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.
