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July 8, 2009

Summet Lake, BC - Liard Hot Spring. BC

By Marcelo
The law of the farm is embeded in me now, I open my eyes see a glare of light comming throught. I have to get up. The sun will soon be shining. Willy and Claire were going to set up the array. I don't see anyone steping out. So, off I go, it doesn't take much to shake the trailer. Willy, Claire and evenctually Josh follow persuit. I step out of the trailer and I am in awe. "I am back", I thought. What a great feeling. I grabbed the camera takes a few shots of the majestic mountains surrounding us. I was actually looking forward to seeing frost on the solar car cover, yeah call me crazy but I brings me wonderfull memories of my return trip from the artic with the solar car. It was lat August and pretty much every single day there was frost on the solar car cover until I got to Vancouver, than it changed to rain. It okay, I know I'll be seeing frost or even snow. We are at summet lake, Earl todas us yesterday that just a week ago, this pace was covered in snow, its been a cold spring or better yet a cold summer.

I went for a walk, talking photos of flowers, rocks, the mountains, the creek near by, etc... everything is so beautiful. I walked back to find Josh, Claire with her head on Willy's sholder all seating very close to each other wrapped in their sleeping bag, trying to keep warm.

I haven't done much maintenance in the solar car for a while, in fact I can't remember when was the last time I did anything. So, I get busy. First replacing the rear wheel, clean and oil ball joints and any moving parts. Presto! Willy is back inside the trailer sleeping, Claire is writting updates, Josh is playing the ukelele. Hot chocolate and noodles to keep us warm. Claire asked me "are we in the mountains", I said "yes, just look around you". We are standing at over 4,200 feet above sea level and yet the mountains around us are majestic, the open space make them look small". She grims, happy to be in the rockies for the first time. "Yes, we are in the rockies".

The cold breeze finally gets to me, I am wearing just my sport sweater and pants while working on the car, not much protection from the wind. I took refuge inside the van to write updates.

The sun is now greeding us with its grace and getting higher, the previously clear sky is slowly getting covered by a thin layer of clouds. Hope it will burn off, I would like to drive as far as possible. At this time, I came to terms I lost the race with myself from last year, I was doing much better time under much worst weather conditions. However, my disapointment is turning into ideas. I am thinking about coming back again next year with a smaller crew. It's been great in a way to have more people but at the end very little gets done, too much socializing and distraction. Nothing wrong with that but it is not what I am looking for. I am here for the challenge, for pushing the envelop, daring to dream.

Muncho lake layes ahead, I can't wait to drive it there. One of the most memorable drives I had on this journey. First driving on a winding road, the turkoise blue Muncho lake on one side rock walls on the other. The scenary is just incredible, to top it up, another winding hilly drive, one of the very feel places where I can actually feel g-forces with the car, great fun to drive it there.

I am looking around the van, everything is covered in dusty. The few patchs of gravel we drove by was enough to coat everything. It remind me of the Dempster highway. There was so much dusty when it wasn't raining. It was amazing, muddy in the morning dusty in the .




By Willy Wanka
Bringgg an alarm clock sure sounds AWESOME at 04.30am in the morning. Surprisingly enough it was not freezing even though we had snow within our sight. Marcelo, Josh, Claire and me had set up the array and it was absolutely beautiful to see the surrounding nature! Without having any control a big giant came by and knocked me out with his hammer making me sleep until 08.00am. I woke up to write my updates and the crew was gone, they were at nice waterfall with clear and tasty spring/glacier water. I took my morning shower c-c-c-o-l-d! and we packed our stuff to drive to Liard Hot springs! On the way we picked up a hitchhiker called Chris and he joined us on the way. We past the beautiful blue glacier lake called Muncho Lake. Even though it was overcastted it was incredible blue.
We had a nice side stop at a restaurant called Double G. We had picked up some eggs one stop before to deliver and showed again how the solar car is useful in many ways. We had a great lunch and moved on to the HOT SPRINGS !! Later that afternoon we arrived and because it was very cold it didn’t take us very long before we were splashing into the hot water! Wauwauwiewa that water is incredible!! (temperature between 80-120 Fahrenheit) We stayed in it for hours!! When I went out my hands looked like those of a 210 year old man. Everybody was relaxed! We cooked a nice dinner with marshmallows as desert. It hit the spot perfectly! We ended the evening writing our updates and going to bed around midnight!



