Muncho Lake

June 18, 2010

Forgetfulness

I must apologize, but I am honestly now mostly going off the pictures I took for my daily account of my trip. I cannot believe so much time has passed. I wish I would of written at the end of each day because it would really show what I felt at the moment. For this time around, this will have to do.

Playing Catch-Up

Muncho Lake. I honestly have no idea when I came across this lake. I am sure if I just took a second to google it up I could figure out what day I saw it on, but since I am at Barnes and Nobles, and do not want to pay for internet, I will let you do the dirty work. I am always taking breaks every couple of hours, either to just stretch out or let nature do its thing. (giggles). So I was in desperate need of a break and I pulled over this rest area, right next to Muncho Lake. This is the wondrous thing about the Alaska Highway, every freaking rest area is a sight to be seen.

Muncho Lake means “big lake” in the Kaska Language and this was a huge lake. At first I could only really see with trees being part of the view. They kind of blocked the lake off a bit, but they themselves added to the vista. I walked around for a few minutes before getting back on the road.

I drove probably just a few minutes when the road actually took me closer to the lake shore. Of course I pulled over again and this time I was able to get a closer look at the lake. It was enchanting. The jade color that was reflected across its surface was unique. I hadn’t seen a lake with that surface color so far. I stood there just looking at the greatness that was in front of me.

I could not believe how clearly the surrounding mountains and clouds were reflected across this lake. Looking back at the pictures now, I cannot believe I was standing there, in that majesty. The pictures I see now seem so unreal and made up, but they aren’t, they are Nature. Alaska took a break here too and enjoyed a bit of lake breeze and a view of the Muncho Lake ducks. I do have to say that there are jet boat rides provided for Muncho Lake and if I knew how much fun jet boat rides are, I would of gotten on one of them.

Since I missed to put Muncho Lake on my previous blogs I will dedicate this one, just to the lake. There are enough pictures to make it a long blog. :D Next time up...Jasper National Park of Canada.

A simple day on the road

June 17, 2010

Liard Hotsprings

I woke up rather early the following day. It is kind of hard to wake up late when the sun never sets. Every day I was up at either 7 or 8 in the morning. This time around in my car was a little bit bothersome. My knee began to hurt and I wasn’t able to relieve the pain because what it needed was to be stretched out.

Anyways, I woke up around 7:30 and got myself ready for the hot springs. I cleaned up, moved all my belongings to the back of my car and tried to look half decent. I pulled in to the hot springs camp, about five minutes before they open at 8:00am. Since I was there early, the person charging was kind enough to just let me go in for free. So, a good start to the day. As I drove up around the parking/camp site I realized I wasn’t the only one up early. People were up and busy making breakfast and getting ready for their own day on the road.

I unfortunately did not have proper bathing suit clothing since I never bought any for Alaska. My California bathing suits were in their proper place, my mom’s house. I just went ahead and put on some shorts I had and a t-shirt. When you arrive closer to the springs you get this smell of sulfur or iron. It is not too intense, but weird enough since I don’t smell it on a daily basis. I hanged my towel and headed down the stairs into the springs.

The cool thing about the Liard Hot Springs is that they didn’t make it into a pool. They left the nature setting and just build stairs and a deck around it. The water is crystal clear and the bottom is made up of rocks. Therefore, I entered with my sandals and right away I could feel the hotness through my flesh. Slowly I made my way into the center of my section. The interesting thing about the section of the hot springs I was in, is that on one side it would be one temperature and if one just moves to the other side the temperature would be hotter.

All in all it was a good half hour. I relaxed a bit, scrubbed a bit, and played a bit. I got out, dried up, had breakfast, and was back on the road. Unfortunately, my camera was dead from the previous day and I was unable to take any pictures of the hot springs, but have added a couple here from the internet. You can google it yourself as well. The place is Liard Hot Springs in British Columbia, Canada. The place looks awesome in the winter :D.

Wildlife

There is something extraordinary about wildlife in its environment. I have been to the zoos a few times and although looking at the animals there can be thrilling, there is nothing like catching a glimpse of them in their natural habitat. I came across a good amount of wildlife while on the road, but most of it I found it on the British Columbia part of the Alaska Highway. As mentioned before I stalked a black cub bear for awhile. I also saw another one later on. It is interesting that the cubs are just running around in plain sight, while the mother is nowhere to be seen. She is very good at hiding. As I drove away from the hot springs I came across a herd of bison (I believe that is what they were). I of course slowed down and stopped my car on the shoulder and began taking pictures. It was just so fascinating to see them in their own home without restrictions. There were calfs feeding on mothers, a couple of male bison were budding heads playfully, and then the herd began to move across the highway. Immediately my heart jumps a beat, afraid that some car is going to hit them. Yet, they walk across without a care in the world. They begin their slow walk across. As they do, cars and trailers come across them, but slow their pace in order to allow them to walk across. It is obvious who owns the road.

Camping

The rest of my day was spent trying to get set up with the camping materials needed to make camp. I stopped at the second town that was big enough that had a couple of megastores. I went in and found a tent, sleeping bag, cushion, a couple of plates, utensils, and a can opener. I was set, at least I thought I was. So, I got back on the road and was in the search of finding a campsite that was as beautiful as Dawson Creek. I drove a few more miles south of the town and found a campsite on the shore of a river, perfection! I pulled in, got a little corner campsite, and settled in. It took me about an hour to get my tent up and everything ready. Although I can proudly say that by the time I made my last camp it only took me like 20 minutes.

