22 -23 August 2018. Stewart, BC/Hyder, AK
Stewart BC (population 500) and Hyder AK (population 100) share a fjord inlet from the Pacific Ocean. Don’t know all the history of how one side ended up being Canada and the other Alaska, but at one time there were 20,000 people here between them. Both sides, now, are struggling to stay viable.
The drive into the Stewart/Hyder area was wonderful. The smoke on the Cassier was replaced by occasional light drizzle. Saw a momma black bear and two cubs on the side of the road. Bear Glacier was a grand site along the roadside.
We got into Stewart in time for lunch, picked a nice little restaurant that offered an hour of WIFI with your meal, so we got an email dump.
Grabbed our last groceries at the store (which did not take credit cards, BTW – which is just a little tough when you are trying to not get any more Canadian currency) and decided on the Run A Muk campground in Hyder to stay at and do a load of laundry.
Hyder is especially famous for its National Forest bear viewing along a small stream where the Salmon spawn. (Fish Creek Wildlife Observation Site) The actual bear viewing this year has been sparse, but we went to the viewing area and watched the Salmon spawn and die. There were hundreds of Salmon in the water, both Chum and Red. (Chum season just ending, Red just beginning)
Then we took the 25 mile drive along the Salmon Glacier Road (back into Canada) and saw the magnificent Salmon Glacier, met the Bear Man, who hangs out up there (and bought his book).
We wandered back down the mountain, did one last try at the bear viewing area, and then headed back through the border crossing to Stewart and up that gorgeous drive. We spent the night at another Provincial park campground, Meziaden Lake Provincial Park.
