(Essential) Visit to Smithers

 

Hudsons Bay Mountain from the South Side of the Bulkley River

Two weeks after our vaccinations we made a trip to Smithers to see my mom, who we hadn't visited since Thanksgiving.

Aside from a great visit, we made a few hikes, including a 10 km walk along the south side of the Bulkley.  Right away we saw this bear from a distance along the tracks.

Photo blurry because super-zoomed from quite a distance.

He went his way down the tracks and we went our  way.

The spring flowers were just coming out.

Calypso

Or Fairy Slipper

We were impressed by the hard work of the beavers along the trail.

(Woman in hat included for scale)

More gnawing

One of three dams on a side channel of the Bulkley River

Another day we hiked up to a bluff that looks out over the Railway Station and the Bulkley Valley.

I love the varied hues of the newly leafed out trees.

Spring flowers here too:

Arnica

Violet

Jacob's Ladder

We saw another bear on this hike! It was far below us.