Valdez to Anchorage Alaska

After Tok, we decided to go clockwise around the state. Our big reason is that we really want to see the Aurora Borealis while we’re here. That means being up in the north near Fairbanks as late as possible, probably late August or early Sept.

First really major road construction of the trip. Winters are so hard on roads that each summer brings massive construction projects. The projects are made more complicated than the lower 48 because there are so few roads in Alaska. So traffic has to drive through the middle of the construction site. We waited about 20 minutes for the pilot car to show up leading a batch of cars from the opposite direction. Then it was our turn. Through the gravel, the muddy trenches and squeezing past the equipment for about 13 miles before the next stretch of asphalt.

 

 

 

 

Thompson pass is the route through the mountains down into Valdez. Snow in Valdez can get pretty amazing and the pass can be impossible to drive. One woman in town told us about wearing “600 or bust” t-shirts once the snow passed the 500 inch mark for the season. They didn’t quite make it to 600 inches (yes – that’s 50 feet!!) but seemed to have a good sense of humor about it.

 

The Alaska pipeline.

 

 

 

 

Valdez is known for dozens of waterfalls. Given the snowfall and the near constant drizzle, it’s not at all surprising.

It drizzled the whole time we were in town. Locals called it Alaskan sunshine and said you get used to it.

 

 

Our campsite was right downtown across the street from the waterfront. The mountains surround Valdez on all sides so the view is amazing whichever way you turn.

 

 

 

   

All the different types of pelts. Much of Alaska’s history seems to revolve around furs of one type or another.

 

 

Ten or so years ago, we visited Valdez on a business trip during December. We drove up to the pass, parked alongside the road and snowshoed in to see the Worthington glacier. So naturally we had to stop and retrace our steps. The visitors area with telescopes and railings was a surprise – it was all completely under the snow on our last visit. We remembered stepping on something metal with our snowshoes as we hiked and think it might have been the telescope, but we couldn’t be sure.

 

 

 

We had heard that Lake Louise was beautiful so we asked about it. We were told the road was terrible, but that it was passable if we went slow.

Slow is a must. The road is mostly gravel and has major frost heaves the entire way. But we were determined. At least until we reached the lake. Then the swarms of mosquitos attacked the windshield looking for a way inside. They were so thick that there was no way we were getting out of the camper. So… we turned around and drove the 17 miles back down the frost heave filled road and continued on our way.

 

 

 

Another moose! We saw about a half dozen along the road leading down into Anchorage.

Anchorage. The largest city in Alaska. Locals say that the real Alaska is only about 30 minutes away from Anchorage.

 

But if not…