VirtualTourist Member PA2AKgirl
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| Page Views: 411 | 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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dr.firas Mon Jul 21, 2008 15:44 UTC
Dearest Katey Be ever happy, wishing you all the best ever, God knows how I missed talking to you and to Bobby, belated happiest Birthday to you dear XX | WorldMeet2008 Mon Jul 21, 2008 12:56 UTC
Your next trip? Make it really unique! It's not too late to attend WM08 - Jerusalem, Tel Aviv & Dead- Sea on 25- 28th Sept (+Petra 29-30th). We want to double the num of attendees to 100! Click to learn where, when, what, how, how much! Avi [FruitLover]. | kazander Mon Jul 21, 2008 12:06 UTC
a very belated happy b-day! One of these times you're in PA we have to get together. I'll be out in Dushore the 2nd weekend in august.... | Jenniflower Tue Jul 15, 2008 00:16 UTC
Happy belated birthday! :) |
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