6/10/2009 Three & One Half Hours in the States

We went back to the USA today, only for three and a half hours but we were back in our country.

We took a short two mile ride to Hyder, Alaska. On the way we stopped at this logging operation. There was no activity today so I don't know if its still operational or not. Maybe its a seasonal thing, I really don't have a clue. But I got some nice pictures all the same.

Take notice that the "buildings" just left of center in the picture below are actually mobile homes with sloped roofs built over them.

Logs in the river, just waiting for operations to begin again.

We drove another mile or so down the road and crossed over into Hyder, Alaska. No one was there to check out passports, no border crossing at all in fact, Just drive in.

The beginning of the Alaska Highway!

Well, I have to be honest with you. I think we could present a more hospital image for newcomers to this country coming through this way. But it is what it is. Welcome to America!

We followed the dirt road through the town and out the other side. We stopped for some scenery pictures.

We saw this beaver's dam, but of course not the beaver, that would be wildlife.

There was a good amount of traffic on this road although we don't know where they were going or what's at the end of this dirt lane. We wished the people would slow down some, they leave an extremely dusty trail behind.

We just turned around after awhile because we didn't know if this road could go on for miles and miles or not and what would be at the end anyway? Somebody's house?

We passed the RV park here in Hyder, Alaska. Its called "Camp Run A Muck". There was only one RV here today.

Have you ever seen a golf cart with snow plow on it? This was a first for us.

A little Post Office for the hundred or so residents of this little town. The snow must be a huge factor here. It seems everything has a second steeply pitched roof over it.

We laughed when we saw this sign. This was quite a large General Store but it was closed so we didn't get to go inside.

One of the few businesses open but we didn't stop.

We did go inside this little log cabin. It was typical gift shop type place. It sold postcards, t-shirts, handmade jewelry, snacks,,,typical stuff.

Our next stop was the Sealaska Inn.

This fella met us inside the door.

It was here we met Robin the barmaid. What a nice lady!

She told us all about what life is like in Hyder. I'm glad I don't live here! She came here with her family in the 70's when she was still a youngster in school. She stayed until she was an adult and then moved to Canada for ten years. She's been back for the last twelve I believe she said. Her youngest two children were born in Canada so they have dual citizenship.

Life in Hyder. I couldn't do it. No way. No how.. No nail salon, no hair salon, no stores other than a general store that isn't always open and two gift stores and two bars. That's it. Oh wait, there is a school and an administrative type building in town. The school is available for the fifteen school aged kids in this town but it may close next year and then the kids will have to go to Stewart, across the border. The sad part is the parents of the kids will have to pay for their children to attend this school. In years past, before Hyder had their own school and they attended in Stewart, the State of Alaska paid the fees. The state doesn't want to do that anymore. One more worry for these parents.

I asked her how she did clothes shopping, household shopping and the such. She said she either went to Terrace, a five hour drive away or flew to another town located north of Hyder but that is pricey and there's no mass transportation on the other end. Though she didn't say, I guess you had better have a friend on the other end with a car or you paid for taxis. Needless to say she does a lot of online ordering. On a dial up connection. There is no high speed Internet connection in this part of the state, at least not in this town.

Grocery shopping. I asked about this wondering how in heck she fed her family. She calls a grocery store up north, they pack up what she wants and take it to the post office. The post office delivers it to the local seaplane company and her groceries are flown down here once every two weeks. She could get them every week if she wanted to but she shops bi-weekly because of the cost of shipping on the seaplane. Oh no, I couldn't do this, I don't want somebody else picking out my food for me.

Now this bar is home to a big biker's celebration every year and we just missed it! It's the destination of bikers that come from all over the country meaning the lower 48, actually, both and the USA and Canada. It is known as the Iron Butt Rally. In years past this rally may bring in over 150 bikers, this year there was only about 90. Robin said even though the number had diminished it was still a heck of party.

It was time to move on as we wanted to also visit the Glacier Inn.

It was here the act of getting "Hyderized" started. I'll explain that later.

Iron work on the outside wall.

Before I show you the inside of this building let me explain that the wall paper is worth about $80.000! Yes, $80,000 wall paper.

Money! Dollar bills, United States currency, Canadian and some other countries thrown in for good measure.

The ones in the middle of the picture below are bills that are discolored by age and smoke.

This building was rebuilt in 1929 after a fire that leveled it in the fire that destroyed the Hyder business section of town. At the time it was a drug store and said to be the most modern and best equipped in all of the Territory of Alaska.

The drug store was sold in 1939 and continued as a variety store and the post office. In 1949 it was sold again and turned into a bar. Quite the hot spot of the day.

Nineteen fifty six brought yet another owner, Lloyd Fillion. He made many improvements to the bar and renamed it the Glacier Inn. Business was booming due to the mining going on in the area.

In 1957 one fellow came into town looking for work. After spending an enjoyable evening in the Glacier Inn he wrote his name on a two dollar bill and gave it to Lloyd to tack up on the wall behind the bar. It was his insurance of one more drink in case job opportunities didn't come his way. The tradition was born and today $80,000 in currency from all over the world adorn the walls.

Around the same time Lloyd started the custom of "Getting Hyderized". It was their way of giving welcome to the Glacier Inn and the town of Hyder. To get "Hyderized" one must down a shot of "whiskey". No one is told what it is until it is gone. We've heard it was 151 proof grain alcohol. We didn't get Hyderized. This bar, known around world. is still owned today by the same family. Lloyd's daughter, Jody, is keeping the place going and it will be turned over to her children when she retires.

Look at the round thing in the picture below. Do you know what it is?

Its a snowshoe for a horse! In fact, the horses got so used to them and liked them so much in the snow that they wouldn't leave the barn unless they had them on.

Hyder has been the scene for several movies. In 1991 Leaving Normal with Christine Lhatti and Meg Tilly was filmed here. Insomnia, The Thing and Bear Island have also been filmed here in addition to some commercials.

It was time to move on.

Some scenes from town as we drove through.

I haven't gotten the whole story on why Hyder is referred to as a Ghost Town yet. Maybe because at one time the population was over 10,000 and now its only a hundred.

We hope you enjoyed Hyder, Alaska.