Smithers, BC - Part I

Here are some pictures from a trip we took to Smithers. About 4 hours away from Prince George, on a beautiful sunny fall day, this town is a small yet large encampment in the Bulkley Valley, placed in the middle of two serene mountain ranges. It is a very small-town atmosphere, a touch of tourism the likes of which I am sure many other places outside of the popular destination area also bode. It is a wonderous place, not spectacularl as an individual place per se, but spectacular as a region and in context of the surrounding places.

So, here are some pictures and some hastily penned words to go along with them. Skip the words, if you like.I wont be offended. Just envision driving from a pulp mill, plateau town, to a valley of pristine mountains and (aside form the beetle infested forests, turning green into red, brown...) a smal town friendily taking you into its arms on a bright, but chilly fall weekend. Imagine.



The Last Spike...after the other last spike. This is found along the road linking Prince George and Smithes. It is about a 4 hour drive, and at the time we went (about two months ago now...)there was no snow in Prince George but once we got to the Bulkley Valley and Smithers proper there were craggy peaks encrusted with a settled blanket of snow. But I digress; this sign was a focal point along the way and a neat step into history.

Hiking up to the Kimberly Glacier; lunch break. The hike up was simply amazing...that is aglacier behind me and it took us only perhaps four hours (roundtrip) to reach it from the snow free valley below. It started out as a nice warm day at the lower altitudes, but once we got to this elevation it became quite cold (after doing the math it was assumed...understood....but not really prepared for!). Behind me is the Kimberly Glacier, retreating feverishly.Cant tell you the actual elevation, I believe it is around +/- 2000 m.a.s.l. though.


Crystal taking a break before the most difficult portion of the hike. A field of boulder sized talus that was unsettled - so every step we took was a half slide down, half step forward. It was a section that took much longer than it would be assumed based on the distance, and once finished and safe on the opposite side of the unfriendly slope we were relieved to be past it. We had to do it again to go home, yes, but for that moment it was relief...dont get me wrong though, it was fantastically fun but in the back of your mind the thought is always there that you have to be careful. This is real. This is fun, but this is real....don't make a mistake.


View from the plateau before the glacier. Need I put words to this masterpiece?



Me, after the boulder talus slope. Taking a break before making it up to the glacier and the stream from said glacier. Take a gander at the peaks in the background. When we made it to the top they were, as they are no, glistening in the morning sun and unapologetically protrudng into view - as we started to descend they were cloaked in clouds and snow was falling. We made it up just in time to catch a limitless view (well, limited to about 1.6 km...anyone?...anyone?...) and get down before the weather turned foe.