Semi Annual Trip to Valdez

I always enjoy the drive to Valdez. Three hundred and sixty miles from Fairbanks, a traveler takes the Richardson Highway and passes through a floral wilderness abundant with views, and perhaps experiences, that will be remembered for a lifetime. We straddle and cross rivers carrying the runoff of winter's snow, all of which are abundant with sustenance to a wide variety of game and fowl. Harding, Birch, Summit, Paxton, Tangle, and Willow are just six of the more than one hundred lakes we see, each worthy of an overnight stay. Willow Lake, as previously mentioned is one of our favorites.

Moose along, and on, the highway require the driver’s constant vigilance, getting too close can spoil even your best day. Twins must be a popular item this year, we spotted three sets on this trip.

Located in the Chugach Mountains near Thompson Pass, the Worthington Glacier is one of the most accessible glaciers in Alaska, passing within a few feet of the parking lot, and viewing shelter, right off the Richardson Highway. Incidentally, Thompson Pass is considered "the snowiest place in Alaska", with an average annual snowfall of forty-six feet. I drove this route once in winter, and the sensation was like riding a subway into oblivion, snow everywhere. From Thompson Pass (elev. 2678) we have a drive of only twenty-six miles to Valdez, Alaska. I consider these last few miles the highlight of the entire trip. This section of the highway passes through Keystone Canyon, following the Lowe River to its terminus, in Prince William Sound.

As we know, it really is a small world. This gentleman, with the fish online, was a member of our Halibut Fishing Charter. After some conversation, I discovered that I had sold his mother a Cadillac more than twenty years ago. They still have it; it has given them good service, was a classic then, and must be a "Super Classic" by now.

The day after our fishing charter, I was cleaning some Pink Salmon I caught that morning, and I saw the same fellow. He was cleaning some salmon he caught. He said he had some pictures of me catching my halibut and would send them to me. He also had a video of a "Grizzly-Fish-Fisherman" encounter he managed to film. I will add these to this post when I hear from him. (wdmurr@gmail.com)