At this campsite I met a nice couple that were in the National Guard and were being transferred to Kodiak, Alaska. Finally, I was able to spend some time with other human beings. I couldn’t believe how much I missed just conversing with others. They offered me a hamburger dinner, which I gladly did not refuse. It was delicious as well as their home-made beef jerky. That was delicious! I went to bed late and it was cold that night, so I woke up a couple of times, but it was just a matter of getting used to it. As I bundled myself up I shut my eyes and let my fourth day on the road be swept away with the current of the river.

My tent all set up :D

Whirlpool Canyon and Cub

Back on the Road

After spending an hour at the Tlingit Heritage Centre I resumed my driving. It was another beautiful day on the road. The sky was a perfect clear blue with engorged white fluffy clouds. It was a lovely day for a drive and crossing over from Yukon to British Columbia.

Whirlpool Canyon

As I drove towards Liard Hot Springs I came upon a Rest Area called Whirlpool Canyon. Now the rest area was just a simple little pull out on the road. It just provided a trash bin, nothing more. The area had been carved with pull in spaces that people had created from staying the night. The great thing about the AK Highway, right after crossing the Yukon Border into British Columbia, is that there are a lot of stops in which people can just spend the night without having to pay for campground space. I was in desperate need of a break and the rest area looked good. I pulled in and for a few seconds there wasn’t anything great to see. As I drove in deeper though the appearance of a raging river appeared. I pulled in into one of the pull in spots and took a walk towards the shore line.

This place was just jaw dropping gorgeous. I couldn’t believe this was just a simple stop on the road. I hadn’t had lunch all day, so I decided to make myself a sandwich and have my lunch/dinner at this spot. It was so peaceful and perfect. I took a seat on one of the many tree trunks laid across as I watched the river flow to the west. The sun shone a bright white across this river. I finished up my lunch and cleaned up.

As I looked across this scenery I decided to get closer. I cleaned up my trash, sprayed myself with bug spray, and headed down to the shore. The floor is mainly made of rocks and tree trunks. It seems that the river used to go up to this area, but has since then backed off and left what one never sees below the water. As I walked across I found a great walking stick. Maria Carbajal was never meant to just walk on two legs. I am the most unbalanced being ever. Once I was able to use this walking stick things got a lot better. I arrived at the shore and just took in the spirit and fierceness of the river in. Ahead of me was the section where the river took a minor downturn south, but it was big enough to create a commotion. I wanted to get closer, but the only way was to go up this little cliff. So, I headed towards it.

I got up the cliff and just stood there, watching down at the beauty of the water swirling around and crashing into itself. Such excitement is indescribable. Its unbelievable. There are no words or pictures that can portray what I felt or saw. I took a seat and watched for quite some time as the river just did what it was made to do.

Time. Time in nature does not exist. It is unimportant and insignificant. While one is surrounded by nature and all of its existance, time becomes insignificant to you as well. Days blur in with each other and dates, days, numbers, all are irrevelant. I arrived at that river with the sun hanging high above me, by the time I grudgingly departed, the sun was setting behind the pine trees. Its white bright color had turn to the orange/red color that is well known with its sunset. I walked rather slowly back to my car and got back on the road. I would of given anything to have been prepared and just camped out there, by that river, but I wasn’t. I cursed my bad planning and moved on. It was 9pm and I still had a couple more hours before coming to my next stop Liard Hotsprings.

Stalking Nature

As I drove happily down the Alaska Highway, on a literal nature high. I came across a black bear cub! I couldn’t believe it!! Thank goodness the hour was late and there weren’t any cars behind me because I slowed down and pulled over in order to stare in wonder at this cuteness. The bear was located on the opposite side of where I was driving so I felt safe because he was obviously oblivious that I was there. He was walking up this path, next to the highway, just sniffing and eating. He walked all across with his head buried in the grass and his little body just walking and swaying. It was the most spectacular sight ever. I couldn’t leave. I couldn’t just keep driving. So, I decided to stalk him. Since there were no cars behind me I decided to just put my car in revers and continue following him. I tried my best to get a clear picture, but all I got was blurry pictures from my camera because he was too far. Every few minutes I would put the car back on reverse and catch up with him again and just watch him, or her, who knows. After about 15 minutes my camera died and I was rather upset because I wasn’t able to get a good shot.

I had been following this black bear cub for about 20 minutes when I just decided that I would actually turn my car around and drive closer to him. I went ahead made a U-Turn and pulled over to the shoulder. I was so close to him, it made me all giddy. Of course, always keeping an eye out for the mama, waiting for her to come out and yell at me, yet no sign of her. I was able to take a better picture of the bear no, but it was via my iPhone. If my camera hadn’t died I could of taken a better picture! Anywhoos I drove along him for a few more minutes before her went up a path back into the forest. I think he got tired of me starring at him. Away he went, with his little behind moving up and down as he walked up this path.

Overall I was there, looking at this bear cub for like 30 minutes, but again it just felt like 5 minutes.

My sunset.

Liard Hotsprings

*Phew* Well finally I made it to Liard Hotsprings around 11pm, but their campsite was closed. So, I pulled over to rest stop, moved all my belongings to the front and fixed my backseat for the night. This time I used some of my clothes to try and make it darker in my car and for a little privacy. It worked rather well. As soon as I laid on the backseat I fell asleep. The end of my third day had finally come.