The locals in Anchorage tell us they have a maritime climate, which is code for windy, cold and rainy. We stayed near Whittier on the Seward Highway. Bears visited our motel and our inn keeper was excited to shoot the sow bear if she comes back.
There is a unique 2.5 mile long tunnel over to Whittier that is single lane car and shared with the train. Worth driving through just in itself. What we did was take the Major Marine Tour of Prince William Sound. Winds were gusting over 60 mph, the surf was up and it was raining, however we ended up having a lot of fun with our seat mates, and saw the blue-blue Surprise Glacier, at least 40 sea lions, a dozen bald eagles feeding, and a rookery of 8000 kittiwakes.
Two cold and damp nights tested our mettle while camping at Denali National Park. Campsite 11 at Savage Creek Campground was an excellent site and the Green bus that takes you into the interior stops right at the entrance to the campground. We booked the day trip to the Eielson Viewing Center. Our driver Sandy was skilled at navigating the 1 lane gravel road with 1000 feet drop-offs, all the while providing a running commentary on park lore, and spotting wild-life. We watched a blonde sow grizzly and her two (large) cubs feasting on a caribou, over 75 luckier caribou including a nursing herd, dahl sheep and a mated pair of gyrfalcons (largest type of falcon with wingspans of 5 feet).
Locals talked us into driving east across the Alaska Mountain Range on the Denali Highway. Much the drive is across tundra and about 100 miles is gravel. A good shakedown for our upcoming 1000 miles of gravel on the Dempster Highway, however I would only recommend if you have 4 wheel drive, good clearance and good tires. We saw some amazing high valleys and meadows, and glaciated areas. And the Alaska Pipeline paralleled our route up to Delta Junction (the northern end of the Alaska Highway).
What an amazing adventure! Thanks for sharing it with us. Love the picture of the grizzly and cubs, and the comment about the luckier caribou. Good luck on the Dempster.
What an amazing adventure! Thanks for sharing it with us. Love the picture of the grizzly and cubs, and the comment about the luckier caribou. Good luck on the Dempster.
I just got the information about this blog from Joan and I love living vicariously through you! What an amazing description of your adventures, along with great pictures. I’m already looking forward to your next post.
Safe travels!
You look so cold!!!! Amazing scenes though. And great pics!