Day 10 - April 30 - FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS

Today was a great day - the scenery was better than yesterday - the weather not so much. The temperature was fine but it was overcast and rained on and off most of the time. We left Burns Lake and passed through Smithers about an hour and a half later. I see a pattern forming here. What kind of trip is this?

The Highway of Tears is a 719 kilometre corridor of highway 16 between Prince George and Prince Rupert in British Columbia. It has been the location of crimes against many women and the phrase was coined during a vigil held in Terrace, BC in 1998. Florence Naziel was thinking of the victims' families crying over the loss of their loved ones when the phrase came to her. There is a disproportionately high number of Indigenous women on the victims list so the highway has a strong association with the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement. The highway passes by Hazelton where we were this morning.

Historic Old Hazelton remains much like the original settlement founded in 1866. It was closed but we did wander the grounds exploring. It reminded us very much of the museum in Charlotte on Haida Gwaii complete with the overcast sky and drizzle.

We have a very similar photo to this one from our trip here in 2024. It's a great place to stop if for no other reason than a photo. Isn't it funny how every time you're standing there with your phone held high above your head looking like an idiot trying to take a selfie someone steps up and offers to take the photo for you?

From that junction of BC highway 16 (the Yellowhead Highway) and highway 37 we headed north toward the Yukon, now in northern British Columbia.

At Meziadin Junction, things got really interesting for us...we have not been to this part of BC before! As if to help us celebrate, a bear scooted up a hill on the side of the road. I backed up just in time to catch him as he turned as if to say, "What do you want?"

It was evident we were ascending as we made our way north. We had an overnight stop in mind because accommodations here are few and far between. However, we were not in any hurry as we enjoyed the mountain scenery immensely. There is still quite a bit of snow left in some areas. Several feet in spots.

So who here has heard of Bell II? Anyone? Bell II? Anyone? It's an unincorporated community in the Skeena Mountains of northwestern BC. The name derives from being located at the second bridge crossing of the Bell-Irving River. In addition to being a pitstop on the Stewart-Cassiar Highway headed to the Yukon and Alaska, Bell II is a large heliskiing area. The lodge there is gorgeous. Moderately expensive with almost no amenities, the internet is painfully slow but the lodge rooms are comfortable and cozy. Our unit, one of four in a cabin complex, is the one on the bottom left of the photo, the Mink. It might be noisy and annoying at times but now is certainly not one of them. We're the only ones in this one.

A wonderful spot indeed. This posting took about two hours to set up and load (SLOW wi-fi) so I sincerely hope you enjoy it.

😎

Day 9 - April 29 - ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Today was a travel day. We are making our way north to the Yukon. Not in any hurry. Taking our time and enjoying everything. BC is a large province. We passed through Vanderhoof, the Geographic Centre of British Columbia. We have travelled this route before so are covering ground we have seen before. Same will be true tomorrow as we continue our northern journey.

It was apparent we were starting to ascend, gradually, and I know tomorrow we will enjoy some real mountain scenery. As we approached Burns Lake we decided to stop for today. We had nothing booked but found the place we stayed in 2024. A two-level hotel; should be reasonably quiet for one night.

The day had started cloudy and cool but by the time we arrived in Burns Lake around 4PM it was sunny and nearly 20 degrees C. A great day for a drive.

😎

Day 8 - April 28 - IT'S A TURN DOWN DAY, AND I DIG IT

The title, from a 1966 song by the Cyrkle, refers to a relaxing day. A 4 kilometre neighbourhood hike was well-timed as a spitting of rain started just as we returned to the homestead. The rest of the day was pretty much an opportunity for us to enjoy one another's company and prepare to leave tomorrow morning.

Once again, a big thank you to Dave and Christy. It's been a fabulous visit and your choice for yesterday's excursion was spot on.

Tomorrow we head into the unknown - not because of where it is, we are following a route over the next two days that we did on our BC visit in 2024. The unknown is we have no idea where we will land. Nothing is booked we're just hoping for the best. 

Stay with us. We're only a week and a day into this epic northern adventure.

😎

Day 7 - April 27 - BE HONEST. DOES THIS LOOK LIKE BC TO YOU?

Rose Lake is northeast of the city of Williams Lake in the Cariboo Region of BC. It has been home to Dave and Christy for nearly 40 years now. Karen and I went to high school with Dave so we've known him for almost 60 years. Now that we all feel absolutely ancient, we thank them for putting us up and putting up with us for a few days.  I was up early this morning to watch the sunrise and with a little bit of photo magic came up with this shot. The perfect start to any day.

We got a mid-morning start to our journey to Farwell Canyon.

Farwell Canyon is located about an hour southwest of Williams Lake. About a third of that journey is on a wicked, gravel road riddled with hairpin switchback curves. Fortunately I do not suffer from car sickness. Dave's Tundra handled the task admirably.

