On the road to Valdez, Alaska, the
Worthington glacier is immediately roadside as you climb into Thompson pass on the Richardson highway.
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zvw0hR6uWw8/SsZlF0jcpKI/AAAAAAAAIcM/XIrxT1lN7Go/s320/CIMG7843.jpg)
Snowfall in the pass must be extreme, judging by the height of the marker posts along the road.
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zvw0hR6uWw8/SsZlFTnG42I/AAAAAAAAIcE/qxN0b89SVu8/s320/CIMG7849.jpg)
Over the pass you begin the long descent to the coast.
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zvw0hR6uWw8/SsZlE-RwHDI/AAAAAAAAIb8/Md-2BoBg5bw/s320/CIMG7850.jpg)
There are many glaciers and waterfalls that can be seen from this route.
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zvw0hR6uWw8/SsZk6WCyzQI/AAAAAAAAIb0/rneUhZtNEz8/s320/CIMG7852.jpg)
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zvw0hR6uWw8/SsZlGOg1uDI/AAAAAAAAIcU/HNo4r9-thkA/s320/CIMG7854.jpg)
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zvw0hR6uWw8/SsZk5xND3PI/AAAAAAAAIbs/i_ZOEJVkqzk/s320/CIMG7855.jpg)
Finally, the port of
Valdez, named after a Spanish explorer in 1790 became a town because of deception from steamship lines at the time of the gold rush. They promoted it as a faster easier way to the gold fields, but in fact it was twice as long and steep as promised. Many gold seekers perished on the route as a result.
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zvw0hR6uWw8/SsZk5elBJwI/AAAAAAAAIbk/boAODqEfD2M/s320/CIMG7856.jpg)
There was a viewing platform for watching the fish spawn at the edge of town.
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zvw0hR6uWw8/SsZk4zt5flI/AAAAAAAAIbc/lM1SPiJNsC0/s320/CIMG7859.jpg)
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zvw0hR6uWw8/SsZk4rWTaHI/AAAAAAAAIbU/tAaS2A18cP0/s320/CIMG7862.jpg)
Video of spawning fish.
Of course, Valdez is probably most infamous for the oil spill of the Exxon Valdez, which hit a reef on March 24, 1989, eventually covering 11 million square miles of ocean with crude oil.
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zvw0hR6uWw8/SsZkse9wzRI/AAAAAAAAIbI/-7Fh3qzpL_I/s320/CIMG7863.jpg)
We did not go out looking for any signs of this environmental tragedy, although I'm sure some of the effects will be felt for decades to come.
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zvw0hR6uWw8/SsZkrxj12yI/AAAAAAAAIbA/OeEcdrdrYBY/s320/CIMG7864.jpg)
It was an overcast day, but we checked out the towns bakeries, grocery stores, museums, and of course filled up with fuel.
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zvw0hR6uWw8/SsZkrYY73lI/AAAAAAAAIa4/iNRTQK45p7U/s320/CIMG7866.jpg)
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zvw0hR6uWw8/SsZkrLGIrHI/AAAAAAAAIaw/wXq7xT6YQ58/s320/CIMG7867.jpg)
View of the town from a hill between the harbour and the town.
We did check out the price of taking the ferry to Whittier, the the price was over $300 for the truck and two of us. I presume the cat would ride free.
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zvw0hR6uWw8/SsZkquUojZI/AAAAAAAAIao/bBnP8N2pdqk/s320/CIMG7868.jpg)
Next, retracing our route back to Copper Center and Glenallen.
Great scenery, great photos, great trip.
ReplyDelete