Wrangell St. Elias Mountains
We leave Tok now exploring Alaska as we did last trip, but differently, deeper, more off the main roads. We are looking for the things we didn't see from the open road 5 years ago. We both look to increase our photo time and I especially want some good wildlife shots. Initially our compass route is south, along the Wrangel St. Elias mountain range area and National Park.
www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=viewinglocations.wrangellstelias
Not only America's largest National Park, this area is the home of one of the largest concentrations of Grizzly Bears in the United States. We traveled south along the park to Glennallen where we boondocked for the night. We had debated a day trip to the McCarthy Kennecott Copper Mine east into the mountains, but decided to push on to Valdez. I don't remember this stretch of the highway being this bad, but there were plenty of frost heaves and 'road damage' to last me a lifetime. Tack onto that nearly an hour waiting in line for the 'follow me' truck in two separate construction zones. It was a long day. In all fairness it is Alaska and summer is construction season. Healthy entrée for us on our overnight. Spaghetti Squash with Broccoli and Blue & Gold Sausage w/garlic toast. The leftovers also provided us our arrival meal in Valdez as well.
Spaghetti Squash Pork n Broccoli w/Garlic Toast
The arrival into Valdez, AK is nowhere near what you'd expect. Most travelers look at the map when coming to Alaska and see Valdez is the just at the end of a road and decide to skip it. DON'T DO THIS!You spend most of the journey winding and climbing through the spectacular scenery of the Wrangell Mountains and valleys next to the famous Copper River. Then suddenly you top Thompson Pass in the Chugach Mountains where you are immediately struck by the beauty and remoteness of the location.
Richardson Highway Glennallen to Valdez
Although it is only 2670' feet above sea level, it is the snowiest place in Alaska, averaging more than 500 inches of snow per year on average! From here it is only 29 miles into the village of Valdez, but it is down hill with plenty of workouts for your brakes. I love my diesel exhaust braking. It is a spectacular view on the ride down, but you are grateful when the road levels out. We stayed just NE of town near the airport at the Valdez Glacier Campground. Another retired/active duty perk near the glacier with 30/50 amp electric and a central dump. There is a central water station for your freshwater tank. They do have very good hot showers as well. This entire valley is a WATCH FOR BEARS area. They are common here. Also, part of the campground was closed to due to two Bald Eagle nests. Roux didn't do any solos.
www.militarycampgrounds.us/alaska/valdez-glacier-campground?highlight=WyJ2YWxkZXoiLCJhbGFza2EiLCJ2YWxkZXogYWxhc2thIl0=
No reservations, first come first serve with a central pay kiosk as you enter at $30 per day. Located at the base of the Chugach Mountains, it is nice and quiet with it's own waterfall.
Valdez Glacier Campground
We were the first guests of the year so much of the landscaping wasn't quite up to snuff yet, but we were happy with our spot.
Alyeska Pipeline River Crossing
This is also the terminus of the Alyeska Alaskan Pipeline. Oil from the north slope makes its way 858 miles all the way to this place to be loaded onto tankers bound for the lower 48 refineries. The pipeline is an intricate network of above ground, buried, and even singularly bridged throughout it's entire journey. It takes 12 compressor stations to maintain pressure for the oil to make it from beginning to end. As of January 2019 it transported 17,834,110,634 barrels per day. Yeah, that's right 17 trillion PLUS barrels per day. It is a National Security Area and as such you're not getting within a mile of this place. During our visit, they uploaded about 2 tankers per day for shipment to refineries.
Valdez Terminus Picture courtesy of Alyeska Pipeline Co.
While here I got my fishing license as I brought my surf rod and wanted to do some ocean bottom fishing. Valdez is not an easy place to fish from shore unless the salmon are running. Bottom fish such as rockfish, flounder, and halibut tend to be further out. Barb and I also did a bit of shopping and site seeing. The weather was beautiful. It was nice to be back in the land of Safeway and Oaken Keg......one stop shopping. The area around the town and harbor abounds with mountains, snowfields, glaciers, and waterfalls. Nicknamed the Switzerland of Alaska it is easy to see why. There are plenty of eagles here as they stick around to feed on the scraps of the charter fleet.
Fishing (not catching) on the Valdez Jetty
While here we enjoyed Catfish Sandwiches, Shrimp Corn Maque Choux, and Braised Oxtails over Mashed Taters among others. Whittle, whittle, whittle away at that freezer.
Braised Oxtail
Apple Chicken Salad
I had really planned on running off boondocking protocol some this week, but with only 4 hours of darkness...….the batteries stayed pretty full and really didn't get to show much drain. Diesel here was $3.41. Propane was a bit high at $35 for a bottle refill. We averaged 14.4 mpg towing during our trip to and from here. Sometimes I have to ask myself why I do this with our blog, much as some of you do as well I'm sure. We have been blessed to be able to travel and enjoy it. We only hope to inspire some of you to plan for and accomplish your own journeys. Somewhere along the line I hope that we also provide some useful information, including restaurant reviews, camping, boondocking tips, and gas/diesel info. I'm afraid, however, that you're stuck with my cooking pictures. We head north and west from here now, on our way to Anchorage and beyond.
"If you think there are no new frontiers, watch a boy ring the front doorbell on his first date"
Olin Miller
WiFi courtest of Verizon MiFi
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