Continued from the previous page.

ANOTHER SCENIC STOP

4) SUMMIT PASS has great views of Summit Lake in Stone Mountain Provincial Park.

We stopped for a few minutes at the pass (elev. 4,250 feet) at KM 1631 to view the pretty glacial lake. It's much smaller than Muncho Lake but every bit as scenic:   

 

The campground at this location (shown in photo above) is closed for the season, as was the one at Muncho Lake.

We'd like to spend more time at one or more of these parks on the next trip up this way. It was quite chilly both today and in early June when we passed through this part of British Columbia. I imagine these parks are very popular in mid-summer when it's warmer.

TOAD RIVER AREA

In addition to the pretty turquoise colors in Muncho and Summit Lakes, several of the glacial rivers were quite pretty today – particularly Toad River, which is between the two lakes:

 

 

An alluvial fan (sand, gravel, and boulders carried down from the mountains
 during heavy rain or snowmelt and deposited in flat places in a fan shape)

 

 

Ranch near the village of Toad River

We drove on the only remaining suspension bridge on the Alaska Hwy. over the Lower Liard River:

 

TRIPLE G CAMPGROUND IN FORT NELSON  

When we got to the west side of Fort Nelson we eye-balled Triple G Campground, where we spent a rainy night in early June. It wasn't crowded like it was three months ago. 

We drove farther into town to look at diesel prices and check out the Blue Bell RV Park. We didn’t like the looks of it as much as Triple G, which is shown in the next three photos: 

 

 

That's our white Cameo in the center above.

We returned to Triple G and got a larger pull-through space than last time. Other RVs filled in later in the afternoon/evening but it wasn't nearly as packed as it was when so many people were heading north in early June.

We have more space next to us this time and the weather is much more pleasant than when it was raining in June and there were puddles all over the large campground. We have full hookups, a strong WiFi signal, and cable TV for $36.96 Canadian, the same as in June.

Even more empty spots in the back section of the campground. The distant row is for long-term camping.

The proprietor told us about a truck place behind the campground where we can get diesel cheaper in the morning when we leave ($1.369). The price we saw at all the stations along the main street was $1.449/liter, which is more than in Watson Lake (different province, different taxes).

FORT NELSON HERITAGE MUSEUM

Jim rode his bike 7½ miles around town before supper. I walked Cody around the campground and through the nearby grounds of the Fort Nelson Heritage Museum.

 

 

Canadian flag on the left, American flag on the right --
probably in recognition of all the U.S. visitors that come this way

The museum is closed for the season, which is OK. By just walking around the grounds I got to see lots of pioneer artifacts, vintage vehicles and machinery, highway construction equipment, old cabins, etc. without having to pay $3. That's the senior rate; younger folks pay $5.

 

 

 

 

Note the fancy natural burls on the wooden posts by the door.

There's much more than that to see on the grounds, and even more if the place is open and you can go inside some of the buildings.

END OF A GOOD DAY 

In the evening the wind picked up. There is a 30% chance of rain tonight but tomorrow should finally be nice as we head toward Dawson Creek, BC, Mile 0 of the Alaska Hwy. Hope the sun comes out!

It was nearly dark by 8:30 PM, which surprised us. Clouds made it seem darker earlier. We’re also getting closer to the eastern side of the Pacific Time Zone where it gets dark earlier than places where we stayed the first two nights.

Next entry:  visiting Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park

Happy trails,

Sue
"Runtrails & Company" - Sue Norwood, Jim O'Neil, and Cody the ultra Lab

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© 2012 Sue Norwood and Jim O'Neil