Salmon Glacier - Oh My! What a View! Is that a Black Lab - Here Boy! That's Not a Dog!!!

August 08th, 2018

Got up and had a great breakfast … ready for another amazing day … and I was not to be disappointed.

Following the self-guiding driving tour, I visited the stone building and then made my way up a gravel road. The drive was nice, but dusty. After traveling about 18 miles, the road was starting to get steeper.

I must tell you that if you have a fear of heights, this would not be a road you would want to be on. There was no guard rail and I am telling you … what a long way down.

No one else was on the road and this was also making me nervous, so I turned around cautiously in a pull-over with a steep drop off on the side. Just as I took a photo, a truck was coming up and continued up the highway … I turned around again and followed. The other truck pulled over and I kept on going. I stopped now and again to take a couple photo’s. I was just about to turn around again … as I did not see the truck coming up behind me any more … when I saw what looked like a platform a little further up.

Let me tell you, I could not believe the scenery from this spot … the glacier was amazing!!! I had reached the Salmon Glacier Summit Viewpoint! I took a lot of photos here.

There was a few signs near the top, saying to buy photo’s, post cards, books, etc. In the small parking lot there was a guy in a car with a sign on it saying, “Bear Man” … apparently, that is what they call him because he spends a great deal of time taking photos of bears.

I was talking to Keith (Bear Man) for about 15 minutes and we had quite a conversation about photography. He gave me a few tips of where to go to take great photo’s of moose. I was about to go back to the truck when I noticed that his license plate was from New Brunswick! We chatted a little longer until another vehicle was coming over the crest.

A vehicle pulled in and two ladies and a gentleman got out. I stated what a beautiful drive up to here and one lady responded, I don’t think so. HaHaHa They asked me if I would take a photo of them and then they did the same for me.

I took more photo’s on my way back down the mountain … what a great experience.

I drove to the other side of Hyder and found the old pilings near the water. This is the location of the first settlement of Hyder in the late 1800’s. A gentleman came up and bought a big chunk of the land and forced others that came up for the gold rush to build their homes on stilts near the waterfront. This was called Portland City, but when they attempted to register the town they had to change the name because the government thought there were already too many Portlands in USA.

I drove over to Stewart to fuel up and get some groceries. I noticed on the drive in a lot of old pilings and wondered what they were for. After getting fuel and groceries, I stopped again at the Information Center and asked the lady at the desk what the pilings were. She informed me that the ones furthest away was the old railway line and the ones closer was actually a wooden road … the first “road” to connect Hyder to Stewart.

After supper, I decided I would go to the river and see if I can find some bear. I did not want to go back to the Observation Deck as there were too many people there for me. I found this one side road and backed into it. I walked down to the river and could see a lot of salmon swimming in the area. This looked like a great spot to see bear.

I grabbed a chair, my camera gear and a magazine. I parked myself in a strategic place that I could see way up the river and down the river a little ways. I got set up about 6:30pm and knew I had a little time before possibly seeing some bears so I began to read my magazine.

After about half an hour, I was reading an article when I heard footsteps right behind me in the gravel. I turned and looked over my right shoulder and saw some movement … it was a black lab. I was about to say, “Hey fella!” and stick out my hand, when it finally registered that this was not a dog, but a black bear cub!!!! When I realized it was a bear cub, I thought, ‘Sh#5! Where is momma bear?!!! The bear cub was right beside me and I jumped up … looked behind me to see if momma bear was there. I scared the bear cub and it took off into the woods. The bear was that close I could have patted it. Ha…Ha…Ha [nervous laugh].

Well, I saw my bear for the day … now to go back to the campsite and change my shorts. LOL