The last Blog was immensely long so I am finishing up the Kenai Peninsula area here (Seward) and also including our visit to Valdez. Both of these locations provided landscapes beyond expectation, wildlife, interesting information, catching up again with road friends and meeting new ones. We have seen a lifetime of the most spectacular scenery throughout our one month of exploration of Alaska, full of extraordinary experiences we will cherish.
Seward, known for being the beginning of the historic Iditarod, is situated between snow topped mountains and the Gulf of Alaska. The landscape, formed by glaciers, was breathtaking. Nearly forty glaciers flow from the Harding Icefield! The best way to see this area, Kenai Fjords National Park, is by plane or boat - we chose boat - and it was a rainy day.
Fabulous views from our Seward campsite - even a photo of a dear friend’s cruise ship in port!
Kenai Fjords National Park - Covers 669,984 Acres on the Kenai Peninsula.
Kenai Fjords National Park - Kenai Fjords National Park was established in 1980 by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.
Kenai Fjords National Park - The park is bordered on the west by Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and on the south by Kachemak Bay State Park.
Kenai Fjords National Park - The grounding of the oil tanker Exxon Valdez in Prince William Sound on March 24, 1989, produced extensive contamination of the Kenai Fjords coastline.
Kenai Fjords National Park - Holgate Glacier off Aialik Bay - Flowing outward from the Harding Icefield.
Humpback Whale and some lazy Stellar Sea Lions - photos courtesy of Steve Cotten!
They found us (lol) - Old Road Friends and New Road Friends! Delicious local halibut and salmon plus a few more photos to round out our stay in Seward. Steve spent some time chasing the seagulls away from our delicious bounty, lol.
Exit Glacier - just outside of Seward - one of the most accessible valley glaciers in Alaska.
Saying farewell to the Kenai Peninsula was a difficult task. I fell in love with every bit and thought it would be the final most beautiful place I would see in Alaska - until we begin our trek to Valdez! Up to now I had decided the most beautiful drive on our adventure was the route up to Jasper National Park through the Canadian Rockies (which was truly fabulous). The road to Valdez was the icing on the cake - unbelievably picturesque and full of glaciers, waterfalls, mountains, and rivers.
Driving to Valdez - So many glaciers to to admire!
Stopped to take in some of these unbelievable views!
Views from our picturesque campground at Blueberry Lake State Recreational Site, about thirty minutes from Valdez.
Worthington Glacier
Views of Bridal Veil Falls and Horse Tail Falls (below) within Keystone Canyon outside Valdez.
Creepy unfinished train tunnel.
“This tunnel was hand cut into the solid rock of Keystone Canyon and is all that is left of the ‘Railroad Era’. Nine companies fought to take advantage of the short route from the coast to the copper mines at Kennecott. However, a feud interrupted the progress. A gun battle was fought and the tunnel was never finished.”- from “The Iron Trail” by Rex Beach
We made it! During our stay near Valdez we: visited the Solomon Gulch Fish Hatchery, toured the Maxine & Jesse Whitney Museum and the Valdez Museum, spent some time at the library, and of course had a pint of local IPA!
The Maxine & Jesse Whitney Museum contains one of the largest collections of Native Alaskan art and artifacts in the world. Maxine Whitney moved to Alaska in 1947 and procured items as she traveled to Native villages. The collection includes natural history of Alaska, Alaska wildlife mounts, ivory (walrus) and baleen pieces, masks, dolls, and fur garments.
Solomon Gultch Hatchery - Mission is to ensure sufficient numbers of wild salmon return each year to increase the harvests of both sport and commercial fisheries in the Valdez area, plus provides the opportunity to see Steller Sea Lions and bears! We unfortunately did not see any bears.
Steller Sea Lions near the hatchery. A fellow traveler let us know the the “rock” in the photo below was actually a Stellar Sea Lion, she did not move for quite a while (apparently stuffed with fish!)
The Valdez Museum preserves, presents, and interprets the heritage and culture of Valdez. In 1973, Congress approved the plans for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline with the terminus at Valdez. On March 24, 1989 the Exxon Valdez struck Bligh Reef, causing the largest oil spill in North American history. As a result of the spill, thousands of birds, sea otters, and other wildlife died and hundreds of miles of beach were oiled. Some species have still not recovered from this disaster.
Good-bye Valdez - an amazing end to our Alaskan adventure! We will stop for one more overnight outside of Tok, prior to the Canadian border - before starting the long drive through British Columbia to Vancouver. Miss you all!
Coddiwompling “To Travel in a Purposeful Manner Towards a Vague Destination”
“Oh! What’s that white spot out there? [gets binoculars out] Oh. It’s just a rock. Another F%#@! rock.” - Steve Cotten
“Oh! What’s that brown spot out there? [gets binoculars out again] Oh. It’s just a stump. Another F%#@! stump.” - Steve Cotten
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seward,_Alaska
https://www.alaskacollection.com/day-tours/kenai-fjords-tours/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenai_Fjords_National_Park
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holgate_Glacier
http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/kenai/blueberrylksrs.htm