We traveled from Tok to Valdez. This should have been a 5 hour drive but the scenery is so beautiful as soon as you get past Copper Valley, the scenery is so beautiful that we stopped quite a bit. We had been told to visit Wothington Glacier (30 minutes from Valdez). It is just off of the hwy. We hiked to the glacier and the girls scared me to death by getting on top of the slippery glacier. Worthington is a rare glacier because it is blue. It has been receding for one hundred years but, because the ice pack above it, it will grow again soon. The lady in the gift shop told us abpout another glacier in Alaska that had the same type of growing ice pack. That glacier grew 4 miles in 2 months much to the horror of the people who had houses below it. That glacier stopped short of taking out any houses. Whew!
Past Worthington, the scenery is breath-taking. HUGE mountains that are green but have patches of snow, then gorgeous water falls. Fortunately there are lots of turn outs so that we could take pictures that I will post later.
Valdez is really lovely. Valdez is about at sea level on a big bay. The Alaska Pipeline ends here at Allison Point. Surrounding the town and bay are steep, young mountains that have caught the clouds on their peaks. They call this town the Switzerland of North America. This area is a mecca for fishing in the summer and extreme skiing in the winter.
We are staying in the Bayview RV Park. They have funky wifi, but fortunately, the RV park just across the way (Eagles Nest) Does have wifi and I can get it here. :) The couple that runs this place are friendly and helpful. Last night they told us to go bear watching at Allison Point and we saw a grizzly catching fish.
Today we lounged around and explored the town a bit. Tomorrow we are going out on Stan Stephens Glacier and Wildlife Cruise. The cost of the 9 hour cruise is $126.80 for adults and 67.40 for children. We decided on that cruise because the boat is larger and therefore should be easier for me to keep from getting sea sick...I hope.
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Enjoyed your trip reports. Lived in Valdez 6 years, as head of the Coast Guard Station, and then as Marine Superintendent at the Terminal. Your observations "right on". Own a '98 PW ExclRL bought new at factory. Have 135K miles to date and keeps right on going. Have two friends doing AK now in MH's. They left Valdez yesterday. Taking the Stewart-Cassiar Hwy out, great trip. Don't miss Hyder & bears.
Safe Return. Cheers, Jim
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