August 7

SOLTESWEB.NET ALASKA TRIP 2005 - AUGUST Page 7

Thursday, August 25 - Salmon Glacier

We were back this morning to check on bears - no luck. We're not good at waiting around long enough. We wanted to drive up to Salmon Glacier, the fifth largest in North America. It was a very long and steep climb, and we turned back when we reached the glacier, even though we could have driven some 5 miles more around the glacier. The scenery was stunningly beautiful! This is just three of our photos.

The reason we turned back was that the transmission was heating up, telling us that we need to pay some attention to any possible problem(s) related to our tide water experience.

More photos along the road....

When we returned to Hyder, we took a walk on the road that leads out on the tidal flats to the bay. On the way back, a black bear with three cubs crossed the road about 50 yards away. They were after the berries growing on the roadside. What a treat watching them! We found out later that these bears often visit the dump near the tidal flats.

When we drove back to Stewart, we found Sam and Jody at the clinic. Sam had seen the doctor and received antibiotics (she was also pleased that the doctor visit AND the antibiotics cost her only $40 Canadian, thanks to the social medicine program in British Columbia). Oh, they got their bags delivered last night.

Bear Glacier, British Columbia

We left about 3:30 pm. Driving between Stewart and Meziadin, you can see Bear glacier up close. The blue ice was very blue.

We met with a lady traveling with her invalid daughter. She had been at this spot over 30 years ago, when the glacier was so much bigger that it covered the place where we were standing across the lake. The road then, she showed us where, was about 50 higher on the side of the mountain!

We drove until we reached Kitwanga, B.C., where we found a free municipal campground. Patty found a couple from Austria at the campground that had a campfire started, and she shared her marshmallows. :)

Just another shot to show you again what fireweed looks like after it seeds.

Friday, August 26 - Kitwanga

Down the road again to Kitwanga First Nation Village. These totem poles were about 160 years old. Several men were carving new poles, and we talked it the elder who was the master teacher. That old church was on site as well.

Hazelton

Statues and plaques to pioneers of Hazelton

Smithers rodeo

While at the gas station filling up, we found out that the town of Smithers, east of us in the direction we were headed, was having a fair and rodeo this weekend. We made it in early afternoon, and enjoyed the 4H exhibits and animals, but were in for a real treat when the rodeo started at 5:00 pm. It was raining of course (doesn't it always rain at rodeos?).

Here are some of the sights we saw:

This was a trick rider...a young 14-yr old girl who had already performed at the Calgary Stampede and other events both in Canada and in the US. No, that's not her falling...she is riding that way!

Portable logging

Later in a phone conversation, Derek (our son who took the Emmaus walk last week ) says “it was life-changing…never cried or laughed so much…It’s so easy to say you are saved, but what a difference to become a disciple."

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