Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Stewart Cassiar Hwy
Under sunny skies we returned up Hwy 7 to rejoin the Alaska Hwy at Jake's Corner, the
location of a café that serves another species of to-die-for cinnamon bun hot out of the oven
each morning. Carrying on a few miles down the road we nearly choke on our buns when a
BIG blonde grizzly bear tears across the road, directly in front of us. Too bad he ran so fast
- well, good that he did or he might have been dead, but too quick for a photo.
From Jake's Corner to Junction 37 where we meet up with the Stewart Cassiar Hwy (#37) is
about 400 km/ 250 mi. This was the stretch of road I complained about being boring when
we drove up this way before. Our wildlife count on that day was two rabbits. We could not
even find those rabbits on the way back. So the gonzo grizzly was it for August 3rd.
At Junction 37, just a few miles from Watson Lake, there is a collection of buildings and
businesses that bespeak someone's high hopes. The gas station still pumps gas, but only
from a few pumps. Most of the pumps have been removed but the cement works linger on,
bearing witness to a busier time. At one time there was a restaurant and a bar, a motel and a
gift shop. Today there is just an overgrown RV park with lots of weeds and a few function-
ing power points. The whole shebang is for sale. Chatting with the owner, he tells us he's
asking a million dollars, “a steal at the price.” Right.
Settling in for the night we chat with a couple just coming off the Stewart Cassiar, having
driven up from the south. She describes road conditions as a “nightmarish” and “nothing I
would ever consider doing again.”
Hmmmm.
If you measure its length from the north where it intersects with the Alaska Hwy to the south
at Kitwanga where it joins Hwy #16, the Stewart Cassiar Highway (#37) is about 700 km
/438 mi in length. Road conditions were interesting. Yes, most of it has seen asphalted at
some time in the past 20 years so when they say it is “mostly asphalted” that is basically
true. But when severe winter conditions disintegrate the surface it is not always repaired.
So there are holes and gravel bits and frost heaves. Not always. Lots of good stretches too
where the road is smooth and easy to drive. Everyone has an opinion on driving the Stewart
Cassiar and it ranges from the aforementioned “nightmarish” to “excellent.” I would gladly
drive it again.
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