My Day 35 – Jeep Expedition – Carson Mineral Hot Springs & Portland Visit

Subject:  My Day 35 – Jeep Expedition – Carson Mineral Hot Springs & Portland Visit 

Snoqualmie Falls, WA - This morning at o’dark thirty (0515) I departed the Tim & Sonejan household saying my good-bye’s the night before hitting the road from Snoqualmie Falls to Portland, Oregon.   No need to pack, just open eyes, get dressed, bathroom stop and go without waking up the household.  Before long the jeep is cruising down the highway and I begin to view Washington state from my rearview mirror. 

Five days is the most time that I’ve gotten out of any one garment, specifically a pair of alpaca socks.  I bought my socks and a pair for Patti while hiking the Pacific Crest trail somewhere before Kennedy Meadows for $10.00.  I wish I would've bought more as they are the best socks I've ever worn.  I’m forever more spoiled wearing alpaca socks and will likely never go back to cotton socks.  For the time being I think I’ll let the five day record stand - they really never smell. 

For this jeep expedition I packed extremely light; and for the ease of traveling I shaved my head and did not pack shaving gear.  The red jeep draws lots of looks everywhere I go and since the other five jeeps that started with me are no longer around people just want to know where this California jeep is headed and where it’s been.  I’ve also gotten a few waves on the road from other jeep owners – similar to the Harley Davidson motorcycle riders who wave at any other bike coming the other way.    

Carson Hot Springs, WA - There is something about mineral hot springs that invigorates and charges up the body - I'm now sold on them and will go out of my way just to find one - my count so far is eight (8).  Perhaps it’s the ancient geothermal mineral water that activates our natural immune system and/or flow of oxygen rich blood.  Before using the Carson Hot Springs my stomach was full from lunch so I first took about a three mile hike down to the river behind the Carson Hot Springs attempting to find the source of the water and digest my lunch.  I did not find the water but found a rich old growth type forest and raging water before encountering a do not enter sign across a USFS bridge.  Across the bridge were what looked like a salmon counting station.  The trail back to the hot springs was steep as steep as the river bank.   

The Carson Hot Springs has eight cast iron bathtubs in a 1900’s era tile room.  One tub is set aside as the cold water soak tub; the others get filled as needed with 110+ degree water.  I had to add about two bucket fulls of cold water before I was able to get in. 

Jeff the attendant started telling me about the area and how the spring was actually found around 1875.  Jeff told me that the building I am now in was built in 1901 by a family member.  Apparently he was actually stabbed as a result of an argument with a customer over the medicinal value of the waters.  No arguments here – I’m sold on the medicinal value of Carson Hot springs and any other hot springs that I have visited so far on this jeep expedition. 

Beaverton, OR –  Stopped for the day and night to visit an old friend academy friend that I haven't seen since he left Los Angeles about 14 years ago.  Thank you Kevin & Delores for your great hospitality.    

Sister, OR - Today I arrived at Sisters, Oregon to visit my oldest son's in-laws.  Chuck & Mary have a beautiful home and it is a pleasure to spend time with them.  Chuck took me up to see where the Pacific Crest Trail runs through Sisters.  Perhaps one day I'll be able to hike the PCT through Oregon.    

Tomorrow I start for Redding, CA

See you on the mountain! 

Trawlercat  

May Day 11 - Jeep Expedition Tour 7/8/2011

This is the start of Mile 0 for the Alaska Highway. 

This is where we all ate lunch today.  Pulled in just as the downpour started. 

We decided to get our jeeps muddy.  Woody is showing up an a-ok sign.  John is staring at his dirty muddy tires and Tommy is on the otherside wishing he had his Gold Wing motorcycle with him. 

Cockshutt - can you say cockshutt! 

Notice a resemblance?  This truck was on a lawn just off the road so I thought it fitting to take a picture for future reference. 

Beard is fast growing.  On the drive to Watson lake - Day 11 without shaving. 

