Day 44, 45 and 46 Valdez, AK

August 12, 13, and 14

Valdez, population 4,100, was founded in 1897.

The Valdez Bay was named after an early Spanish naval officer who had explored the area and the town was named after the bay.

Of course, the First Nation Peoples were here long before that.

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History Refresher:

Remember the Klondike Gold Rush and the Chilkoot Trail near Skagway?

Well, in 1897-1898 some 4,000 prospectors came to Valdez believing this to be another entry to the Gold Fields. If they survived the winter after traversing the Valdez Glacier, most miners turned back when they found out they had 100 more miles to go.

The town has only been in its current location since 1967. Why?

In the 9.2 Earthquake of 1964, the one that devastated Seward and Homer too, the old town was basically destroyed and rendered unsafe to rebuild on. They relocated 4-miles further up the Valdez Bay. Not many of the old buildings were moved. At the time, the population was only at 600-700 people.

Another example of the size of the Oil Pipeline. The red "gizmo" inside is sent through the pipeline on a scheduled basis to check for any leaks or problems and transmits the information back to the monitors.

The extent of our Wildlife Viewing in Valdez.

This little guy was eating lunch on the lawn of the Historical Museum.

William’s halibut-fishing Captain took the group 90-miles out into the Gulf of Alaska.

This “fisherwoman” in Wm’s group (shown with the ship's captain) won the weekly-derby prize for her 137# halibut - $75.

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The sun was shining so we spent one day viewing the mountains.

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, created in 1980, is our largest National Park.

It has 9 of the 16 tallest mountains in North America. A few are still active volcanoes.

Mt. Drum

Mt. Blackburn

Notice where the Blue Pointer is.

Should we get our money back on this “tech item”???

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Yarrow or Milfoil

It thrives on poor soil so there is a lot along the roads.

The plant leaves are said to speed up blood clotting when crushed and placed on a wound.