Alaska Off the Beaten Path® by Deb Vanasse & DEB VANASSE

Author:Deb Vanasse & DEB VANASSE
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781461747338
Publisher: Globe Pequot

If you’re heading for the port of Whittier, on fabled Prince William Sound, the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel (907–472–2584; www.dot.state.ak.us/creg/whittiertunnel) is the way to go. The tunnel is located on Portage Glacier Road and connects Whittier and Prince William Sound to the Seward Highway and the rest of Southcentral Alaska. It is the longest highway tunnel in North America at 2.5 miles, and the longest combined rail-highway–use tunnel in North America (the Alaska Railroad operates to and from Whittier as well). The round-trip toll for driving the tunnel is $12 for general traffic.

Another option is to take the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage, which departs daily and costs $72 round-trip or $58 one way. Visit the Alaska Railroad Web site at www.alaskarailroad.com for more information or call (800) 544–0552 or (907) 265–2494 in Anchorage.

From Whittier, one of your best options is to hop aboard the Klondike Express for a Twenty-six-Glacier Cruise. Operated by Phillips Cruises and Tours (800–544–0529; www.26glaciers.com), a sleek, comfortable catamaran will take you on a 135-mile adventure into College and Harriman Fjords, where you’ll likely see whales, sea otters, eagles, and harbor seals in addition to calving glaciers. Fun and fact-filled narration by the friendly crew, a hearty halibut snack, complimentary coffee, and a guaranteed smooth ride make this a fabulous experience. Check out their seasonal rail/cruise special at $139 round-trip.

Also located on the 5½-mile Portage Glacier Road is Alaska’s most visited travel attraction, Portage Glacier, and perhaps Alaska’s least known wildlife species, the glacier iceworm.

At the glacier the USDA Forest Service operates Begich-Boggs Visitor Center where, in good weather or foul, you can view the frequently iceberg-clogged lake that the ice river flows into and all kinds of interesting glacial exhibits. Though the glacier is no longer visible from here, each day a huge chunk of glacier ice is hauled into the center, where you can touch, rub, and pose with ice that began as snow on the glacier perhaps a century ago. Incredibly, there are tiny but visible organisms, popularly called iceworms, that live in glacial ice. On Friday in the summer you can head out with forest service naturalists daily for an iceworm safari (no charge) to track down some of Alaska’s littlest creatures. The center is open daily in summer 9:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Call (907) 783–2326.

The Gray Line of Alaska’s sightseeing vessel Ptarmigan makes frequent one-hour excursions from lakeshore to within ¼ mile of Portage Glacier’s glistening face. This is Alaska’s most economical ($29) glacier cruise. Forest service naturalists accompany each trip. For information and reservations call (888) 452–1737 or visit www.graylineofalaska.com.

At Seward Highway’s mile 56.2 you have two somewhat confusing choices. If you’re coming from Anchorage, turn right to access the Hope Highway; stay left to stay on the road to Seward. The Hope alternative is well worth exploring. The road leads to the community of Hope and one of Alaska’s most celebrated backpacking experiences.

First, about the road and the community: At the turnout just beyond mile 2, you have at least a chance of seeing moose in the Sixmile Creek valley below.

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