Liard Hotsprings June 3, 4, and 5 or there abouts..

Sorry about the delay to get updated.  We had no electric or WiFi for about--well, it has been awhile.  I will try to catch up. 
This post covers our wanderings to, and time at Liard Hotsprings Provincial Park.  
Once again we are dry camping--for 3 days here.  There was a water pump just across from our site, but it did not work.  Must have seen 20 people come up to it and work the pump handle up and down lots of times, but no water.  (We should have guessed--it was dry surrounding the pump.)  

We saw more critters along the road this time than any before:  Caribou, Bears (Black and Griz) Elk (no pictures, just ran in front of the RV), Stone sheep--at least 20 of them, Canadian Geese, Moose, and Wood Bison.  Take a look at the sampling .  .  .

Black Bear eating roadside spring grass

Another walking away from the road

Griz beside the road.

Caribou--or as we have come to know them--"Tundra Cows"

 

This is the first Stone Sheep we saw.  They are called that because of their color, not where they live.  They like to lick the salt and other chemicals off the road.  What the heck, might as well show you some more--since we did thrill at seeing them all day long.

 

Without a doubt, The Boss

Female Stone Sheep, Small thin horns

Very young, no horns

Matching Book ends

OK--that's enough Stone sheep for now.  We did see a lot.

The road was not great but not a "killer" as feared.  That said, I would not have liked it in 1942.

Wide roadside clearings to aid in spotting wildlife

Panoramas are needed to capture the wide expanses

Spring greens of Aspens, Birches and dark green Spruce forests

Lingering spots of snow show relief above the timberline

Some flats next to everpresent mountains

Just another beautiful view

Aspens on the pass are just beginning to leaf out

Here is a little more about the Rocky Mountains and how they came into being what they are.  This is Folded Mountian, and it is quite amazing.

A panorama by Chuck

After that we started up.  I do believe this is the same area where the original road was cut out in 1942.  Of course the roadway has changed, but the sign shows the background--and it has not changed much.  For example the Summit, the highest the road went then and now.

Rock cut out to get to Summit

The sign is hard to read, but it does show the road being built and the Stone Mountain behind it.  This road was no picnic to build even out of the permafrost.

Summit Lake and Campground, not open yet.

Rocks on or near road

And of course there were waterfalls

The road was the same even as we came up to Muncho Lake, which the original Alaska Hwy construction corps had trouble maneuvering around.

 

You can almost see the strange green-blue color of this big lake.

This was a glacier a one time.  It has retreated, so is completely out of sight now.

Did I mention we saw a lot of Stone Sheep??

Our nice campsite at Liard Hotsprings

We are here at Liard Hotsprings Provincial Park, dry camping again.  But not My Dear Bride.  She found the Hot springs first thing.  (Highlight of the trip thus far!!!)

After a long dusty ride:  Heavenly is the best word for it!

Does that feel good?  No Answer  (Don't bother me--I'm just enjoying!)

Just about four feet deep, and like WARM bathwater!

Do you like that?  Again no answer.

I swam the whole length (~250') of the bottom, cooler pool.

 Are you going to stay in there all night? (P:  I wouldn't have minded that.)  I am being ignored.

Well,  I will tell you a little about the CG.  It is nice and wooded and the main attraction is the Hotsprings.  Do you know why, Pauline?  You have to walk a few (no! only about .5) miles to the the pools on this boardwalk over the wetlands.

Chuck saying, "OK, how much farther?"

This moose was browsing in the wetlands, viewed from the boardwalk

At the pools there are brand new dressing rooms--wonderful!

Simple & elegant design, inside the dressing room

No other water or showers in the campground.  If you want to drink you bring your own.  Note the construction; & overall view of the hot springs.

Water temperatures gradually increase as you head upstream to the source--anywhere near the top was too hot for me!!

This view is uphill from the hotsprings, towards the source(?). 

It's called 'Gardens' above the pools.  That is hot water comimg down the rocks, thus allowing plants of more temperate climates to grow at the perimeter.

a native Borage family plant is in bloom

Ostrich Fern is the natural, lush groundcover

A Restoration Biologist is starting replanting & watering next to the new changing houses.

Chuck on the boardwalk, high & dry, near the waterfalls.

That is it for now.  We had a breakfast across the road at the Lodge.  Big mistake.  Both food and gas extremely expensive and we only had a quarter tank of gas to go 76 mile to Contact Creek where the gas is at least less the a new Home Mortgage.  So we will see you next time.