Summit Lake to Liard Hot Springs—June 2

I woke up early, 5:15, and after my usual two cups of coffee and taking Dulce for her morning walk so she can cover up any evidence left by any overnight visitors, I loaded up with my cameras and went in search of the Stone Mountain Sheep usually present on the highway in the morning.  I was not disappointed because in less than a mile north of the camp I found 4 on the highway.  One was a nice older male with a nice set of horns who did some posing for me before he and the group headed off the highway and into the nearby by forest (see pics Jim Hailey Nature Photography).  So with that mission accomplished I headed back to get things ready to travel.  I was on the road by 7:00.  This area is the most northern portion of the Rocky Mountains and as I zig and zagged my way down through the pass I marveled at the beautiful scenery I was passing through (see pics).  This is probably one of the prettier drives on this highway.  Once down and crossing the Toad River where I stopped at the Toad River Lodge to get more gas as there are not many gas stations along this stretch of the road.  It was only 3 cents per liter higher than in Ft. Nelsonhoto. which I thought was very reasonable since it is so remote.  Now I began my descent into Muncho Lake PP, a very beautiful area along the Alcan.  At one spot on the Toad River there was a falls that began on the crest of the canyon wall several hundred feet above me (see pic) and came all the way down and under the highway.  As I progressed in my drive I finally reached Muncho Lake, a beautiful lake with deep blue water created by the copper brought down from above in the water.  I have camped her on 3 occasions in the past but today, the weather had turned to rain and I decided to push on to Liard Hot Springs PP a short 45 miles from Strawberry campground on the lake (see pics).  The rain actually came down harder and I ran into some major highway construction about 15 miles from my destination.  The pilot car finally appeared and took us through about 4 miles of gravel and mud until we reached the end of construction.  I made it to Liard Hot Springs and picked out my campsite and it was still raining.  As I pulled up to where I was going to camp I noticed a large bird land in the campsite across the road.  My first impression was it was a grouse and as it turned out I was right.  A female Spruce Grouse was walking around the edge of the campsite but before I could retrieve my camera she had moved back into the underbrush where I could see her but was not able to get photo.  So I proceeded to maneuver into my site and set up camp for the next two days.  The rain had slowed and soon it was over and the sun came out.  Just before I reached the park I encountered a bull buffalo and earlier near Toad River I had an elk and white-tailed deer

After having lunch and getting everything situated, I put on my swim suit and joggers and headed to the hot springs (see pics).  It’s but a shore 15 walk from my site down a nice boardwalk thought the swampy area that surround the spring.  Since I as last here that have constructed bath houses to change in, a nice addition.  I got into the pool which ranges from 100 to 120 degrees and sat there soaking in the warm water.  The sun was out, lots of people enjoying the water as well and I struck up a conversation with a young man form Grand Junciton, CO.  He has worked on the slope for many years but they recently moved back to CO because his wife could not endure the long, dark winters of Anchorage.  He has since quit his position and was back in Anchorage to get some items they left and was heading home.  We share many things about Alaska that we both love.  He would have preferred to stay in Alaska as it was a place he really enjoyed living.  I returned to camp, cooked some supper, took Dulce for here walk and then downloaded pictures taken during the day.  For some reason, maybe the soaking, I felt tired so we went to bed and read some more of the book I am reading, PT 109 about JFK.  Tomorrow I plan to explore a nearby waterfall.