This was very much a day of two halves – split by a lunch stop in the Yukon at Watson Lake. Setting off after another hearty Canadian breakfast – including what Jack claims (with some justification I think) is the best bacon in Canada (shipped in specially from Dawson Creek) – I had a chance to admire the full prospect of Muncho Lake.
The wilderness and wildlife experience continued, with my I-Spy collection of large Canadian mammals scoring two further hits. First, I came across a herd of wood bison grazing by the roadside. This species was almost extinct in the late 1950s, when what seemed to be the last herd of 200 was found in Alberta. Now there are just over 3000 in the wild, so for me to see this group with two very young calves was really something special. In fact, I saw several other smaller groups during the rest of the morning. It seems that all the conservation efforts (inclusing the thousands of signs warning motorists to be careful about bison in this stretch of the Alaska Highway) are paying off. It’s unforgettable to get within such close sight (and smell!) of these impressive beasts.
And then something which was, for me, even more impressive. Suddenly there, beside the highway, was a black bear. These are a lot more common than bison, but I was astonished to find one happily grazing within metres of the roadside. Wary of the message that it’s bad to get bears used to humans (it’s the ones confident with humans that are the most dangerous and likely to have to be destroyed), I was able to get a brief close look. I feel very privileged.
