Anchorage to Whittier

More than half the state's population lives in Anchorage and the neighboring Matanuska-Susitna borough which includes Palmer and Wasilla.  Population:  300,549 which is a few more than we have been used too.....Elevation:  Sea Level

The Anchorage Museum

Half Day at least

 Anchorage lies between the Chugach Mountains on the east

and Knik Arm of Cook Inlet on the west

 5 K race on Saturday

Huge outdoor market downtown

  food vendors with everything you would want

 Hand-kitted by over 250 Eskimo knitters using Qiviut

the soft and rare fiber from the arctic Musk Oxen

When do we eat

 Close quarters at the Golden Nugget Campground

 Tailgate party tonight

Leaving Anchorage, the Seward Highway (completed in 1951) follows the north shore of Turnagain Arm through Chugach State Park with panoramic views of the south shore and the Kenai Mountains on the Kenai Peninsula.  

We turn left on the Portage Glacier/Whittier Access Road

Tour shuttles headed back from Whittier...

Staying at Portage Valley RV Park

If we meet someone I can't back out Nancy

One coming out but we have room to pull over

This is it....the only RV Park in the area with electric hook-ups

Beautiful mountains surrounding us

We are off to Whittier in the truck because the only way we can get there is through the Anton Anderson Tunnel, originally a railroad tunnel now doubles as road access.  Prior to June 2000 the only way you arrived in Whittier was by railroad.

The Whittier vehicle access required the modification of the 2.5-mile-long Anton Anderson Memorial tunnel to handle both railroad and vehicle traffic.  The tunnel is 1-lane, and cars and trains take turns traveling through it.  

Tunnel tolls are charged according to the vehicle class and are round-trip....You can not ride a bicycle or walk through the tunnel.  

Looks like lots of mountains up there

$13 Captain

It takes 6.5 minutes at 35 mph to travel through the tunnel

It is the longest highway tunnel and longest combined highway/railroad tunnel
in North America

13,200 feet....there is light at the end....Yea

Train coming at us as we leave the tunnel...OMG

Yes, daily sightseeing trains come thru the tunnel Captain

Well we know why tour operators are coming out of Whittier

Whittier is on the Prince William Sound and an ice-free deep harbor

Normal temp in July is 56 degrees

Mean annual precipitation is 174 inches, including
260 inches of snow

Look at the Spud Poles

Lots of traffic at the marina

Commercial from Cordova AK

Whittier is nestled at the base of mountains that line Passage Canal,
a fjord that extends eastward into Prince William Sound

Population 220

Aluminium boats....fishing nets....lots of them

The Inn at Whittier offers premiere waterfront lodging

Whittier Manor houses Whittier's population today

 US Army completed this in 1954 for 6M and left town in 1960

The beauty of Prince William Sound

is Whittier's primary attraction

Fishing vessel on a mooring ball

Cruise Ships now come to town

Alaska State Ferry has docks

Containers waiting for a Cargo Ship

Horsetail Falls

One last look

Another glacier to view

Beside the road by the tunnel entrance

We are in line for a 3 pm departure

Took us exactly 6 minutes

Rain Rain Go Away.....

Day 43 and we have traveled 4,912 miles in the coach......will be here for 2 days...more to come....