British Columbia Whitehorse to Haida Gwaii - Alaska and Points North: Tips and Tales from the Road - page 227

We were happy to nose along its narrow winding stretches, watching for wildlife. Coming
over a hill and into a valley we were enchanted by the sight of a moose cow and her calf
ambling down the middle of the road in front of us.
They had no intention of moving to the side and never did. When we went around her Mom
cast us a dirty look. Like, “ What's your hurry, eh?”
Heading south, there is not too much to look at for the first bit. But with the Skeena Moun-
tains to the west and the Coast Mountain Range to the east, the scenery dramatically im-
proves within the hour. Massive mountain faces with pristine peaks sparkle in the sun,
glistening glaciers inch down the flanks of a range that tops out at 15,000 feet. Brilliant
purple fireweed licks the edges of the asphalt, burns across the landscape and into the
white-barked stands of trees, straight and tall.
This far north, fall has already announced, swabbing its paint box for the yellows, oranges,
reds, and browns it paints the hills with. There is a flat-lying shrub blanketing the lower
slopes that has turned egg-yolk yellow, painting the hills in pure sunshine. I am happy to
be here.
Jade City is our first stop of the day, although “city” is a stretch. It actually consists of two
jade retailers, a campground and a post office. We meet Claudia, who owns one of the busi-
nesses and is woman-handling one of the massive saws that slices jade into slabs. She tells
us that more than 90% of the world's jade comes from the mines in this area; cut and pol-
ished for décor purposes. Smaller pieces are carved into artworks, clock faces, jewellery