Beyond Valdez

2011-08-15

Whittier to Valdez on the ferry

I was nearly out of fuel when I arrived at Portage Lake, having foolishly passed up the only Diesel pump I saw over a long stretch of highway.  Since I didn't know exactly how far I'd have to drive to get to Whittier or Valdez for fuel, I used the jerry can to extend my range.

The state of California mandated that fuel cans be designed to maximize fuel spillage both on the ground and on your shoes.  My jerry can is CARB compliant and performed as designed.

To get to Whittier I drove through a long tunnel.  Traffic only moves through the tunnel in a single direction at a time.  Fortunately I factored the 30 minute wait into my ferry schedule.  The turbo Diesel engine made a glorious roaring whistling sound as we eventually rumbled through.

In Whittier I nearly missed my ferry while drinking coffee and relaxing by Prince William Sound.  Fortunately I convinced them to re-open the gates and I was the last to board.  Unlike Washington ferries, you can't wait until 20 minutes before departure in Alaska.

Canon F1 on Legacy Pro 100 (Fuji Acros) film

The ride was great.  We sped past iceburgs, fishing boats, snowy mountains, green mountains, streams and waterfalls, arriving in Valdez after about three hours.

From Valdez I headed out on the only road leaving Valdez.  I stopped on my way to photograph this stream and once more to pick up some fish from a local processor.

In retrospect, there are plenty of options for camping around Valdez so taking the slow boat, enjoying the ride, and hunting for a camping spot in the evening wouldn't have been a problem.

I, however, had more miles to travel so I set off on the highway, driving alongside the Wrangell-St. Elias preserve.

I spent the rest of the day driving, seeing very little human activity along the way.  I did see one black bear and one coyote from the road.

Eventually I stopped and made camp on the far side of the preserve.

Taking a break along Alaska 4