Last Days in Hyder AK to First Days in Washington State

Our last few days volunteering at the Fish Creek Wildlife Viewing area in Hyder, Alaska were filled with more bear sightings catching salmon.  It was also filled with good-byes to all the new friends we met while staying at Run-A-Muck RV Park.

Wild Salmonberry

Our favorite little Black Bear was seen often

This makes a great back scratcher

How can I reach those berries without getting wet?

Look at all those Salmon swimming around?

This fishbone is too sharp, better get rid of it!

Guess I'll have to take one that the Brown Bears killed.

Large Black Bear heading across the road

Coastal Brown Bear chasing Salmon

Bear pins Salmon

Having breakfask just below the deck with a large audience looking on.

Time to go have a nap.

Common Merganser pursues a Pink Salmon

Immature Bald Eagle watching Salmon

Adult Bald Eagle comes in to fish

This is my pond, no other eagles allowed!

As we left Hyder and headed south through British Columbia, we passed the large Bear Glacier.  It took 2 days to go through the Orchard and High Desert area of BC continuing into Washington State.

Leafy-bracted Aster

Red Squirrel ran through a spider web

We drove to Packwood and met up with Texas friends, Gene & Janice Lybargers and toured Mt. Rainier National Park with them in their Jeep.

One of the many waterfalls along the road

Rosy Paintbrush

Unusual clear skies at Mt. Rainier

Ty & Ida enjoy the beautiful scenery 

Field Cresent Butterflies were everywhere along the trail

Roosevelt Elk cow and calf by Packwood

Least Chipmunk

Spirit Lake is still full of trees from 39 years ago at Mount St. Helen's

Bull Elk flee from our early morning stop

We traveled to the Johnson Observetory at Mount St. Helen's, when the fog lifted, the stark shape of the volcano appeared.  It has been 39 years since this explosion happened that changed the landscape in minutes.

Going west next to the Pacific Ocean to explore the coastline, enjoying all of God's Creation.
Love & Prayers,
Ty & Ida Baumann

Alaska - part 4 - Hyder

Blue Lagoon by Fish Creek

Since mid July, we have been volunteering at the Wildlife Observation Deck on Fish Creek just north of Hyder, Alaska.  Located on the most southeastern area of Alaska adjecent to Stewart, British Columbia.

Part of America's National Forest - the Tongess is 17 million acres of protected temperate rain forest consisting of Sitka Spruce, Mountain Hemlock and Yellow Cedar.  We spent everyday on the boardwalk visiting with tourists from all over the world about the spawning Chum and Pink Salmon in the creek and the Coastal Brown and Black Bears that come to dine on the awaiting sushi buffet.

Forest Service Fish Counting Crew

Thousands of Salmon make their "Redds" in the creek

The Salmon swim from the Pacific Ocean up the 90 mile Portland Canal - the natural Fjord between British Columbia and Alaska.  Then they travel up the glacial water of the Salmon River to the fresh spring waters of Marx and Fish Creeks to spawn.

35" 30 pound male Chum Salmon

Mew Gull eating Salmon egg

Herring Gull eating Salmon eggs

Bald Eagles alert while drinking

Eagle has a great meal of salmon

Mmmm, Mmmm Good!

Eagle grabs Pink Salmon

Couldn't lift it so had to drag it to shore.

Coastal Brown Bear, our favorite photo subject

People Watching

Black Bear trying to figure out how to catch a big salmon

It's easier catching Elder Berries

Little Black Bear eating someone else's catch

Methusela's Beard Lichen sparkles with raindrops

3/4" railing knothole "garden"

We see God's creation from the smallest knothole garden to the majestic mountains that form this section of the Misty Fjords.

We have met a lot of great people here and feel a part of the family of the Baptist Church that we were welcomed into.

Golden-crowned Kinglet

We found 42 species of nesting birds in our small corner of this forest around Fish Creek.  Ty has donated photos of the most observed birds to the Forest Service to help them put together a Bird Brochure.

Common Merganser 

American Dipper

Brown Creeper

Swainson's Thrush

Three hungry mouths to feed

Yellow-rumped Warbler with Mayfly

Cedar Waxwing

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Belted Kingfisher

At the top of the Salmon River is the large Salmon Glacier, a beautiful site for those who venture up the twenty mile rough gravel road.

We will be moving south into Washington, following the Cascades, then the Oregon Coast and into Calfornia for Fall migration.


Moving along with the birds.

Love & Prayers,
Ty & Ida Baumann

Misty evening at the deck