By Laura
This morning I woke up to snow laced mountain just outside the van window. The crew took a walk to the nearby creek, gathering flowers and fresh glacier water. Marcelo tells me Josh walked all the way to the source to fill a bottle to bring me back to life. Claire brings me a handful of itsy white blossoms smelling reminiscent of gardenias...mmmmmm! I put some behind my ear so they hang just at my nose while I rest some more. I couldn’t ask for a better bunch of mommies to take care of me, I love you guys!
Today the scenery takes me out of a suffering depression and into an elated wonder. The majestic mountains hug me from all sides as we wind through the road right on the turquoise water. Lake Muncho is vast and beautiful, and on the right side are small waterfalls and creeks. Goats are all about today! I am so happy to see the mountain goats right there on the side of the road...I wish I could follow and climb with them to the summit. A black bear on the grass gets all our attention too. We pick up Chris, hitching just up the road from the restaurant we stopped at. I think they met him inside while I was sleeping. I still don’t have much of an appetite, but when Josh hands me a fresh, warm heavy loaf of bread, my eyes light up and I eagerly rip off the first piece, savoring the toasty crisp buttery crust and the steamy soft inside...mmmmm!
The guard at the gate to Liard Hot Springs lets our caravan in for free, Solar car immunity Chris is excited, he loves free stuff. We park and I cannot wait to feel the steaming natural waters! I’ve been looking forward to this for a while. We spend hours in the warm natural pools. I am ready for extreme heat and make my way to the source. I can see the bubbles on the surface and feel the temperature rising with each step. Wow, too hot, even for me! I keep to the left and sit under the cold waterfall, my lower half still in the warm water. The smell is not as bad as I thought it would be. Just a slight sulfur kiss. Chris and I bravely walk over to the ‘hotter’ pool. It is a 5 minute walk through ferns and trees and wild roses. No one is in this area. Marcelo told us a story that the natives would cook moose heads in this pool. Chris is expecting to see a menu with the word “You” on it and carrots and onions already steaming in the waters. I’ve imbibed so much garlic to get rid of this sickness that I am nicely flavored for the human stew that is to become us in this boiling pit of the Earth. We see bubbles in the center just like in the source area of the other pool. We cautiously tip toe in down the moss covered wooden stairs. So far so good. Aahhhh. Warm, deeper, much deeper, I cannot touch the bottom. It is actually less hot than the other pool, but it is deeper and less populated. Josh and Willy follow and a few people walk up but are bundled in camouflage jackets and not into swimming. I float by the tree bent in the water and watch some kids jump in from the railing. We walk back to the other pool. I think I got out too fast because I start feeling dizzy. The temperature change is a bit of a shock but Willy holds me as we walk in the cold air and retuning to the water feels good. There’s a waterfall that massages my stiff neck and feels sooo good on my back too. We all play around in the cooler area, tossing pebbles, walking on logs and making jokes. All of our fingers well pruned we get out and head back to the van. Josh and Claire make salad and pasta, mine with extra fresh garlic! yum! Warm and revived, alive from the steaming sulfur hot springs of Liard...I feel human again. The past week my body has been consumed by strange sickness and evil spirits. Now, I am a stubborn naturalist and have survived on garlic, water, ginger and ecinachea for any illness, however, none have been this serious. The bottle of antibiotics are still unopened and I feel sooooo much better after soaking in this mineral water, I think I am cured!





