Valdez, August 25th

Driving to Valdez

Our drive from Palmer to Valdez along the Richardson Highway was stunning through high-alpine country with 360 degree views. Fall was very evident and the colors were magnificent along the mountains on both sides of the road. The road decended into a steep canyon with rushing waterfalls from glaciers into rivers that just roared.

Driving to Valdez

As we usually do, we stopped to stretch our legs and take a hike mid way into the 7 hour drive.  We found what was the original road before the highway was constructed.  It was kind of eerie as it was all grown over with moss and lichen, and in many parts the trees had fallen down on to it. It felt like we were in some wierd sci fi movie!

Our Hike - that's the old road

View from dock in Valdez

Valdez is the largest of the Prince William Sound communities. This year-round ice-fre port was the entry point for people and goods going to the interior during the gold rush. Today, Valdez is the southern terminus for the Trans-Alaska pipeline.  The old town of Valdez was relocated and rebuilt after its destruction by the 1964 earthquake - a 9.2, the largest earthquake in North America. There was no visible evidence of the oil spill in 1989, though local residents told us that if you dig, you can still find oil.  

RV Park

Our RV park in Valdez was at the base of beautiful mountains filled with waterfalls and from our campsite we could see six glaciers!  

Otters

View from back of boat

We all went on a glacier cruise and had the best weather ever (for a change no rain!) I will let the photos speak for themselves because, as usual, I am out of words. The captain of the boat took us all the way into the glacier through huge amounts of ice, kinda scary in parts but beautiful. We saw otters, puffins, bald eagles, and stellar sea lions.

Heading to Glacier

Baylee watching the salmon

We took a wondeful hike through the town to a creek where the Salmon were spawning. A amazing sight as they swam and jumped their way up the stream. The female carves out a nest in the bottom of the stream and once that is done the male fertilizes the eggs. After this event the Salmon die, so the stream was filled with dead salmon also. Apparently, the journey from the salt water ocean up the fresh water streams depletes them completely, and because they can’t eat in the fresh water streams, they starve!  Pretty interesting evolutionary process, but sad!