Troutbirder II

Troutbirder II
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Thursday, March 26, 2015

Alaskan Diary - Hot at Hot Springs Part V


The next day after our stay at Burwash Landing it was once again on to Alaska.  Haines Junction was next up the road and there was a Ranger Station-Museum where we were introduced to Kluane National Park and Preserve. Beyond that, to the west in Alaska, is Wrangel-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. These gigantic wilderness parks are basically accessible only by backpacking and boat.

The headwaters of the Liard River lie in the mountain range straddling the B.C. - Yukon border. This large river flows eventually into the mighty McKenzie and thus north into the Arctic Ocean. We crossed a large suspension bridge over the river and then followed its course north to Watson Lake.

A neat lunch stop on the way was at Rancherra Falls Recreation Area.


The Liard has carved a beautiful valley through the mountain foothills.






















A highlight for us was a stop and a swim in Liard Hots Springs. This was also a favorite place to "take a break" for the thousands of military and civilian workers, who first pioneered the Alaska Highway through a seemingly intractable wilderness. This was done in 1942 because of the threat of Japanese attack on Alaska.


Yours truly backside facing Gary's  camera while Mrs. T. gets a "behind" shot. Scary....

Down stream towards the board walk the water temp. was very comfortable. Upstream it got hotter and hotter till you could reach  the parboiling point.
On the tragic side, the boardwalk from the parking lot to the springs, was the scene of where an emaciated black bear had attacked and killed two tourists several years before. This whole area is abundant with wildlife and exotic plants, including 14 kinds of orchids. 



Later that afternoon we stopped  to camp  along  another alpine lake. Thinking of a quick swim that evening I dipped my toe in the water, I determined it to be colder than Lake Superior. A lot colder. But what a view!

12 comments:

  1. well, the warm springs sounded inviting until you mentioned that bear attack. wow.

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  2. I've been along every mile of this post's subject......caught fish in the Little Rancheria river, and slept overnight in a sleeping bag on that board sidewalk at the hot springs. My wife woke screaming when a mouse ran across her head. This would have been around 1974.

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  3. Wow, what a fun thing to do to swim in a Hot Spring. Can you still do this today?
    I will be up to visit Lake Superior on Saturday. :-) We will be up in Duluth.
    Have a blessed Easter,

    Carla

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  4. Love the pictures of the hot spring area. I am trying to imagine what it would be like to swim in hot water.

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  5. I kept trying to insert a "z" in the name Liard when I first saw it. That Hot Springs looks wonderful. I'm enjoying this excursion very much. :-)

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  6. Hi troutbirder, Another interesting post on the Alaska trip. Noticed that you called Liard Hots Springs a highlight. Made me wonder if, on your trips in Southwest Montana, you enjoyed the hot springs near Norris, Montana? They are not as nice as Liard, but worth checking out. Have a fine weekend. John

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  7. Alaska has long been on my list of places to visit.

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  8. What a fun and relaxing place. Well, except for the guy who is lookout for the bears. We have several hot springs in our mountains but I've never been. Maybe I'll check it out.

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  9. So interesting to be on your journey ... to places not known to me. Thanks.

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  10. You just have to keep a bear hovering on the edges of the consciousness, don't you?

    Which of your party won't come back, that's what I'm waiting to learn.

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  11. I have heard others talk about those springs, sounds like a good place to soak but perhaps you should carry something to scare off the bears...Like a gun!

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