Driving to Valdez

We were told the Tok cut-off would be wild and crazy . . . and indeed it was!  So many frost heaves - this video does not do justice to how many frost heaves there were, but at 40 miles per hour, they were pretty jolting.

It is a good thing the weather was decent and the scenery was good!  We had been told the drive into Valdez was awesome . . . and indeed it was.

Oh those frost heaves!

Before we even arrived at Glenallen, we saw our first two moose.  We drove by before we could get a picture, but what handsome creatures they are.  They were deep in a lake, but that didn't take away from their enormity.  I hope we see more!

The sights were spectacular.  As we started down the road to Valdez, we were greeted with snow-capped mountains of 16,000+ feet in elevation.  That is taller than anything in Kansas . . . or New Mexico.  Mount Sanford has an ice field on top and plenty of glaciers, and the closest mountain, Mount Drum, has 11 glaciers splaying out from its ice field.  They are magnificent, but the sun was not in the right place for a great picture.

In the back is a snow-covered peak, to the left - Mt. Sanford

Later on we were treated to steep canyons and large glaciers - the Worthington Glacier being the largest.  They warn not to go to the bottom of the glacier for fear of falling ice; they warn of crevasses  on the surface of the glacier.  Not to worry from our group!

The Worthington Glacier

Bridal Veil Falls

We had several 10% grades to negotiate, so going back up Thompson Pass could be interesting - it is long and 8% all the way up.

Just one of several 10% grades - hard to show in a picture . . . 

But when we got down to the valley where Valdez lies, we could see why this picturesque community is popular!

Unfortunately, Willie started having "dough nut" problems.  We have had this problem before - the first time in Boise on our first trip to Alaska, and twice since then.  Luckily, Don had come equipped with nearly all of the right stuff to fix it, and after 8 or 10 trips to the hardware and Napa store, he was able to come up with a temporary fix until we can get to Anchorage - we hope!

Glad he knows what he is doing under there!

Laundry is going to be tough on this sweatshirt!

Contemplating yet another trip under the Willie.