We left Valdez on Monday, the 15th and drove north to Delta Junction. See map (new map because we are no longer in the Kenai Peninsula). Valdez is in the middle/bottom portion of the map.
Delta Junction is really just a stopover for us as we are on our way back to Fairbanks to meet up with Janice and Roger Kasper from our church in Plano.
It started out somewhat foggy and the surrounding mountains looked rather imposing.
We traveled up the Richardson Highway (the only way in and out of Valdez) and up the 6.5 mile climb to the top of Thompson Pass.
The snow poles along the highway guide snowplows in winter.
Still some snow/ice here.
Low clouds...
Check out these next three pictures - FALL is here already!
We had to make a side trip to Copper Center which is supposedly where the first salmon of the season come from. Not much to see but this landmark.
We made it to Glennallen about 12:30 and decided we needed lunch. Turns out that this is where Sara Palin’s husband’s family grew up. Not much here – population is currently 554.
The road from Glennallen to Delta Junction was not the best – a lot of frost heaves and then a 12-mile construction zone where we probably averaged 15 miles per hour following a lead truck. We did see some nice views along the way however.
Pipeline runs from Valdez almost all the way to Delta Junction before it turns and heads to Fairbanks.
Another glacier in the background.
This scenic area is called Rainbow Ridge and Rainbow Mountain (6700 ft). It was named for their varicolored talus slopes. The reds and greens are volcanic rock; the yellows and pastels are siltstone and sandstone.
Once we got to Delta Junction we found our campgrounds and settled in for the night.
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