last of Hyder & the Cassiar

After posting here last evening, I went back to the Fish Creek Observatory & got to watch 2 grizzlies fishing. They were a mama & a 3rd year cub; usually, mama will kick out the cub at the end of the 2nd summer, but occasionally, first-time mothers will keep them around for another year.  

I went back again this morning, & 2 other grizzlies had just left. The rangers post a list of reported bear sightings. The area stinks as the salmon die soon after spawning & collect along the stream bank. 


This is the border crossing between Stewart (BC, Canada) & Hyder (AK, US). The building is for the Canadian border agents. Crossing into Hyder, there is no station; it's the only land border where one can cross without reporting to border agents. This makes sense, as there is no practical way to leave Hyder except to go back through Stewart. Since there's a port here, the Canadians have a reason to check on their side.


Stewart has a nice museum of local history. The lovely local museums in YT & AK have spoiled me, so this one only rates "nice". A number of movies have been filmed here including Insomnia, & there are big mines in the area. 




The small town of Kitwanga is at the southern terminus of the Stewart-Cassiar Highway, which is the beginning for many people. The town has 2 cute churches & a cemetery with each family plot fenced off. 

                


Nearby is a great collection of Gitwangak totem poles. I've learned a bit this summer as I could see the ways in which these are different from the many Tlingit poles I'd seen in YT & AK. 

       





The first pic is a view from town, & the 2nd is the view from my campsite here. 


*   *   *   *   *

Wildlife sightings (not counting those in the conservation preserve or the aquarium)

--> --> 2 days ago: 2 trumpeter swans

            yesterday: 2 grizzlies 

            today: a big black bear crossing the road

--> --> trip total so far: 

    black bears - 26       deer - 14 (12 Sitka)             grizzlies - 8          moose - 8

    stone sheep - 8        elk - 1                   caribou - 15            bison - 42    

    Dall sheep - 11        porcupines -1         mountain goats - 1       lynx - 1

    trumpeter swans - 34+        many bald eagles    black oyster catcher - 1 (rare)

    sea otters - 27             harbor seals - many, many, many         orcas - 1

    many sea stars & jelly fish        Dall's porpoise - ~ 20

    North Pacific Humpback whales - 2 pods of ~ 12 each + 1 + 1 + 3

    Stellar's sea lions - many, 100+ incl 60 pups in 1 spot (counted by scientists)




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