska!

When you come out of Hyder bound for Steward you must pass through Canadian Customs. We had Passports and had no problems. Although Passports will not be required between US & Canada on vehicle travel until next year. It make for good identification. (Actually I think they thought I had a honest looking face!)

The Salmon River below the Glacier

The river is at the top. Glacier silt makes it milky. The blue areas are called kettles. These are depressions where the silt has settled out.

This is a close up of the kettle shown in the photo below. Note that part of the milky water is spilling into the kettle because of rising water.

This is the river valley. The blue spot at the lower right is the kettle shown above. Both photos taken from the same spot in the edge of the road going down.

Another shot of the same kettle, note the waterfall on the right side.

More on Salmon Glacier

We made it to the top.

Barbara and Linda on a very cold bench overlooking the Glacier

We were able to add chill to our lunch drinks!

Note the depth of the snow on the inside edge of the road. The road had been open only about 2 weeks. Hyder had 38 feet of snow last year, right much even for them.

Up to Salmon Glacier, 20 miles up the road from Hyder.

This is the foot of the Glacier

The road up. It was rather narrow and had several areas where the rocks had fallen on the road. I had 3 "back seat drivers" telling me how to negotiate the road!

Barbara, Jake and Linda near the top.

A shot part the way up.

Bears etc.

These three cubs and sow are Grizzly bears.

We saw them at the Fish Creek Viewing area on the Tongass National Forest on the road above Hyder. This is a US National Forest.

Two of the cubs decided to get into a boxing match.

This is the upper end of Portland Canal (actual a Fjord) between the towns of Stewart and Hyder. This is a raft of Spruce logs waiting to be loaded on a ship bound for Japan. I did not realize they were still doing this.

More about Hyder

This is a beautiful hanging basket at the campground. I think I was told it is Fushia. It will not grow in the south, it requires cool weather and limited sunlight.

A close up of one of the flower bunches

A view from the campground.

The group at the Hyder town limits. There is no US Customs going into Alaska at this point. Not need. The town is 100 people strong. The main street continues about 27 miles back up into the mountains and dead ends.

On to Stewart, BC and Hyder, AK

This is a close up of the stream under the Bear Glacier. Note the dark blue streak above and left of the stream opening. Beautiful!

Bear Glacier without zoom. Note area above is just left of the dark spot.

The laundry house at Camp Run-A-Muck in Hyder, AK. I made last nights posts from this laundry room. But, the connection bombed out before I could finish.

The Post Office at Hyder, AK. Note Hyder sits at the southeastern edge of Alaska, just past Stewart, BC. Stewart is on Pacific time. Alaska is on Alaska time, one hour earlier. However, the town of Hyder uses Pacific time as they depend on Stewart for telephone and bank services. Merchants in Hyder and Stewart accept both Canadian and US money. However, there is an exception to the time in Hyder. Since the Post Office is in a federal building it must go by Alaska time. Typical government affairs!

The Cassiar "Highway"

This lake is actually on the Alaska Highway, to beautiful not to include.

Jade City Store, yes Barbara purchased Jade cat earrings and a necklace.

Just to beautiful a shot to pass by. About the middle 1/4 of this "Highway" was terrible. Under construction and repair. The road had caved off in several locations because of a rain storm. The part that was not paved was very bad, some muddy, some dusty, mostly covered with pot holes. And part of the paved section had some deep dips. Dips are not good when in a 36' motorhome and towing a car!

A Sea plane that was coming up to the dock on the lake behind the campground half way across Cassiar. Planes are a major means of transportation in Alaska.

More of Chicken.

The hot spot in town!

Downtown Chicken!

The Community sign. Note that there are rednecks in Alaska too. The sign has been shot!

A visit to Chicken, AK

Another shot of Fireweed.

The Post Office in Chicken

Their Schedule board on the porch.

An old gold dredge in Chicken.