And so - on to Hyder

Driving from Dease Lake to Hyder, AK

So our second to last stop was Hyder, AK. Reading the information in Fodors were were wondering why we were staying here for three nights! It is described as a somewhat "lackluster town  that has a bar, post office, and a library" Hyder bills itself as "the friendliest ghost town in Alaska."

Camp-Run-A-Muck, Hyder, AK

We stayed at a park called Camp-Run-A-Muck - yes, a small, rather run down place that was reasonably difficult to park in.  Fredric and I soon discovered one of the best features about the park.... a very small wood backed up to the park and it was the most amazing place.  We found about ten different species of the most amazing mushrooms (didn't put pics up, but just ask!), and it was a great place to walk the dogs - mainly because it also had a beautiful creek running through the bottom of it.

Black Bear feeding on Salmon at Fish Creek

We got up earlier than usual (5:30am) to head out to a place called Fish Creek - about 5 minutes away.  We were lucky and a bear came down to feed on the Salmon running up stream.  It was late in the season for the bears, as most of them are now very fat and lazy and about ready to hibernate.  It was amazing watching the bear feed and waddle about.  I have some great video!

Bear swimming away (spot in distance)

Drive to Salmon Glacier, Hyder

Salmon Glacier lies north of Hyder and we traveled out there on our second day.  The road is almost non-existent and there are no barriers.... needless to say it was a very harrowing drive for me - but definitely worth it!

Standing at bottom of a glacier

 Again, the scenery was so spectacularly beautiful that we were - almost - speechless!

Salmon Glacier

Fredric digging dirt under a glacier

Fredric had been told by a crusty old local that gold seekers were now digging underneath the receding glaciers in the area!  So he tried!  Found a small sliver, but not the nugget he was hoping for!

Hyder was a funky little place, just across the border from British Columbia and surrounded by water. A very small piece of the U.S. of A. all by itself.  The people were definitely frontier people and they loved where they lived.  We decided, after a couple of days, that it was a pretty special place..... but we are not moving there!

Baylee playing on a glacier

H

Rainbow over the Airstreams