By Josh
We woke up today completely bundled up in our sleeping bags. We had just spent a night in the highest point Even though it was 4:30 AM, I was ready to finally see the sun rise over some mountains. I bundled up with Claire and Willy after they set up the array with Marcelo. I watched the sun slowly peak its rays over the horizon as I played “Here Comes the Sun” by the “Beatles.” After Willy went back to sleep, I cooked some hot chocolate and noodles for Marcelo and I. Claire opted for cereal, and then promptly bundled herself up in her sleeping bag like sushi. We went to a nearby waterfall to collect some fresh glacial water for the crew. I climbed around like I was a kid on a playground. Checking out all the rock cliffs and views was like nothing I've ever seen before. The snowcapped mountains, the beautiful blue summit lake, and the sharply faced cliffs were awe inspiring, jaw dropping, and unparalleled in natural pristine beauty. I even dunked my face in the icy glacial waters for my alarm clock. I filled up the tires with the compressor until the battery died. We got a jump from a couple nice guys who came to check out the car. and promptly got on the road again!!! I started my last day driving for some time, feeling especially cautious considering the radiator overheating yesterday. Very shortly after leaving, we drove up to Muncho Lake. At first we stopped at Toad's Crossing for some ice cream. Almost immediately after stopping, Marcelo came back with a box of eggs saying, “Let's go, we have some eggs to deliver.” I had no idea what he was talking about. Apparently a restaurant 30km down the road was out of eggs, and so we were asked to deliver them to Jack. So we all took Sunny Serendipity, the solar car, and delivered some eggs for sunny-side-ups. It was rather eggstordinary, uneggspected, and eggciting that we would partake in such an errand, but we were all up for it. We all took a picture of us looking like a full family of toads, and went off to deliver some eggs. The crew stopped for some lunch at GG's,, a gas station and restaurant that Marcelo had stopped at last year. Louise prepared some amazing breakfast sandwiches and french toast using the eggs we brought. The only rule: we refill the coffee pot when we were done. We put in our orders, and stayed outside while we waited. We met a hitchhiker from Texas named Chris, who talked with us while we waited. Louise was so nice to us, and so much fun to talk to. Marcelo, Willy, Claire and I all dove into a huge cinnamon bun to finish off the meal. We filled up the van's tank, and got a fresh loaf of their wonderful bread. The crew left with full bellies, and a strong curiosity to see the infamous Muncho Lake. The lake was surrounded by gigantic mountains, and the road was right alongside the lake; almost exactly level with the bright turquoise waters. We saw Chris walking alongside the road from earlier, and we decided to give him a ride over to Liard Hot Springs with us. Along the way we saw a bear, and several other different forms of wildlife. Once at the hot springs, Marcelo talked to the gatekeeper for a bit through the window of the solar car. They let us stay near the park ranger's houses for free. Before long, we were in 120 degree water! In order to get to the hot springs, however, we had to walk on a long board walk surrounded in marshy tundra. The crew had to be on the look out for bears, seeing as some couples were eaten a couple years back. As the owners of Buckinghorse mentioned, To avoid bears, be aware! We carefully made our way to the springs. They were beautiful, surrounded with greenery, and isolated from any nearby noise or distractions. I soaked with the crew in some of the hottest water I've ever been in. It was indescribably relaxing for all of us, and it was probably even nicer for Laura, who was probably feeling a bit better, having had a fever for the past couple of days. We swam, relaxed, and pushed a floating log around in the water for plenty of good laughs. I went with Laura, Willy, and Chris to check out the hotter pool at Liard Hot Springs. Willy and Chris dove in, while Laura and I relaxed a bit. After walking back to the other pool, I dried off, and joined Claire in checking out the hanging gardens on the limestone rocks. There were several flowers that only grow near hot springs that we could see. When all were done relaxing in one of the most secluded, natural, and beautiful hot springs in British Columbia, everyone headed back to the van for some food. Claire and Willy made a salad, while Willy and I made some pasta for everyone. Extra garlic was added for everyone, which was fine, considering all of us were eating it. We finished the night with some s'mores sans chocolate, and promptly headed off to bed. Thanks Liard Hot Springs!






By Claire
4:29 am. Unless I was practicing academic procrastination, packing a bag for a faraway land, or just returning home from a night of tasteful debauchery, I don't think I have ever faced this hour as the start of my day. Then again, I have not sat in a fold out chair next to a solar car, bundled in many but not enough layers - plus my sleeping bag (with my shoes on) - on the summit of the Alaskan Highway before either. There should be at least some ice to give my display a bit more legitimacy, but maybe the traditional freezing temperature doesn't apply up here.

