Image: Signpost forest in the town of Watson Lake
Wednesday June 11th 2008
Drive from Watson Lake to Toad River to Fort St. John
556 miles – estimated 11 hours driving time
Image: An accidental self portrait
Considering how many photos I uploaded to flickr, deleted, or stored on my computer this self portrait is very much a statement on who I was and what I was doing on this trip.
Back on the road again... Frost heaves in the pavement can be quite steep, thankfully the Alaska-Canada highway people put little flags on the side of the road marking the heaves. If the flags are on both sides of the road then you know it stretches across both lanes. I heartily approve of this custom!
Image: Adorable and young mule deer, spotted close to Fort St. John.
Image: The art of clouds
There weather was perfect for driving most of the time we were on this trip. It was cloudy with bits of rain and bits of sun. Not so much sun that we needed air conditioning, nor so much rain that we couldn't see. It was PERFECT.
Image: Of course, it wasn't always perfect, not bugs but the smeared remains of hail on our windshield
Image: Black bear by the side of the road minding his own business, but willing to pose for pictures. Yes of course we stayed in our car.
Toad River Lodge is a place you can get gas, grub and souvenirs. It is completely dotted with trucker hats. They’ve been nailed to the walls and ceilings it is a stupendous array. They are also coated with a nice layer of dust. Still, by the time you’re here in the middle of nowhere dust is not longer a concern.
Image: Momma and baby moose
Image: Big Horn Sheep
Most of the wildlife in these photos were spotted in the Muncho Lake vicinity. I'd love to spend more time in this National park!
Image: And another moose...
Image: Bison
I always think of Bison as being part of the Yellowstone ecosystem. I was a bit shocked to find them here in northern Canada.
Image: Black bear
Eyup it really is. It is missing the grizzly bear hump, is substantially smaller and has the lighter colored muzzle. Other photos show his sleakness so go check out the photoset. Black bears come in all kinds of colors. Brown or Grizzly bears come in a variety of shades too, though never, as far as I know, black.
Image: Remains of a Moose v Car argument
This was a day of driving and looking. I was definitely noticing man made stuff more on the way back than on the way up.
Image to right: Caribou
Best Western Coachman Inn
8540 Alaska Road
Fort St John, British Columbia V1J 5L6, Canada
Receipts:
Belvedere Hotel – Watson Lake YT
Petro Canada – Watson Lake YT
Great Northern Oil (gas) – Toad River BC
Toad River Lodge
(lunch) – Toad River BCWildlife & Birds:
Black Bears
Mountain Goats
Bison
Caribou
Moose
Bighorn Sheep
Mule Deer
Elk
Image at right: Bighorn Sheep
The small photos are not clickable. They are included in the photoset in the link at the bottom, and come in larger sizes on Flickr.
Common Mergansers
White Winged Crossbill
It’s a little funny that I noticed more mega-fauna than I did birds. Possibly because it is HARD to identify birds at 50 mph.
More photos can be found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157605667495195/
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