Rafting, Talkeetna, Glaciers and Valdez

Uff da, I have a lot to cover! Tonight I am sitting outside the Valdez Visitors' Center. I hope it doesn't take too long to download the photos.

The Rafting. It was a lot of fun. You choose if you want to paddle a raft or just ride in a raft that the guide has two oars. If you are in a paddle raft you get to do a Category I rapids (I think that is the most difficult) along with some lesser rapids. I chose the paddle raft. They were 6 "paddlers" and 1 guide.

In actuality both types of rafts go down the river together. We had 4 rafts in our group. The only difference was that our guide would put us through the more difficult rapids and the "oar" rafts went around the difficult spots.

As you might expect, everything was toned down for tourists. These were not difficult rapids. But it was still fun. There were enough tough rapids that you were tossed around once in awhile and the rest of the ride was a very pleasant boat ride down the Nenana River. This river is named after the Nenana Glacier where the water comes from. Very cold glacial run off.

We were on the river for two hours. It was a pleasant and scenic afternoon. We had a good group in the boat and everyone had a good time. I spent most of the time talking to a German man (in English of course). No one took pictures during the ride. Too much bouncing around. The two in the front got quite wet (we had drysuits on). The rest of us, only a little. I enjoyed the experience.

We had to wear helmets, hence the helmet hair.

 

Monday I left Denali NP and headed down the George Parks Hwy towards Anchorage. Along the way I stopped in Talkeenta, Ak. The story has it that Talkneeta was the inspiration for the mythical town of Cecily, Alaska (which was filmed in Roselyn, Washington) in my favorite TV show, "Northern Exposure". Talkeetna is supposed to still have some of that "old" Alaska feel.

 

The George Parks Hwy, finished in 1972, is the only road that runs from Anchorage to Denali and Fairbanks. Therefor Talkeetna has been "discovered" by tourists and tourist buses. It is definitely now a tourist attraction.

 

Yet, most of the town still is the old buildings. You can see and get a feel for what the town looked like 20 years ago. It's pretty small so it didn't take long to walk around the whole town.

 

 I had lunch at the old Roadhouse Lodge. Their specialty is sourdough pancakes which is what I had. (Doug, thanks for the article). Actually, "pancake" would be more correct. It was one large pancake that hung over the sides of the plate. VERY good! The Roadhouse is an old log cabin that has been added on to long ago. There were large tables and you just sit down at an open spot.

 

 

                                    



Established in 1921

 

The interior of the Roadhouse where I ate. Very homey. Notice the log walls.

 

This is a newer building but built as a log cabin to fit in with the old buildings. Talkeenta is a center for bush pilots and float planes and flying tourists around or over Mt. McKinley.

 

 

I spent Monday night in a WalMart parking lot (sorry no photos) and Tuesday I drove to Valdez. There is a mountain range around Anchorage, the Chugach Mountains. Then you drive out of those on the Glenn Hwy and as you get closer to Valdez you come to the Wrangell-St Elias Mountains. The whole drive is beautiful, especially the last 70 miles or so into Valdez. Again, you are usually driving in a river valley with mountains on both sides. The Wrangell Mountains are quite high with snow and a number of glaciers.

Wedding Veil Falls

The Worthington Glacier. There is a State Park here and you can walk right up to the glacier.

That's water flowing. I have a video but they don't seem to upload.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                   

At a rest stop along the road.

I'm camping at a great little CG, Blueberry Lake State Recreation Area. Only 15 campsites.


The view out the back of my campsite Tuesday afternoon.





The view out the back of my campsite Tuesday night about 10pm.

 

Valdez is an interesting and active small town. It has the only port in Alaska that stays open all year. That is why it was selected as the terminus for the pipeline. Yet it averages 300 inches, yes 300, of snow a year!

 

Valdez was devastated by an earthquake in 1964 and mostly rebuilt. In 1967 it was determined that the town was built on unstable land so the entire town was moved 4 miles. It is a sport fishing center. There are a lot of boats and RVs here. 

A long pier that you can drive on to and fish off the pier.

Built in 1939. Was still in use in 1989 and was used in the clean up after the Exxon Valdez disaster.

 

 

My laptop is about out of battery power so time to close. Doug and Lynda, have a great time on your trip!!