Rest day in Hyder

• Waiting at Fish Creek ...
• Watch the bald eagle in the harbor
• Shopping, washing and cleaning
• Waiting at Fish Creek ...
• Waiting at Fish Creek ...
• ... and the wait is over: sighting of a grizzly bear

At a quarter past 6 o'clock I get up and drive off in thick fog. Along the road down to Hyder I see three marmots, otherwise nothing happens. The Salmon River has a lot less water today than it did yesterday afternoon. The natural glacier dam broke just two days ago, as it does every year. That is why there are still huge icebergs everywhere in the river bed. I'll pack one of the little ones right away to cool my groceries. Unfortunately, Fish Creek is also hard to see. I wait almost 2 hours in vain to see a fishing bear. However, there is still practically no salmon in the stream. Otherwise at least one bear has always appeared in the morning hours, the ranger tells me. Since I'm pretty well timed to be in Whitehorse on Wednesdays, I definitely decide to take some kind of rest day today. I continue to the boom of the self-proclaimed friendliest ghost town in the USA. Here I see four bald eagles resting on driftwood trunks. After a few pictures, I have a leisurely breakfast in this fascinating atmosphere.

I drive over the border to Steward and buy some little things in the local grocery store. Then I'll drive back to Hyder and stay at Camp Run-a-Muck. I wash some things, read and clean various things. Afterwards I treat myself to a gigantic milkshake at the booth opposite.

Since hiking alone is not particularly recommended here, I do without it and just decide to continue waiting at Fish Creek. I shorten the time by writing a diary and sorting pictures. Unfortunately, there are still no salmon to be seen and so my hopes of being able to see a grizzly fish are fading today. Meanwhile I wait 4 hours and almost nothing is going on. A bald eagle flying past and a false alarm. Otherwise nothing can be seen even of the salmon. It will be 8 o'clock.

Then, just as I am about to leave, a huge male grizzly appears under the bridge. What a fine specimen. He wades leisurely through the river looking for prey. Suddenly a quick movement into the embankment and it reappears with a giant salmon in its mouth. He eats it comfortably in the bushes. Then he just sits down on the bank and watches the amazed group of people on the safe jetty on the other bank. What a photo subject this magnificent guy makes. The ranger confirms that it is the largest grizzly in the region. Of course, the previously cloudy weather suddenly has to change and it is pouring out of buckets again. But that can no longer spoil the joy of the handful of observers. The hours of waiting paid off, what a terrific end point for today. I quickly drive back to the nearby campground and make some leftovers. Then there is a shower, the diary and blog are updated and of course the images are viewed.