What Is “Vastness”?
Driving Alaska Highway indeed is both adventurous and enjoyable. There are winding sloppy mountain roads that challenge driver’s concentration and patience. Here, every turn of the road is a different stunning scene of magnificent mountains, lakes or forests. There are also miles and miles of well-paved straight road with very few vehicles from both directions. Often, there is nothing in sight that is created by human hands - not a telephone pole aside or an airplane above. The only things travelers can see are an ocean of deep green forest expanding along the highway into horizon and a huge wall of glaciated mountain range straight ahead where one seems to drive into. How could one think small when looked at wilderness expanse this huge!! The dictionary term “vastness” has gained an emotion definition in me.
Interestingly, today, at Watson Lake’s famous Northern Lights Centre I had the chance to understand another scientific interpretation of “vastness” in the Center’s high-tech planetarium. Using modern video and laser technologies, the “Electric Sky” theater offers visitors a rare sit-in experience and understanding of northern lights. The phenomenon of aurora borealis is explained in terms of its relationship to the vastness of the galaxy. This is a well-made presentation full of information that, I think, every Highway traveler would want to know. According the presentation, the light of blinking star we see at night might have already traveled the space for more than 25,000 years from a remote corner of the galaxy. However, this new concept of vastness does not “dwarf” my experience of wilderness. Next time, when thinking of “vastness”, I will still remember my Alaska Highway experience that triggers a touching emotional response, instead the galaxy that I can only vaguely remember in a “Star Trek” like presentation.
Driving Alaska Highway indeed is both adventurous and enjoyable. There are winding sloppy mountain roads that challenge driver’s concentration and patience. Here, every turn of the road is a different stunning scene of magnificent mountains, lakes or forests. There are also miles and miles of well-paved straight road with very few vehicles from both directions. Often, there is nothing in sight that is created by human hands - not a telephone pole aside or an airplane above. The only things travelers can see are an ocean of deep green forest expanding along the highway into horizon and a huge wall of glaciated mountain range straight ahead where one seems to drive into. How could one think small when looked at wilderness expanse this huge!! The dictionary term “vastness” has gained an emotion definition in me.
Interestingly, today, at Watson Lake’s famous Northern Lights Centre I had the chance to understand another scientific interpretation of “vastness” in the Center’s high-tech planetarium. Using modern video and laser technologies, the “Electric Sky” theater offers visitors a rare sit-in experience and understanding of northern lights. The phenomenon of aurora borealis is explained in terms of its relationship to the vastness of the galaxy. This is a well-made presentation full of information that, I think, every Highway traveler would want to know. According the presentation, the light of blinking star we see at night might have already traveled the space for more than 25,000 years from a remote corner of the galaxy. However, this new concept of vastness does not “dwarf” my experience of wilderness. Next time, when thinking of “vastness”, I will still remember my Alaska Highway experience that triggers a touching emotional response, instead the galaxy that I can only vaguely remember in a “Star Trek” like presentation.
Leaving Liard River Hotsprings Campground - This campground has outdoor hot spring pool in nature setting.
Buffalo on the roadside
Driving to Watson Lake is another day of joyful drive
Watson Lake's famous Sign Forest
Glad to see a sign from hometown
Have a hearty burger for lunch here at "Archie's Fast Food"
Planetarium of Northern Light Center in Watson Lake features presentation of myth and science of northern lights. It is a wonderful production.
Leave Watson Lake, take Highway 1 into Cassiar Mountains and ....
fields ...
At a turnout - A cute quiet bird looks unusual at this "huge" setting
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