Day 8 -- A day off

sign at the Liard Hot Springs Lodge ... I endorse this fully

Summary:

• be lazy
• distance travelled: (0 km)
• wildlife seen: (4)
• bison
• black bear
• big horned sheep
• geese (they were Canadian Geese ... I have to count them!)

Not a sign you want to see

Today was a gloriously lazy day.  I slept in.  I ate a breakfast that wasn't healthy for me.  I didn't drive anywhere ... other than to a couple of local hiking trails.  I went on a couple of short hikes this morning (carrying into the afternoon) then soaked in the local hot springs.  I soaked until I was BEYOND wrinkled ... I wish I had more words to describe how wonderful it was.  I've only been on the road a week ... but I was ready for this lazy day and glorious soak.

Shortly after I left the lodge this morning to head to one of the local hiking trails, these guys (big horned sheep) greeted me along the road.  Another animal added to the list!

View along hike, stylized  by google

The first hike I did was out to some mineral licks along the river ... it was quite a view once you made it out there.

Another view along the hike, stylized by google

climbing aid

My second hike of the day was out to go see a waterfall ... I don't know why.  I mean after a while, all water falls start to look the same (or close ... we're not talking about Victoria Falls here).  This area was devastated by a forest fire several years ago and not all trails, etc. have been restored yet.  This trail used to have a lot of steps to get down to the water.  Now ... it's just a rope to help you climb up the steep slope.  But it led to ...

waterfall, stylized by google

The Liard Hot Springs is quite an impressive feat of nature.  These hot springs empty into a marsh ... which is a bit odd.  But does make for an interesting walk out to the pool.

The Hot Springs

Hanging Garden at hot springs

Part of what is really cool about these hot springs is that it has plants and animals (if you consider a snail an animal) that are native only to these hot springs (or only at this location given the latitude, due to the hot springs).  I think I'm a bit early in the season to see everything, but here's is a photo of the "hanging garden" at the hot springs.

Me cooling off after a soak 

All in all, it was a great day.  I'm off tomorrow to try and get to the Northwest Territory before I turn and head south and east into Alberta and then make my way back to Halifax.