Blue Ice

Looking down on the road to Hatcher Pass

Palmer Airport

The signs of human habitation became evident once we hit the town of Palmer.   Keep in mind these are by Alaskan standards and not those of the lower 48.  Still it was good to see a town that was more than just a gas station and an intersection of two highways.  We stayed in Palmer for a week and let Jack get some rest.  Turns out he had a nasty cold that turned into bronchitis and required a visit to an Urgent Care facility.  Plus he had an allergic reaction to the antibiotic and broke out in a nasty rash. Ouch!  I liked the town of Palmer it is situated in the Matanuska Valley and like almost every other area of Alaska surrounded by glacier capped mountains.  There was a nice bike path into town from the RV park and enough espresso stands to keep me happy and occupied while Jack recuperated. One day I hiked part of the Matanuska trail which was just down the road from the RV park.  The first part of the trail does a significant upward climb, a real heart thump-er even for this New Mexico mountain girl.   Jack and I took a ride up to Hatcher Pass and down Old Glenn Highway.  Palmer is a good balance between urban and wilderness and good alternative to staying in Anchorage.

Along the Turnagain Arm

Fireplace Pavilion

Our next stop was Portage but first you have to drive through Anchorage and along Turnagain Arm.  It is a beautiful drive along the Arm but the traffic is nuts and not very enjoyable pulling the big white whale.   We dry camped at the Williwaw National Campground last time we were in these parts and opted for the Portage RV park (water/electric only)  right next to it this time.  At first I was thinking it was nothing more than a giant gravel parking lot but it is in pretty spot and the sights are large and well spaced.  Every night there is large bonfire in a covered pavilion which is a great way to meet some folks from around the world all traveling through Alaska.  It is also along the Trail of Blue Ice which goes all the way to Portage Glacier.  

Tunnel to Whittier

And out the other side.

  Nearby and down a long, long, long and narrow tunnel is the town of Whittier.    Whittier is mountain and water locked and the only way to visit is via this tunnel, boat, or float-plane.  It is one way and also used by the Alaskan railroad so you have to time your travel to the town.  Whittier is also the hub of for a lot of the boat tours of Prince William Sound which was our goal.  We picked a perfect day too!  So did a lot of other folks the boat was at capacity and the assigned seating was tight but you could hang out anywhere on the decks so not really an issue except for the meal time.   Calving glaciers and waterfalls it was a magnificent day on the water.   The holding tanks were getting full and time for us head down the road to our next destination Homer.