We were designated so on Haida Gwaii in 2018, then reunited at their home in 2024, so it was so nice to have The Explorers together again.

Danger lurks at every turn so caution and focus are required...just don't get gtoo close to the edge!

The canyon is a stunning desert-like landscape in the Chilcotin region. It's hard not to be awe-struck looking. Be honest. If I showed you this photo would BC even be on your Top Ten list for location guess?

What a wonderful day!

😎

Day 6 - April 26 - WOW! NOW THAT'S A WATERFALL.

Valemount was so peaceful and quiet - I did not hear a vehicle the whole time we were in the hotel, day or night. That feeling was reinforced as we left - the highway was pretty empty.

On the recommendation of a friend we took 100 kilometre detour from Clearwater, BC to Helmcken Falls. I was surprised to find such a high falls in BC. It is really quite stunning. Once again a sunny day at 12 degrees C certainly helped the feeling.

The whole approach and surroundings are majestic, almost spiritual.

The weather in parts of BC has been amazingly mild. There is evidence of this as we drove today. The trees are budding far more noticeably in areas toward the south (though certainly not that far south).

As we headed west to connect to the main highway heading north a bear ran across the highway. It was a skinny bear freshly wakened from his winter nap. He was some distance away so I had to zoom in. Phone cameras, or at least an iphone 12, are pathetically inadequate when zooming so this photo is out of focus. The bear took off into the woods.

We're staying with our high school friend near Williams Lake for a few days. Stay tuned for more adventure.

😎

Day 5 - April 25 - I WAS BORN IN A SMALL TOWN

I was up early, no surprise there, and was greeted in a wonderful way. Mountain sunrises are not always glorious because the sun gets pretty high by the time you see it. Today was different - it came up in a splendor of colour.

The Big Foot Trail in Valemount loops around part of the village including historic Main Street and 5th Avenue downtown. There are plenty of benches and interpretive signs along the way. Although it is close to a 5 kilometre trail, it's level and well surfaced. The morning temperature of 2 degrees was perfect in the sunshine.

It truly is a small town, one in which I could see myself living.

After lunch we set out on a futile adventure but I knew there would be some pretty scenery along the way. Known by some as the Hawaii BC hike, the Aloha Trail highlights world-class waterfalls, lush forests, views of glaciers, waterfall mist and great photo ops. We knew we were not going to see any of that but it was a rough drive and we were up to that. I should have read the whole report. An avalanche in early April had closed the trail but the road in had also been rendered impassable...but what a beautiful drive...until it wasn't.

It became very evident as we approached the avalanche site.

I'm sure we would not have made it in or out on this last 2 kilometres of the access road.

Apparently disaster has been courting us for the last two days. upon returning back to the hotel we learned from a friend and online that a slide had closed the road at Mount Robson just after we passed through yesterday and today the highway out of Jasper has been closed, also from a rock slide. We must be doing something right.

😎

Day 4 - April 24 - FROM HELL TO HEAVEN ON THE WEATHER SCALE

It was a 500 kilometre drive today from Edmonton, Alberta to Valemount, BC but the change in the weather was phenomenal. We left in snow, sleet, ice, horrendous winds and likely minus 15 wind-chilled C degrees. Extreme caution was a must and we didn't have a lot of choice. Onward - things can only get better.

And, indeed it most certainly got better. Sunshine and a very pleasant temperature around 8C with very little wind. What a difference a day makes...didn't even take that, only about 200 kilometres did it.

Jasper National Park never disappoints. Two years ago we passed through just two months after the devastating wildfire. That was so sad and depressing so seeing the park today gave us hope and thanks that a recovery was under way.

Seeing the wildlife was the icing on the cake. I remember seeing a lone elk foraging for food in a burnt out forest two years ago and it almost brought me to tears. You never hear about the devastation to wildlife so this made me feel much better.

The elk were out in force today. If you're driving through the park or any of their other habitats be extra careful because they won't be. They cross the road when they want and a two ton vehicle doesn't seem to slow them down at all.

Just as the sensory overload of Alberta peaks you enter British Columbia and everything escalates - the sign says it all.

There are several waterfalls around Valemount but unfortunately a lot of them are closed right now. The falls aren't closed but the trails are so classically you can't get there from here. Rearguard Falls was an exception and we managed to battle a short, steep approach to the falls. Well worth the effort to be sure.

Valemount is a small village in east central BC but, as they say, good things come in small packages. As I stood in the middle of the road taking this photo, a patient woman waited to make her turn commenting, "we love it too". Made me feel like I was down east. Canada has the nicest people!

Sorry this posting is late - I guess it's actually early the next morning. I expect that will be the norm on a lot of this trip. That 3 hour time difference makes a big difference at the end of the day. Please stay with us...we've just begun!  

😎