It was a ride by pick-up for the 32-mile run to the mill-site at Tide Lake. It took no time to get through the downtown section of Stewart - a little life showing after years in the doldrums when mining activity was at a minimum. Its history has been referred to many times  and may be the subject of more treatment in future as "things pick up", a common expression in the area.

It was necessary, in driving to Granduc from Stewart, to travel for part of the time through Alaska. So a stop was made at the border. But travel by the mine's vehicles, which also bear Alaska license plates, was on such a regular basis and the drivers and Customs officers are so well known to each other, that the stop was perfunctory, meriting only a smile and a wave of the hand.

It makes the casual visitor muse on this manifestation of international friendliness, good will, and trust, and he wonders, not for the first time, why we have those amongst us who wish to destroy this unequalled relationship.

It was a  well-kept graveled road. They were working at the Big Missouri just to the right. Silbak Premier, was also working there;  Ardo was investigating claims a couple of miles away.  Another interesting piece of work was the Trojan Horse tunnel; The Trojan Horse tunnel is 5644 feet in length and was driven in 1969 by Canadian Mine Services Ltd. It provides a winter alternative to the original road around the mountain which is exposed to snow slides that are almost impossible to control.

So the ride continued with comment about Summit Lake and how it goes '"out" every few years and then builds up behind the glacier again. Indeed glaciers seemed to be everywhere around us, in every mountain valley, presenting a wild but wonderful sight not seen by many.

You would see the The Leduc Glacier first and if you looked hard enough you'd see the original Granduc minesite. And sure enough, a couple of more miles, a few more bends in the road, and suddenly, in the valley below, there was Granduc.