Anchorage/Portage

We departed Denali in the rain, and it followed us all the way to Eagle River, just North of Anchorage.  Being a Sunday afternoon, we were able to get a site in Eagle River Campground, a part of ChuGach State Park.  A mother moose and baby greeted us at the check-in station, and a Black Bear passed through the campground the next morning. 

A trip to Anchorage on Monday for a look-see, then back to the campground with my prized purchase.  I even had to purchase a boiling pot for it.  I’ll let the following pictures speak for themselves.

 

There were quite a few museums in Anchorage, but Wells Fargo has a free one in their downtown office building.  There were a number of displays covering Alaskan history and culture.

 

Ship model built from bone and ivory.

Beautiful carvings and scrimshaw on Walrus Ivory.

A little gold nugget, found in 1964.

                                  

There was also lots of original art, as well as historical books and journals from Alaska’s earliest days.

 

                               

On another day we made a stop at Bass Pro Shops.  The prettiest one we’ve ever visited.

                       

The good news being we left there without buying a thing.  I did find out a little 18’ fishing boat costs quite a bit more up here.

                            

From Anchorage we made out way Southward along Turnagin Arm to Portage, and Williwaw Campground.  Our campsite was located right below Williwaw Glacier.

The campground was Located very near Portage Glacier, and Portage Lake.  The lake itself didn’t even exist until 1906 when the glacier started receding.  Now the lake is miles long, and over 600 feet deep.

A calved iceberg from the glacier grounded outside the visitor center.

We took a short cruise on the most beautiful day the area had enjoyed in weeks.

Another day found us making our way to Whittier through the two and one half mile railroad tunnel.  Built for trains, highway traffic is allowed through one way each hour.

                         

                         

Whitter is a rail port, located on Prince William Sound.  Lots of fishing boats call it home, also.

Williwaw campground itself is located in a temperate rain forest environment.  Glaciers abound overhead while lush ferns grow in the valley.

                    

A clear snowmelt stream meets a glacial meltwater one.  Notice the difference in color?

We took a short drive to Hope, AK.  An old mining town that almost drowned after the 1964 earthquake.  Not much left, but it was a fun spot on the west side of the Turnigan Arm.

And, then, there was the Bore Tide up the Arm.  One of two places it happens in North America.

                            

Surfers awaiting the wave.  Only one was able to catch it for a minute or so.

That’s all for this week.  Posting three days late due to no internet.  Thanks, Mc

donalds.  On South and West…..jc