Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
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Hyder, Alaska & 5 grizzly bears
Hyder is 2.3 miles beyond Stewart B.C. There was NOT any border check crossing from BC into Alaska, but there WAS border check from Hyder back into Stewart. Population of Hyder is about 100. Most stores in Hyder were boarded up and it is known as a ghost town.
Stewart and Hyder are on a spur of the Cassiar Highway, at the head of Portland Canal, a narrow saltwater fjord approximately 90 miles long. The fjord forms a natural boundary between Alaska and Canada. Stewart has a deep harbour and boasts of being Canada's most northerly ice-free port. Hyder boomed with the discovery of rich silver veins in the upper Salmon River basin in 1917-1918. Hundreds of pilings which supported structures during this boom period are visible on the tidal flats at Hyder. Hyder became an access and supply point for the mines, while Stewart served as the center for Canadian mining activity, Mining ceased in 1956 with the exception of the Granduc copper mine which operated until 1984. Today the economy is driven by forestry, mining and tourism.
sign - Hyder townsite limits - entering Alaska
sign - welcome to Hyder, Alaska
funny but true sign - How to lose face with a bear
below - the "ghost" town of Hyder
- but a few stores are open, such as Dollie's Photo Shop -
the ghost town of Hyder
painting on Dollie's Photo Shop
Day 1 in Hyder, Fish Creek viewing area on Salmon Glacier Road is operated by the U.S. Forestry Service. Both grizzly and black bears can be observed and photographed here as they fish for chum and pink salmon in the shallow waters of Fish Creek and Marx Creek from mid-July through September. Viewing is from a boardwalk viewing area - shown below.
sign - fish Creek Wildlife Observation Site
the famous viewing bridge
View from the bridge - when we got there a lot of professional photographers with big fancy cameras were set up facing this side of the bridge so that is where we thought the bears would come from. Wrong - they came from the street!
the backside of the river
the backside of the river
view from same side of bridge as above - but in the other direction ducks swimming on the other side of the bridge
the backside of the river
lots of ducks in the water
Around the corner, just past the street, scientists were lining up the salmon, counting, and weighing them. It is said by some that these humans then leave their scent in the water and that could discourage bears from coming around.
scientists studying the fish
scientists studying the fish
below - salmon in the river
salmon in the river
salmon in the river
here comes bear #1 - a 4-year old grizzly bear, just walking down the street
grizzly bear #1 in the street
grizzly bear walking down the street

The grizzly crosses the bridge, and glances down into the river - then continues down the road a bit before walking through the trees and into the river. Everyone on the bridge runs to the far end of the bridge to take photographs.
grizlly crossing the road bridge
grizzly's first appearance in the water
Then the grizzly starts running upstream towards the bridge
grizzly running upstream towards the bridge
grizzly running upstream towards the bridge
grizzly running upstream towards the bridge
grizzly running upstream towards the bridge
Then the grizzly turns and runs back down the river - just playing and splashing and having lots of fun. Meanwhile, everyone on the bridge runs and back and forth, following the grizzly. It is really funny!
grizzly turns and runs downstream
grizzly turns and runs downstream
Oops - there he goes again - in the other direction - and so the people on the bridge also run and scramble for the best view point, once again.
grizzly playing in river
grizzly playing in river
Now the grizzly turns again and goes to the part of the river just beyond the bridge where it catches a salmon and eats it.
grizzly caught a fish
grizzly getting ready to eat the fish
grizzly eats the fish
grizzly eats the fish
grizzly eats the fish
grizzly with fish hanging out of its mouth
Now that the grizzly has eaten, he decides to have more running and splashing in the river.
grizzly playing
grizzly playing
grizzly playing
grizzly playing
Karen took lots more photos of this bear, and she also took some real nice video. But now the two RV Gypsies decide to drive up the road towards Salmon Glacier.
 
A bigger grizzly bear (#2) upstream from the bridge
a bigger grizzly bear # 2 in the river upstream
a bigger grizzly bear # 2 in the river upstream
The bear kept walking down the river, and when it went behind the bush, Karen took the opportunity to photograph the river and her car on the muddy road beside the river.
the river upstream
muddy dirt road and the toad of the two RV Gypsies
"The bear is back in view", says Lee.
"The bear is back in view", says Lee.
grizzly bear #2
grizzly bear #2
 
Now the two RV Gypsies continue driving up the road to see Salmon Glacier.
go to the next pageSalmon Glacier - then more bears in Hyder
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