Liard River Hot Springs was not cool and very cool at the same time.
As part of our Alaska trip, I wanted to make sure we got to explore as much variety and as many unique places as we could and see places that are not present in our own little part of the world. Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park stands out because I have never entered a hot spring before. We would head this way on July 12, 2023.
Getting to Liard River Hot Springs was very memorable because we saw so many different animals along the way. In the morning, an antlered white-tailed deer crossed the road. A few hours later, we saw a caribou on the road, which I presume was licking salt. Minutes later, we saw a mother mountain goat with a kid. We then encountered a lone black bear, followed by another black bear with twins. We would then drive past a herd of buffalo grazing peacefully on the side of the road.
As we were about to enter the park, there was a small tourist shopping area at the entrance. We paused for a moment because there was a lone buffalo in the parking lot just minding its business. Although we had already had our fill of buffalo on this trip, we had never seen a buffalo just hanging out at a shopping centre. It seemed like it was enjoying itself, and even though there were cars moving about and people walking back and forth, it paid no heed to anyone. We would not see this in Ontario, so it stood out for us, even as others seemed to ignore the passive beast.
In addition to the hot spring, the park features a few trails around it and even features a unique snail species that lives only in this park. Another section showcased various plants that thrive in the unique conditions around the hot spring. We did our best to explore as much as we could and enjoy this northern BC park.
Eventually, we would arrive to see the spring. A number of people were sitting in the water. I was curious. I asked someone connected to the park about the spring, and he said I could go in if I wanted, but to start on one end because it is cooler and work my way to the other end, where it does get quite hot.
I asked Charlene if she wanted to go in, but she did not. It had already been an unseasonably hot summer for this area, and the humidity was not a friend, either. I could understand her lack of desire for more heat, but this was a different experience for us, and I was not going to miss out on it.
I whipped off my shoes and socks, but kept everything else on. I had not brought a change of clothes, so I hopped in with what I was wearing.
It was hot. Even this “cool” part was hot. And, as the person I was talking to said, I would grow accustomed to it and be able to move closer to the hottest spot.
I did try that. Inching my way forward. Stopping when it was just too much and then inching some more. I could get very close to the mouth of the spring, where the heat was most intense, but I could never reach the source. There was too much heat to handle.
I would walk around the pool of volcanically heated water, noticing others occasionally looking at me. I guess this silly fool, still fully dressed, was not following the proper hot spring etiquette. Others sat in one spot, and I wandered, exploring how the heat changed from place to place.
Eventually, I got out and felt the difference between the water and air temperatures. The water was indeed hot, and likely much hotter than the air temperature, but once I got out of the water, the heat of the summer day took hold. I was, for a moment, tempted to get back in the water, but I opted to rush to the car, where we could both enjoy the coolness of our air conditioning.
Even though years have passed since my visit to this place, I still think about it. I consider it one of my favourite places to visit and hope to go there again someday.
