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| Page Views: 647 | Recent trip to the Valdez Area by PA2AKgirl - last update: Jul 24, 2007 |
Valdez is a name many people know but for an unfortunate reason. In 1989, there was a massive oil spill near here and it looked like the marine life would never recover. It has and we saw evidence of this. |
| Bridalveil Falls just north of Valdez |
|  | We weren't expecting too much when we made the long trek to Valdez...it's a fishing town at one end of the Alyeska pipeline. However, if you let yourself stick around the town and see what else is has to offer, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. It's not a town that you'll fall immediately in love with but when you see the waterfalls, the lakes and the Sound...all slightly obscured by the mist and fog, it may become more appealing. That's how it was for us anyway. |
| | As we entered town, we saw a sign for "salmon viewing" and it is time for the run so went to check it out. After 10 minutes and 1 salmon, we gave up. I know it doesn't seem like a lot of time to look for a creature but during the spawning season, countless salmon gather to head upstream. Later on, we found them. More salmon than you can imagine congregating, fighting to head over the first hurdle of rocks. When you get near them, they all splash to move faster. It's an amazing thing to see...I hadn't since I lived in Sitka and these were much bigger guys:) |
| | A little north of Valdez, there are a number of picture- worthy sites...Worthington Glacier is just off the road along with a few others. Have your camera ready-- what's visible one minute may not be the next. This glacier came into view, we pulled over to get our first shot and by the time we walked closer, it was hidden in fog. It's in a State Park, so there's plenty of opportunities to get a good picture of it by using the walkways, the first time it can be seen makes for a beautiful shot but it won't be the only chance |
| | Again with the clouds/fog. We were totally socked in at Thompson Pass, close to where this picture was taken. We couldn't see anything up there...when the fog lifted a little, the green of the hillside was incredible in contrast. |
| Along the Glenn heading toward the Richardson |
| | Getting to Valdez means taking the Glenn from Anchorage to Glennallen. The first day of this drive, the weather was beautiful. It was sunny, warm, low humidity and surprisingly, we were pretty much alone. The Sheep Mountain/Gypsum Creek area is one of my favorite parts of this drive. Up to near Eureka Summit, it's beautiful in each direction. Take it all in because heading east, it becomes boring through Glennallen (in my opinion). This is especially true if the Wrangell Mountains are hidden, as they usually are. By the way, the 2nd day was rainy and cold, it looked nothing like this. |
| Pothole Lakes off the Glenn Highway |
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| | We camped at Lake Louise the first night. While there were still definitely a mosquito presence, they weren't nearly as bad as they are farther north. We watched some lightning over the lake that evening. The next morning, after packing up, we saw a caribou and a fox within a minute of our departure. Things like that remind me of how lucky I am to live in Alaska (in the summer). |
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StumpTim Wed Nov 4, 2009 17:20 UTC
Katey = great Alaska pics and stories - I spent a week in Sitka and long to go back and see more - thanks for sharing | EllenH Sat Aug 15, 2009 07:29 UTC
saw a comment on a Frederick page about Thurmont....lol that brings back memories I used to go up there all the time to the lake but I remember a KKK rally in Thurmont we drove through and I gave them the finger. My husband was thinking I was crazy. | tony248 Wed Jul 8, 2009 17:21 UTC
Ach! I missed it :( . Hope you had a happy birthday! I hate missing the cake and ice cream. Chocolate or white cake? The ice cream has to match the cake, you know :) | kelnsha Tue Jul 7, 2009 04:43 UTC
Happy Birthday, Katey and enjoy your special day! Cheers! |
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