British Columbia & Yukon Territories

"You will go out in joy,
And be led forth in peace.
The mountains and hills
Will burst into song before you.
And all the trees of the field
Will clap their hands." Isaiah 55:12

We crossed into Canada on May 29th and headed north through the Fraser River Canyon spending the first night at Brookside at Cache Creek BC.  It seemed like early Spring with blooming Columbine, arriving Audubon (Yellow-rumped) Warblers and Western Tanagers.

Mourning Cloak

Aspen leaf - leaf miner caterpillar

Audubon's (yellow-rumped) warbler

Along the Cariboo Highway we found Black-billed Magpies in the farm pastures and small villages. We followed along the Yellowhead Highway west to the Cassiar Highway north.

Western Tanager

We took a western detour into Steward BC & Hyder, the most southeastern town of Alaska.  The beautiful road is a canyon through the Coast Mountains to the Portland Canal (the 94 mile waterway that forms the border between the U.S. and Canada).  Pictured here is Bear Glacier with it's blue ice surrounded be snow covered mountains.  Waterfalls cascaded thousands of feet to the fast flowing river below.

We spent two nights at Run-a-Muck RV park in Hyder and were hoping to find some Black Bears.  We were not disappointed finding 2 on the road in, a sow and 2 cubs crossed the road by Fish Creek and then this young bear right in the middle of the village chowing down on any plant he could find.

Pine Siskin

Red-breasted Sapsucker

We spent hours birding along the canal and the viewing areas at Fish Creek.  Ty got some close-ups of the Pine Siskin and the Red-breasted Sapsucker.

As we traveled north along the Cassiar Highway we added more Black Bears totaling 16 by the time we crossed into the Yukon Territories.

Driving west on the AlCan Highway, we stopped at Rancheria Falls following the trail through the Boreal Forest.  Along the road north we were pleased to find small flocks of Pine Grosbeaks.  We stayed at Haines Junction and added Boreal Chickadees to the year list.

Spring Azure

American Pasqueflower

Boreal Chickadee

On an early drive along the Kluane Lake we were pleasantly surprised to see a huge Grizzly Bear just sauntering down the road.  He was unafraid as we slowly followed him, he crossed in front of us to the lake.

Now into interior Alaska and all the wonders of God's creation before us.

Ty & Ida Baumann