More incredible scenery, glaciers, icefields, waterfalls and new wildlife…Grizzlies!! 🐻
Despite the rainy, chilly weather, we had a very enjoyable time in this valley. You easily drive daily between Stewart, BC and Hyder, AK. Entering Hyder from Stewart has no border patrol; however, entering Stewart from Hyder requires Canadian border questioning, which is very thorough. Apparently, drugs are flown into Hyder and smuggled back into Canada.
Our pretty campground was in Stewart. The owners were so nice and gave us great information. This campground has been one of the friendliest we’ve camped in on the entire trip! The owner even asked Mark to back in another camper’s travel trailer because the guy was having problems getting it in the spot! they told us about an incredible, authentic Mexican restaurant in town (yes, you heard that right, I said ‘Mexican!’). By day it is a breakfast place, called Toastworks. While the interior breakfast theme doesn’t change, at night it transforms into El Tostador and becomes a gourmet Mexican eatery… the food presentation was unique, and the taste was delicious! Just another oddity in these quirky small towns!
Hyder, AK
The place where bears easily outnumber the residents! With less than 30 permanent residents, this almost ghost town is the eastern-most community in Alaska and only accessible via road by driving through Stewart, BC. Most of these town people depend on the marine highway for transportation and the Canadian government for all their services, including having the same 205 area code as their Canadian neighbor. However, the Salmon Glacier and the best Grizzly bear viewing in the wild at the Fish Creek Wildlife Observation Site at the edge of Tongass National Forest are the main reasons to visit Hyder!
Our 22.5 mile drive on the gravel, muddy mountain “road” complete with an abundance of potholes and washboarded stretches was no match for Cheeto! She loved getting even muddier!! Our objective on reaching the summit was to be able to look down and out over the glacier, but it was so foggy we could barely tell we made it to the top! Our real highlight was a rare moose sighting. When we told the locals, they were in awe and said luck has been our friend.
Stewart, BC
We were told Stewart gets around 15 feet of snow in the winter, while Salmon glacier gets close to 30 feet each season! The area’s abundance of natural metals supports rich gold, copper, and silver mining operations year-round, regardless of the amount of snow. Because the road into/out of Stewart is considered an emergency route for supplies and medical, it can be reopened in about 6-8 hours after a heavy snowstorm or avalanche (same is true for Valdez). Because the fjord into Stewart, the Portland Canal, is 90 miles long, the townspeople do not suffer the windy sea conditions of other port towns like Valdez or Homer. The Stewart Museum is quite informational on the history of the area, including the importance of the mining operations. Plan on about 1.5 hours to tour and talk with the staff, as the beginning video is almost an hour (but worth sitting through).
Disaster Averted
Just wanted to provide an update on our friends with the rig problems. Their insurance finally came through and are getting them towed and repaired in Whitehorse (still in the Yukon). We are optimistic they’ll be back on the Alaska Hwy toward home by the end early October.
The other couple staying with them headed out from Teslin today, hoping to make it somewhere between Dease Lake & Stewart by this evening. We’re not sure yet if they are going to be able to catch up to us, as we are now in Prince George. We are staying here for the next three days to give them some time to try to meet us.
Masters of RVing Adventures 
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