Two years ago, our family started the campgrounds alaska website to play with a fun and restfull website dealing with our family passion. For years we had been traveling up and down the Alcan from Alaska to Vancouver B.C. and into Washington State. My children have grown up traveling these remote reaches of the west and with this new website, we were able to begin to share some of the experiences with others planning to experience this wild and scenic world that lye’s just to the north.
There was that time on the Glacier Highway as we were returning from Hyder Alaska. We had stopped for a tailgate picnic along a beautiful blue glacier that flows down to the edge of the road. Both boys were off with their sleds, in July, to play in the snow pack that filled the void between the glacier and the pull off that we parked at along side the road. I had dropped the tailgate of the pickup and my wife and I were preparing to put some gourmet Alaska Highway poorboy sandwiches together, I notice a slight movement in the brush about 15 feet behind my wife’s back. Now that brush was real thick and visibility into the thick of it was obscured by the leaves and tangled branches within, but that movement was definitely there and something was telling me to be cautious and vigilant at that very moment. Letting my eye adjust to the surroundings, I peered into that thicket for a moment but there was not any more movement to be seen. Then suddenly, as if from out of nowhere, there was the face of a young brown bear looking back at me with all the same curiosity of those eyes focusing upon him. Well my heart sped up into overdrive as the thought of the mother being near and my wife with her back to this young brut but where were the boys? I whispered quietly to Debbie that this was not a good time for making a sandwich and told here to slowly get into the truck. Carefully I turned my head to see Craig approaching in his normal happy go lucky way and paying absolutely know mind to me as I tried to get his attention. Finally he looked at me and understood my concern as he could see the fright in my face. Craig looked back at where Michael was playing and then made his way to the door on the second vehicle. As hard as I tried, Michael was just not going to look over our way as he was busy throwing rocks into the snow bank and having a great ole time.
I backed away looking that bear square in the eyes and made it to a mound where Michael could see me. Motioning for him to come to me, he started ahead at a trot oblivious to any signs of danger. Now this had me worried as quick sudden moves were not what we needed at this moment. Craig got Michael into the car and then as I made my way to them, the bear disappeared as if a ghost. I did not see it move but just noticed its lack of being there.
We got into the vehicles and pulled out onto the highway. Drove a mile or so and stopped again this time a little more alert to the fact that this is a wild country and the need to be cautious was now foremost in our minds.
We saw many more bears during that trip. Along the Cassiar highway in Northern British Columbia there are many black bears to be seen and around the Kluane Lake area in the Yukon is another place that bears both black and brown seem to be quite happy.
This was only one story from one trip. It is one that I will always remember as the lesson that a Dad must learn about the love for his family.
There was that time on the Glacier Highway as we were returning from Hyder Alaska. We had stopped for a tailgate picnic along a beautiful blue glacier that flows down to the edge of the road. Both boys were off with their sleds, in July, to play in the snow pack that filled the void between the glacier and the pull off that we parked at along side the road. I had dropped the tailgate of the pickup and my wife and I were preparing to put some gourmet Alaska Highway poorboy sandwiches together, I notice a slight movement in the brush about 15 feet behind my wife’s back. Now that brush was real thick and visibility into the thick of it was obscured by the leaves and tangled branches within, but that movement was definitely there and something was telling me to be cautious and vigilant at that very moment. Letting my eye adjust to the surroundings, I peered into that thicket for a moment but there was not any more movement to be seen. Then suddenly, as if from out of nowhere, there was the face of a young brown bear looking back at me with all the same curiosity of those eyes focusing upon him. Well my heart sped up into overdrive as the thought of the mother being near and my wife with her back to this young brut but where were the boys? I whispered quietly to Debbie that this was not a good time for making a sandwich and told here to slowly get into the truck. Carefully I turned my head to see Craig approaching in his normal happy go lucky way and paying absolutely know mind to me as I tried to get his attention. Finally he looked at me and understood my concern as he could see the fright in my face. Craig looked back at where Michael was playing and then made his way to the door on the second vehicle. As hard as I tried, Michael was just not going to look over our way as he was busy throwing rocks into the snow bank and having a great ole time.
I backed away looking that bear square in the eyes and made it to a mound where Michael could see me. Motioning for him to come to me, he started ahead at a trot oblivious to any signs of danger. Now this had me worried as quick sudden moves were not what we needed at this moment. Craig got Michael into the car and then as I made my way to them, the bear disappeared as if a ghost. I did not see it move but just noticed its lack of being there.
We got into the vehicles and pulled out onto the highway. Drove a mile or so and stopped again this time a little more alert to the fact that this is a wild country and the need to be cautious was now foremost in our minds.
We saw many more bears during that trip. Along the Cassiar highway in Northern British Columbia there are many black bears to be seen and around the Kluane Lake area in the Yukon is another place that bears both black and brown seem to be quite happy.
This was only one story from one trip. It is one that I will always remember as the lesson that a Dad must learn about the love for his family.
