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Published: August 1st 2012
Koya
First snowHyder Alaska. The friendly Ghost town.
The drive toward Hyder Alaska was beautiful. We climbed slowly up the mountains to a glacier and then on the other side down toward a little isolated pocket of 15 square miles belonging to America. Hyder is a little town with a population of 97 people and is located at the head of the Portland Canal, a 70 mile long fjord which forms a portion of the border between the United States and Canada at the southeastern edge of the Alaska Panhandle. Driving into town was like driving into a ghost town. At our arrival most everything was closed. Tourist season had not yet started and Hyder had been buried under 30 feet of snow during this winter. Lots of the old building did not withstand the snow load and had collapsed. Vans had their roofs smashed in and Hyder was just waking up from its winter hibernation. Besides the post office there were only two business’ open. A fast food bus and a little gift store. Later in the afternoon the local bar opened its doors and we had the chance to get "Hyderized" . Two of the town's bars issue certifications to
Koya
getting a cool belly... patrons of being "Hyderized" if the patron consumes a shot of 150 proof (75% alcohol) Everclear., but I am not much of a drinker and easily forwent the temptation. We spent the night at the bear viewing boardwalk at the river. During salmon run this was a great place to watch bears feasting on the salmon buffet.
After taking some pictures of a beaver working on his dam in the creek we drove back to town. We did not get very far and had to stop for a black bear that was walking on the road. Back in town we got educated be the gift shop owner about Hyders history. Hyder was originally called Portland City, after the canal. In 1914, when the United States Postal Service told residents that there were too many cities named Portland in the United States, it was renamed after Frederick Hyder the little town boom occurred around 1920. It was the only practical point of access to the silver mines in Canada, and the community became the port, supply point, and post office for the miners. She even sang the Hyder song for us and sold us one of her CD’s. We finally left
The Gacier
Stopping at the Pass... the friendliest ghost town in Alaska and crossed over the border back to British Columbia. On the drive up toward the Yukon we counted 16 bears in one day. They all seemed to hang out right by the road. They were everywhere. We always found great spots to camp. Sometimes with great views or on lakes or creeks. So when we saw the sign to Swan lake we decided to check it out and took the turn.
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anita
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Restaurant
We ate at the same restaurant when we were in Hyder. Good food.