ZR-1 Alaskan Adventure Travel Log

[scottfab]

Aww too bad. Looks like a female.

Could have gotten a "Vett Babe" picture with the car.

"Vett Bear Babe" would grab lots of attention!!!!

anyone good with photoshop?

[QB93Z]

On Sunday, we left Dease Lake and headed for New Hazelton, BC. Several of the people we met in Alaska suggested that we drive over to Stewart, BC and Hyder, AK on the way to New Hazelton so we modified our plan to do that.

The drive from Dease Lake continued on the Cassiar Highway. There was a little more traffic, seems like more campers and motor homes. The road conditions were good except for a few places where repairs or resurfacing were in progress. These areas caused some delay while traffic could only move in one direction at a time.

The weather was cloudy in the morning but the temperature was nice. We stopped by a stream next to the road:


The scenery was beautiful. As we proceeded south we started to see the Coastal Range mountains:




Then all traffic was stopped because of helicopter logging operations. We waited about 45 minutes before we were allowed to pass:






After we finally got moving again we headed for Stewart.

Jim

[QB93Z]

The spur road off the Cassiar Highway that leads to Stewart passes thru the Costal mountain range that forms the western edge of Canada and the pan handle of Alaska. The road follows a glacier fed river and gives access to many glaciers, streams, and waterfalls.

Here a glacier comes all the way down the mountain to the waters edge:


In this area there are three hanging glaciers. They flow to a drop off high up the mountain:


On the opposite side of the canyon, facing the sun, here are no visible glaciers, but there are many waterfalls that are probably more than 700-800 feet tall:


We arrived in Stewart, British Columbia. It is a very small town with a stunning view:


The really neat thing about Stewart is that west of Stewart is the town of Hyder, Alaska. Hyder is in Alaska, but the only road in or out of town is from Stewart. There is not any US Customs station at the border. You can drive directly from Stewart to Hyder. When you return to Canada, you have to pass through Canadian customs. Hyder is a very small town that looks like it is populated by people who want to be on the edge of civilization:


Here is the Hyder post office:


After driving back the same road through the glacial canyon, we drove east to New Hazelton, BC

Jim

[QB93Z]

On Monday we left New Hazelton and headed into the Lakes Region of British Columbia. After two weeks in the frontier, we found ourselves back in civilization. The traffic was heavier and there were houses and businesses along the road. Central BC is a an argicultural and logging region. But it is still near the mountains:


We even sighted another glacier:


For the first time in a while we saw cleared fields being farmed:


The logging industry is very active around Prince George, BC. If you need a 2 by 4, there are plenty here:


We watched this loader unload a truck in one claw full:


Prince George is a large and busy city:


Jim

[scottfab]

Great pic of the car w/glacier.

[mike100]

Makes me feel better about all the dust and grit I picked up this season just driving this car. Also cool equipment pics- A russian helo and a diesel electric log loader- neat.

[QB93Z]

On Tuesday, we left Prince George, BC and headed for Jasper, Alberta in the Jasper National Park. As we headed from the plains of British Columbia to the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, we had several hours of heavy rain. Luckly as we climbed up into the mountains, we left the rain behind and were able to do some sightseeing and hiking.

Driving in the rain:


As we arrived in the town of Jasper, the weather improved and we got to look around:


We drove out to the Malign River canyon. The canyon which is 150 feet deep at some places was amazing. It was formed when this part of the rockies was covered with a glacier (now long gone) for thousands of years. The melt water was trapped under the glacier and it dissolved the softer sandstone in the rocks under the glacier. This is the same process that forms lots of caves. After the canyon was formed it became the path of the melt water that shaped the walls by erosion. We hiked several mile along the river:


As we drove up into the mountains to see Malign Lake, the source of the river in the canyon, we drove along Mystery lake:


On the way up we found this elk grazing on the plants in the woods on the edge of the road. He was a very large animal and his horns were about 4 feet across:


On the way back down the mountain we found a deer along the road:

[QB93Z]

At the end of the day, we enjoyed a burger and a beer at one of the many bars in Jasper:


We have been on the road for 22 days and have driven about 6,600 miles. The ZR-1 is running great and there have not been any problems with our schedule or reservations. As we head south through the Canadian Rockies, we have modified our plan a little to add some things that we want to see.

Jim

[tomtom72]

I was just looking at the new pictures and thinking the last one will be in the dictionary next to the word "relaxed" or maybe next to "happy". I can't make up my mind which, but you two keep on truckin'!


Hey Jim, isn't the yellow Z the one you found in the corn field?


Tom

[ZZZZZR1]

22 days and another 7 plus days to go!!!! Your face must hurt
from the permagrins.

Finishing up @ corvettes of Carlisle, Jim you are my hero!

We will have a few cold ones waiting for you.

Drive safe

David