Friday, June 25, 2010

June 25, 2010

South to Valdez

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We headed south this morning to Valdez, the southern terminus of the Trans Alaska Pipeline.  The southern end of the Richardson Highway is often described as the most beautiful road in Alaska and compared to the Swiss Alps.  In a state where just about every road has beautiful views that is a pretty big billing.  It is beautiful and the views are ever changing and almost nonstop.  There is very little road that has a ‘dull’ view.

Our first stop was the headquarters for Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. 

20100625-5 Wrangell-St. Elias visitor center

This is the largest United States National Park.  It is also, like Denali, pretty hard to get into.  There is one long, gravel road that goes to the Kennecott Copper Mine ruins.  The rest of the park is reached by plane or hiking.  We toured the visitor center for a while and then moved on.  We may stop again on our way back north.

 

20100625-26 Pipeline 

Alaska Pipe Line

 

 

 

20100625-28 Mts

 

About thirty mile from Valdez we came to the Worthington Glacier viewing area.  This glacier is one of the closest to a road in all Alaska.  With a bit of a hike one could get to the base but it is not advised.

20100625-52 Pete and Sue at Worthington Glacier

DSC04578 DSC04580

 

Shortly after the glacier we went over Thompson Pass 20100625-67 View from Thompson Pass, south

and then began a twenty five mile descent to Valdez through some very pretty country.  Rugged, snow covered peaks, green hillsides,

 

20100625-80 Bridal Veil Falls

20100625-87 Horsetail Fallswild flowers, waterfalls,   mountain lakes, fjord like bay, and more.  All in less than twenty five miles.

 

20100625-90 fileting fish at the campground

 

Filleting Pink Salmon behind RV park office.  They treated the whole park to a fish fry this evening.

 

 

 

DSC05326 Campground fishfry



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