On Friday we drove into Valdez via the Richardson Highway (by the way, all highways in Alaska have names). Here is a map.
Worthington Glacier is located in the Chugach Mountains near Thompson Pass—the snowiest place in Alaska—Worthington Glacier is one of the most accessible glaciers in Alaska, passing within a few feet of the parking lot and viewing shelter right off the Richardson Highway.
Worthington Glacier is located in the Chugach Mountains near Thompson Pass—the snowiest place in Alaska—Worthington Glacier is one of the most accessible glaciers in Alaska, passing within a few feet of the parking lot and viewing shelter right off the Richardson Highway.
The trip was scenic – we went over Thompson Pass (not all that high – 2,805 foot) gap in the Chugach Mountains.
It is the snowiest place in Alaska, recording 551.5 inches of snow per year on average.
On the way down we passed Bridal Veil Falls
and Horsetail Falls.
The road descends for 6.5 miles – I can’t wait to see what the trip will be like going UP for that long when we leave here!
We had called the Bayview Campground the night before about getting a reservation for three nights and were lucky to get one as there is a Women’s Salmon Derby on Saturday. And now that we are here, we are packed in like “sardines (salmon) in a can.”
This picture was taken on Friday and still plenty of room. However, by Saturday afternoon, there were campers beside us and behind us. The people behind us are so close that we can see everything they eat or drink.
On Saturday we visited the Valdez Glacier. Hard to see but it goes back up into the mountain.
This is the lake as a result of the melting.
This carving is in town:
We had to come to Valdez because we saw where the oil pipeline started some 800 miles away in Prudhoe Bay and now it ends here. The pipeline is underground here so the only evidence is the oil holding tanks.
There are a couple of salmon spawning areas in Valdez. This one at Crooked Creek is quite small but harbors a waterfall and a clear stream where pink and chum salmon return each year to spawn.
On Saturday we visited the Valdez Glacier. Hard to see but it goes back up into the mountain.
This is the lake as a result of the melting.
This carving is in town:
We had to come to Valdez because we saw where the oil pipeline started some 800 miles away in Prudhoe Bay and now it ends here. The pipeline is underground here so the only evidence is the oil holding tanks.
There are a couple of salmon spawning areas in Valdez. This one at Crooked Creek is quite small but harbors a waterfall and a clear stream where pink and chum salmon return each year to spawn.
On Sunday we went to church at Epiphany Lutheran and Episcopal Church. Never heard of that combination before, but the service was all-Lutheran. There were about 50 people there and the service was very nice.
More on Salmon next...
More on Salmon next...
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