Portage, AK 7/24

On Thursday, July 24th, we drove all the way from Seward to Portage (all of about 85 miles!). 

As with every road trip, you just cannot ignore God's beautiful creation!!

The purpose of the trip - to see the Portage Glacier which is located in the Chugach National Forest and one of Alaska's most visited attractions.
Although the former village of Portage is basically a ghost town, it's still one of Southcentral Alaska's more popular roadside attractions. 

Between Girdwood and the road to Whittier is what's left of Portage.  The community at the end of Turnagain Arm was home to almost 100 residents until the 1964 Good Friday earthquake. The massive earthquake caused the shoreline to drop between 6 and 12 feet, allowing high tides to flood the town and surrounding area with salt water.  All that remains of the original village are a few structures sinking into the nearby mud flats and scattered stands of dead trees.
On the map below you can see Seward (lower right) and the road up and over to Girdwood and Portage and Whittier (on the right).  If you click on the map, you can see it better.

Found our campground and then drove over to Portage Lake to see if we could get on the tour boat that afternoon, which we did.

Behind us was the American Flag with a mountain in the background.

As we headed out, you can see several glaciers around the lake.

And ice.

This lake is fed by the snow in the mountains and the streams bring silt into the lake.  As a result, there are no fish in the lake.

I guess Judy took this picture of me because I was contemplating something (maybe the meaning of life??)!!

Anyway, here is the glacier in the distance.

 Of course, you need to have your picture taken to prove you were there!!

Note, this next picture is a flashback to 2011 when we took this tour the first time!!

And, now, back to 2014 again.  Notice the winter coats - very cold and breezy on this lake.

 There is a small museum in the visitor's center that we toured.

Smokey the Bear was there so the girls had their picture taken!

It was a great way to end the day.  
Next stop - Whittier.

Seward, AK 7/21 to 7/24

Well, we did leave Homer on Monday, the 21st, and drove to Seward.  Some pictures along the way.

We stopped here at Moose Pass.  They have a grinder here that is run by a water wheel.  Bob sharpened his axe.

More scenery.

We found our campground (Stoney Creek RV Park) about 8 miles outside of Seward and then took a quick tour of Seward and Resurrection Bay.

Of course they have a micro-brewery here.  One of the vats.

Food was good as was the beer!!

Judy found this picture and sign about ravens.

There is a narrow gravel road along Resurrection Bay and a waterfall coming out of the mountain.

Picture of our camp site with mountains all around.  Office had a sign that said bears have been in the area, but we didn't see any!

When we were here in 2011, we saw this house and all its yard stuff.  

Hasn't changed a bit!

Interesting school here in Seward.  Larry, maybe you and Jacky can come here and teach!!

Our traveling buddies, Chris and Bob Risberg, had found this oil tablecloth in AZ earlier this year and bought it for Judy.  Very bright and durable Thanks!!

About a mile down the road from our CG is a small fish hatchery.  The salmon are trying to swim upstream and spawn.

We didn't get a picture, but the fish were waiting to jump up the small waterfall, and, every so often, one would jump and usually make it.

One of the things Seward is known for is the "Exit Glacier."  It is part of the Harding Icefield in the Kenai Mountains.  It received its name because it served as the exit for the first recorded crossing of the Harding Icefield in 1968.

We walked up to the glacier - the first 1/2 mile was level asphalt.  The last half mile was somewhat strenuous - rocky, uneven gravel, etc. but we made it!

Seward has a Sealife Center.  It is Alaska's only public aquarium and ocean wildlife rescue center.  It is a research, rehabilitation, and education facility and has many exhibits. 

 

Another picture of the mountains on the other side of Resurrction Bay.

Seward is one of the few towns in Alaska that actually has a main street.  The shopping district is about 3 blocks long with stores (gift shops actually) on both sides of the street.  

We did hear one person remark that there sure seemed to be a lot of bars - and when we starting looking around, I think they were correct!!  

Anyway, we had a good time in Seward, and, on Thursday, the 24th, moved on to the Portage/Whittier area.