My brain is such a sucker for light. It has the most primitive reasoning in waking up the rest of my body, 'It's light, I should be up.' The fact that it has only been on hibernate mode for a few hours has no influence to this barbaric inclination. I sit there telling it, 'it's early you should be tired. Go ahead and be tired. The birds aren't even up, chill out.' but it seems my zodiacigal stubborness also impedes negotiations with myself. Sleep or no sleep, at least I always win the debate.

With Laura still recovering, everyone else got up today to set the array. It was supposed to be Willy and me's duty, but Marcelo was the first one awake and Josh decided to follow suit. Willy eventually returned to bed, while Marcelo did some maintanence on the car, Josh boiled water, and I attempted to work on the computer. I don't know what happened to that admirable mission, but I found myself entirely cacooned (and then some) and bent forward on my lap pseudo-sleeping. I hunkered there with my pride, as Marcelo called me "sushi roll" and Josh delivered a hot chocolate to my den. I wished I had a solar cell onesy to help me pull in the low sun's heat.

Once the sun worked its way higher I dug myself out from my morning nest and started doing small jobs. Marcelo, Josh, and I walked into the bush a bit, confronting a stone filled, crystal clear stream. We hopscotched over the water, took pictures, and filled up our water supply. Soon Willy joined and we all had a morning face dunk into the spring. It was so so so much fun and I didn't even have to pay an admission fee. That was nothing though compared to what my eyes would be feasting on later that day: Muncho Lake. The road swerves back and forth between a wide body of tealish blue water and steep stone corridors, taking you in and up tree lined inclines, and then back out along the lake. MAGNIFICENT!

We pulled over at a tiny road side plaza called Toads Crossing (I think). As usual, I didn't really know what was going on, a state that was not eased when Marcelo came out of the restaurant with a box of eggs saying we have a delivery to make and then hopped into the solar car. I thought it very strange, but I left it at that. About 30k drive we stopped at GG's another roadside restaurant and gas station, where we were to hand the eggs over to Jack. Jack wasn't there, but the lovely Louis was and I was happy to hear that the eggs we just brought were being used for our sponsored lunch. Louis is a territorial chef with a sharp tongue and a wonderful sense of humor. The lunch was DELICIOUS, not to mention the two, yes TWO, cantaloupe size cinnamon buns we managed to finish off.

Now let me tell you about a most incredible evening we had, soaking in the hot springs of Liard. It was incredible. The
Louis, getting caught by the recorder. uneditable material.




XOF1 about to wake up with the sun
Ah ha! we woke up before the sun!
Summit lake, the highest point of the Alaska Highway 42,000feet.
Beautifull backdrop to wake up to, Good morning sun!
Wheel change, the only spare wheel we have has a different design than XOF1 custom wheel, we couldn 't close the fairing cover so it got replaced.
Claire, wrapped like a sushi, guarding the solar car against mosquitos
Not much of any charge early in the morning, only 0.3Ah @ 94.5V = 28 watts
Claire "I do do windows"
Got to keep the windshield clean for those breath taking photos!
Hey, this photo could be used as cover for a country music group album.
On the way, the view was amazing
Fantastic, beautiful, amazing, breath taking scenary with every turn of the wheel
with every curve
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Josh, Willy Wanka, Marcelo, Claire are now toads.
Almost there
Louis, the cinnamon bun and Marcelo, that's a cinnamon bun!
Claire, got to close my eyes to enjoy the last bite :)
Hey what happened to the cinnamon bun?
Marcelo "was this sign made for me?"
Oh well, what do you know?
Laura, enjoying her cinnamon bun in the confort of the van
Claire and Louis, thanks for the visit
Traffic jam congestion, construction ahead
Hey, we got your photo!.
The gravel made a victim of the front right tire
Mountaim goalt Josh
Is everyone going the wrong way?
force the flat tire caused a bit of a delay, it lway.
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Mountain goats on the highway
The solar car slow down to avoid hitting a cariboo
Majestic mountains lays aheads.
Muncho Lake here we come!
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Rain outside, dry toes inside
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