July 10 - Stewart, BC / Hyder, AK
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What a beautiful spot Mountain Shadow was! Not much to do there or in Iskut for that matter, but for a one-night stop, the scenery is stunning.
We got a very early start to Stewart this morning. On the road shortly after 8 a.m. We stopped at Bell 2 Lodge just after 10 a.m., gassed up, then hit the lodge for breakfast–I knew there was a reason I didn't feel hungry when I got up just after 6 a.m.!
The Stewart-Cassiar Highway (Highway 37) scenery was stunning as we drove south through the valleys between the Coastal and Skeena Mountains – snow-capped mountains, beautiful lakes, and carpets of magenta and yellow flowers decorating the sides of the road (which was just a ribbon of tarmac). However, the best was yet to come.
We turned off Highway 37 for a side trip to Stewart and a night at Bear River RV Park. Wow, what a side trip! The 20+ glaciers along the road to Stewart were spectacular! In a couple of spots along the road, there was us on the road and the river right beside us and on either side, shear cliffs upwards – a bit more dramatic, but similar to, the Victoria side of the Malahat. Bear Glacier actually came down to just the other side of the river from the road.
Saturday we ventured to the Bakery for coffee/tea and muffins. The farmer's market was next but in a small town like Stewart, it was done in a minute. From there we drove to Hyder, AK and back. Didn't get Hyder-ized at the local saloon – too early in the day! You can drive freely into Hyder – no border crossing grill, but you have to go through Canadian Customs on the way back. Only in Canada, eh Mr. Harper!? We had hoped that the weather would cooperate and we would be able to drive up to Salmon Glacier (actually back in Canada) but as you can see from our photos at ground level, it was a pretty socked-in day.
Saturday afternoon was spent catching up on paperwork. We've decided not to stay an extra day, so we head out in the morning for Smithers, BC to meet up with friends from Lunenburg, NS who now live there.
W