The frenchman on his way to a peace park.  Sorry I forgot to get his picture before he took off.  Also we both stopped in the middle of the road to talk.  I forgot all about any possible traffic as I hadn't seen any in so long. 

Two big semi's had to stop to let these guys make it across.  when they want to cross - they cross.  They were everywhere but looked rather solitary. 

Same

This is the sign forest I was talking about - you post your own sign and it is like a jungle. 

Subject:  My Day 11 - Jeep expedition - Liard Hot Springs

Everyone is now at Watson Lake, Yukon Territories.  Early this morning I made a run for Liard Hot Springs while most of the troops were just getting up or possibly on their last few hours of their beauty sleep (all except for John & Tommy) the other early risers. 

On my run to Liard I saw several signs announcing hot cinnamon rolls.  The temptation was too great - in I swerved directly for the hot cinnamon rolls.  The only one that beat me in was Don, a now retired trucker towing a fifth wheel up from Oklahoma on his way to Wasilla - just outside of Anchorage.  Don and I talked for exactly 35 minutes until the buns came out of the oven.  Let me tell you folks this was the finest baked good anyone could consume.  Besides coffee I took a sourdough freshly made loaf with me.  All of this cost me $10.00 because he did not want to make change on a US $20.00 bill. 

Don is a 3rd generation Alaskan and while we waited he told me about his grandparents and how one day the old man told his wife that they were moving to Alaska.  They had to depart in the dead of winter because it took something like 7 months to make it to Alaska in a Ford Model A.  He paid something like $167.00 for 160 acres of land and then built a cabin from the wood on the land.  In addition to coaling and two other jobs he supplied potatoes to the Army. When the Army wanted them in crates he built himself a sawmill to make the crates. 

On todays drive what didn't I see - bison, bears, lynx, caribou and a frenchman pulling what looked like an outside.  See picture above.  I stopped and offered up some snacks and he took the cornnuts and Tiger Bar but nothing else.  The guy says he is on his way to a peace park in Jasper.  Man is he tough.  I've seen guys riding bicycles in all kinds of wet weather but this guy takes the cake.

When I started this blog it was 1:48 p.m. and lunch.  My lunch today consisted of Canadian (Canada Dry Gingerale) and a Mountain House beef stew heated up on a whisperlight backpacking stove.  Earlier I soaked in the Liard Hot springs.  Honestly folks, this is the best and by far the cheapest hot springs ($5.00) anywhere.  I've been to four others on this trip.  

I sat on a picnic table just outside the entrance to the board walk that leads you to the hot springs.    The original boardwalk consisted of planks leading to the hot springs according to a long time Canadian visitor who has been coming here since 1966.  He said that the US Army dug out the hot springs to make it accommodating for the soldiers that needed hot baths.  The boardwalk now leads you through a beautiful meadow forest that now make it possible for a variety of plants to grow year round.  If you’re interested in coming here it is located at Mile 497 of the Alaska Highway, just over 300 kms (190 miles) northwest of the Town of Fort Nelson, British Columbia, and 140 kms (85 miles) from the BC-Yukon border.

“This location is just north of the intersection of the Alaska Highway with the Liard River which winds its way from Canada’s Yukon Territory through northern British Columbia before merging with the MacKenzie River at Fort Simpson in the Northwest Territories. The word “Liard” comes from the French word for the poplar trees that grow in abundance along sections of the river.”

They call the area not yet traveled by me the Serengeti of North America. Deer, moose, bears, and elk are supposed to be seen along the highway and roads as they forage for food.  So far I’ve seen two black bears and a young elk, moose, or caribou I don’t know what it was as it was on the opposite side of the river. 

I’ve also seen bison signs as they are supposed to be roaming freely as well.  In addition to the bison and moose, there are sheep, mountain goats, elk, caribou, and deer.  The animals that kep them in check are the wolves, coyotes, foxes, grizzly bears, black bears, lynx and wolverines. I thought this morning I saw a lynx cross the road but am also not sure as it resembled more a monkey crossing the road. 

Watson Lake is where the original wood signposts are located.  Take a look at the picture.   

Trawlercat