Liard Hotsprings

Liard Hotsprings

Located only an hour from Muncho Lake, Liard is truly unique. 

The road to it was a bit of a challenge with a 7 km stretch of gravel with occasional washboard that slowed us to a pace of 10 km per hour. 

One spot on the road caught Terry's eye. A slinky like long 4 inch hose on the side of the gravel. With the eye of a hawk he identified it immediately. An ALMOST new sewer hose!  Thinking it might be mine, he ground his rig to a stop, threw the hose in his truck and kept on driving--needless to say it wasn't ours but was definitely a keeper, being extra long with proper connections. 

It looked like the area has been subject to numerous enormous washouts that pushed great swaths of clean rocky gravel over many hundreds of yards of distance. There was a lot of construction equipment working here even though it was Sunday. 

Another odd thing about the Alaska highway from Fort Nelson on is signs saying that they were 4-laning the road, and equipment working on sections from time to time. Here is a road with very little traffic, and they are planning the 4-landing of it--it seemed ridiculous to us. 

Before we arrived at Liard, our wildlife count increased by 2 Caribou. They certainly do not compare in stature to the stately moose we saw yesterday--almost scrawny with tufty looking ears, big feet, and a rounded mouth that looked like it was created by a cartoon artist. 

At Liard campsite we lucked out again. We found one of only 2 double campsites in the park and it was very near the boardwalk leading to the hotspring. 

After setting up camp we headed out for the 700 meter boardwalk that took you to the hotspring pool. 

What an idyllic spot. The boardwalk ends at a large cedar bath house for changing. It opened up to a large deck looking over a natural pool that was about 15 meters across and 40 meters long. With a short dammed waterfall on one side leading to a similar cooler pool. 

A nature walk leading to a hanging garden on a rock face weeping with heated water. This was a very unique micro-climate with beautiful small flowers including orchids booming many weeks before they should. 

Next was back to the RV's for supper. After supper we got our fireplace going outside and told stories under the stars for a while; with Ade wrapping up the night with Rober Service and two of his story/poems: THE SHOOTING OF DAN MCRAW and THE CREMATION OF SAM MCGEE. 

GREAT DAY!