Teslin, Yukon to Liard Hot Springs, British Columbia

July 24th and back on the Alaska Highway. Destination: Liard Hot Springs.

Nisutlin Bay Bridge in Teslin, Yukon territory:










An information sign in Watson Lake, British Columbia, explains that the US Army Corps of Engineers erected wooden signs with various city names and distances from the sign as the Alaska Highway was being built in 1942. Carl Lindley was a homesick soldier and added his hometown to the signpost in Watson Lake. Since then, countless others from around the world have added their cities - and their own names - to the Signpost Forest. We saw several signs from Pennsylvania, with Chambersburg the apparent winner with three. Grantville is the closest to our town that we could find.




















We were unable to get a good picture of our favorite British Columbia billboard, which states, "Everybody who doesn't like a speeding ticket, raise your right foot!"

Watch out for buffalo!
















A few miles down the road, we saw a young black bear grazing. Another group of buffalo - three or four - was several miles after that. We also saw a red fox lying in wait, looking down a hole, earlier in the day. It was a great day for seeing wildlife.


We stayed in Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park, British Columbia. (Some of the official pamphlets and signs we saw had "Hot Springs" and others had "Hotsprings.")






Look how thick this picnic table is!


This little red squirrel ran down a tree, across our campsite until he nearly ran into Barkley, beat a fast retreat, and went right back up a tree and chirped at us for about five minutes.


The hot springs are wonderful! A boardwalk leads through a marsh and woodlands for about 500 meters to Alpha Pool, which is around two to three feet deep and the hotter of the two pools. The boardwalk then continues on an upward slope for another 300 meters to Beta Pool, which is 9 meters deep and not quite as hot as Alpha.

These are a few of the wildflowers along the way.

An orchid, Hooded Ladies' Tresses:


Rush Aster and Grass of Parnassus:








Brook Lobelia (lower left), with various grasses:




Another orchid, Bog Candle:




Twisted Stalk, also called Watermelon Berry (these are supposed to be luscious and we wish we had tried them):




Field Mint:




A tiny beauty we couldn't identify:


Ostrich Fern:


Yellow Monkeyflower:




POISONOUS! Water Hemlock (the narrow, toothed leaves belong to the plant):




Alpha Pool:


This is Beta, the upper pool, which we had to ourselves from about 10 to 11 at night.