August 4, 2007 - 2 Chicks, 2 Wheels - Gravel, Grizzlies, & Glaciers! (Dease Lake, BC to Hyder, AK) - Part 2



Continued From Part 1 - Click Here To Go Back


When we arrived Hyder, AK this afternoon we didn't know our adventurous day was far from over.  (If you missed the events earlier and wish to get caught up, click: HERE).  A few days ago when we were in the Yukon we met a local who had spent time in this Stewart-Hyder area and had told us going out to a place called “Fish Creek” should be on our “Must Do” list if we were interested in possibly seeing a Grizzly bear given the likelihood of the salmon spawn this time of year.  So, after we grabbed a quick bite to eat and got the inside scoop on where to go (“Just don't walk there” the lady said), the “2 Chicks, 2 Wheels” headed out to Fish Creek, which was about 4-5 miles from the center of town on a very dusty road (all of Hyder is gravel):

  While parking the bike Kobi said she thought she saw something.  Indeed she did:

  You've got to be kidding?!!  Did the dust and gravel of the Cassiar rattle my brain and I'm seeing things?  WHAT A WILD SIGHT!!!  There is just no way to describe the experience.. the sounds, the sights, and what it's like to actually be IN the wild observing the powerful forces of nature's cycle of life.

Fishing, Grizzly style:

She was successful:

She apparently decided the best place to eat her catch was on the other side of the river, which happened to be closer to us!

My brain simply could not process a Grizzly bear was looking right at me, that I wasn't in a zoo or watching a movie, but that I was IN the wild looking right back at her!  UN-FREAKIN'-REAL I tell ya!! 

A few minutes later, yet another Grizzly comes out of the woods (the road happens to be on the other side of the creek there!) while Kobi and I stood in complete and absolute awe:

  WOW!  WOW!  WOW!  Is that awesome or what??!!

  So, for those who are wondering if we had completely lost our minds and were tromping around on the side of a creek amongst Grizzlies who were hungry, here's the deal: The US Forest Service (USFS) operates the “Fish Creek Wildlife Viewing Area”.  I don't know what their official duties include but I'm guessing it centers around keeping the people and the bears safe.  (I'd also be willing to bet they have much more trouble with people than they do the bears.  In fact, I'd bet anything on it!)  The USFS staff numbered 4-5 that I saw and all were carrying large canisters of bear spray on a hip pack.  None were carrying obvious weapons though I have a feeling they weren't too far away.  There were other visitors who were enjoying Fish Creek and most hailed from land yacht RVs, were of an older generation, and probably would have had a heart attack on the spot if a weapon was discharged.    There were a few professional photographers on site with cameras that had attachments the length of baseball bats.  The “Viewing Area” is not some caged area in which protection is offered, rather it's simply a wooden deck creekside that is raised in some areas and is essentially at eye-level to a bear in others.  Here is a shot of what I'm trying to describe that probably makes no sense:

There are several informational and interesting signs placed at the entrance and along the deck that are noteworthy:


Continued On Part 3 - Click Here To Continue

AGirl

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