Our Valdez trips

Our Summer Vacation 2001

These photos were taken with an inexpensive camera with no extras. I tell you this so you will know how much more spectacular the real thing is, than what you see on these pages! And, just a smidgeon of the photos we took could be used, and we only took photos of a smidgeon of what there was to see. The motto? When coming to Alaska, make sure you have absolutely TONS of film, and the very best camera for scenery, long shots, wildlife at a distance, etc., that you have. Alaska will provide the rest.

Our Trips to Valdez

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These photos were taken on an overlook of the Tanana River, about halfway between Fairbanks and Delta Junction, on the Richardson Highway. In the photo on the left are "Two peas in a pod," as brothers Don (left) and Jim (right) look across the valley. In the photo on the right, Jim is shown with Ellie, Don's wife.

This is Rainbow mountain, just one each of the photos we took from each end of the mountain. This was the first time we've been able to see all the colors, as it is mostly shrouded in cloud. The photos were taken on September 7th, and fall color is in its glory.

This is Summit Lake on a cloudy day in July. It is located near Isabel Pass.

A bit further on, just past Summit Lake, we saw several pairs of beautiful trumpeter swans in September, resting on their journey as they migrate south for the winter.

Further on, in the great Copper River Valley, in the distance are the snow covered Mount Wrangell and Mount St. Elias; in the foreground is the Copper River. On Wrangell there were large copper deposits mined in the past. There is a large national park there now.

Everyone always asks why there are no photos of me. Truthfully, I take terrible photos, but here is one that Jim snapped at the viewing platform at Worthington Glacier, shown below. Look at the mountains behind me... aren't they beautiful? This is gorgeous fall color above tree line. Alpine plants in the tundra turn color just like the leaves on the trees.

As you approach the top of Thompson Pass you reach Worthington Glacier. This glacier is just off the road, and you can drive up into an overlook, look through magnifiers, and even walk up to it. You are not supposed to stand on it, as it can be dangerous, but people do climb upon it for photos. These photos were taken in September.

Breathtaking, isn't it? Okay, on to the next page, you haven't seen anything yet...

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