Liard Hot Springs

When I woke up this morning the skies were overcast but not raining.  After breakfast I took a short 15-mile drive to Smith River Falls.  The falls are massive and beautiful (see video at Jim Hailey Nature Photography.  I’ve been without internet access for three days now so I have not been able to post anything.  I hope tomorrow I can get access on the internet in Watson Lake on my way to Teslin.  Along the road up to the falls I tried in several places to call in some bird but to no avail.  Birds in this area are very difficult to see because the popular are so tall and the spruce as well that they reside in the tops and make it very difficult to find, let alone photograph.  On my return I met some fellow birders Mike and Terri Church.  They have a business called Rolling Homes Press and publish extensive camping guides to Alaska, the US Southwest, Pacific Northwest, Mexico and Europe.  They also know my friends Bert and Shari Frenz.  I spent 2 hours in the hot springs visiting with Mike and Terri about Alaska.  They both lived and worked there several years ago.  They make this trip to Alaska every 3 years.  We plan to meet up several times while here this year.  They told me about Atlin, BC a short 60 miles off the Alaska Highway and how beautiful it is, so I am going to make this side trip there after Teslin.  The spring are a wonderful respite after the long drive to get here and something you don’t want to miss.  I also met another couple from Vancouver, BC.  They also have Lance trailer and they came by to see my model last evening.  She is a music teacher and he is an anthropologist by training, but spend most of his business career running nonprofits.  His last employment was working for a non-profit that supported wildlife rehabilitation.  So tomorrow its off early where I understand they have a bird banding station.