Our Alaskan RV Trip 2024: May 2024

Photo of the day

One of the few snow-free areas on our Horsetail Falls Trail hike

This morning, Dave took a 7am work call from the deck. When Lynda took this picture, she noticed that the deck looks to be larger than the RV!

After we decided to nix the rafting trip because of 45 degree drizzly weather, we headed into Whittier to do some hikes. We passed through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel which is both the longest highway tunnel and the longest combined highway/railway tunnel in North America. The tunnel is only one direction of traffic at a time, so once an hour each direction goes.

It is a narrow, dimly lit tunnel that is 13,200 ft in length. The speed limit is 25mph so it takes 6 min to get through. Dave took a picture and short time lapse video while Lynda kept her eyes closed for most of it both directions.

The entrance to the tunnel. You can see the railroad track veering off to the left.

Short video through tunnel

Longer, time-lapsed video

The city of Whittier is a port but was not much to see in terms of shopping, etc. Plus it was a gray drizzly day, so we continued through to do a hike.

The port for smaller boats in Whittier. There is also a port for cruise ships.

Whittier has a population of 273. The 14-story Begich Tower building shown below is where more than half of the residents live. (Dave looked it up on Zillow, and there is a 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom unit available for $159,900 if you are interested!) Apparently there is a 2nd place called Whittier Manor where the rest of the folks live.

Begich Tower

The Portage Pass Trail was on our list but because of the snow and difficulty/steepness, we switched the Horsetail Falls trail. We tried to take a skinny gravel road up to the trailhead but had to stop because of snow. We decided to continue to do the hike despite the snow. It was quite the challenge and adventure (and made most of us feel rather uncoordinated).

This is the first pile of snow that we could not go past in the car

The truck in the upper right must have driven there last fall

After a couple hundred yards of snow, we found a patch of solid ground.

Our view from part way up. The abandoned building is Buckner Building. It was built in 1953 by the military and was once the largest building in Alaska. (and is kind of creepy)

Steve and Carol plus a view looking back over the Price William Sound

This bridge is along the path we were supposed to be traveling along - so much snow!

We eventually found the real trail and were able to follow it for a couple hundred feet.
They stapled roof shingles on it for traction.

We made it up at least 2/3 of the way with ALL of us sinking a leg into knee or thigh-high deep snow at least one time.

It is challenging to get yourself out of a hole once your leg sinks!

We did manage to get pictures of what we believe was Horsetail Falls and saw some pretty views overlooking Whittier and the Sound...

Brittney forging our path

Lynda and Carol taking a breather.

Near the middle of the picture you can see Brittney again leading the way

Dave, Brittney, Carol and Lynda with a glimpse of Horsetail Falls. (The tiny white line to the right of the tall pine tree.) We look like we are standing in front of a green screen but it was real!

Brit went a little farther than us - she is hunched over at the left side of the screen near the tip of the tree along with diagonal line:

Here was Brittney's view of the next ridge.

Dave and Carol on our descent.

This is where one of Lynda's legs sunk thigh deep in the snow!

At one point on the way down where we were maneuvering around groups of trees, Lynda was commenting on how much moose would probably like that area since there were leafy branches accessible. At that time, a tree branch must have been released from snow cover, because it sprung forward and scared the bejeezus out of Lynda and Dave.

Along the route, there were many pink-tinged areas that Lynda was convinced was where a bloody carcass had been dragged through. But Dave and Brittney assured her that it is an algae that forms on top of the snow.

You can use the map below to visit Dave at his new cabin:

Have you ever seen a sign like this?

This is a view of the Portage Glacier in the distance as we await our turn to re-enter the tunnel. (in the lower corner you can also see the start of a long track for a piece of heavy equipment being hauled on the semi.)

We stopped at the Begich Boggs Visitor Center on the way back out of Whittier. The visitor center was very nice and worth a visit. At the very least, be sure to get a picture with the "life-sized" model of Smokey Bear - as advertised in the Milepost book. (they know he isn't real, right? or is he?)

After a food break back at the condo, we headed over by the Alyeska Ski Resort to do another hike on a hilly 5k Nordic Ski loop that is only open to skiers in the winter. We could not imagine skiing up some of those hills! We had an elevation gain of 700 feet.

They must get a lot of snow here! (Lynda likes this sign because it makes her look taller than she is.)

There were some patches of snow as seen behind us but the path was mostly dry.

Brit was flying out tonight so we headed into Anchorage to check out another brewery before her flight. We like to try new places for dinner but the only quick option was Wee B's which served chicken wings or Elk or Buffalo Burgers. We instead opted instead for Jersey Mike's and went to Magnetic North Brewing.

Not our finest picture but the only one at the brewery so it stays!

Among the 5 of us, we sampled the Brown Baggin' Brown Ale, the Arnold Palmer Lager, the Plumber Pilsner, the Sour Puss Raspberry, the Swirl and the 4 More Years sour. Carol got a pint of a new Extra Special Bitter beer that was being released tomorrow.

Total distance traveled today:

By car 53 miles

On foot 6.4 miles

Previous: Day 20: Seward, AK to Girdwood, AK (and RV return)

Next: Day 22: Girdwood, AK

Photo of the day:

The RV had 3 miles on it when we started our trip!
Any guesses on the total distance Lynda drove the RV? Answer below...

Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, we packed up what we could and headed north to our VRBO for the next few days to unload before we returned the RV.

We are still amazed by the beauty at every turn of every road. At one point, we saw probably 10 to 12 Bald Eagles in and around the Turnagain Arm but could not stop for a picture on the two-lane highway - especially with our RV return deadline looming. But here are a couple pretty views along the Seward Highway as we drove north:

The RV return went fine, so Dad and Carol picked us up and we next headed north out of Anchorage to find a hike.

We passed up the first hike at Thunderfalls since it was raining and ended up at the Bee Tree Loop. This hike was listed as moderate, but all of us would tell you otherwise! It was a 1.6 mile loop with a 750 foot elevation gain. At one point, Brittney's watch showed the grade at > 45%.

Brit's view looking down at the older folks - the pic cannot accurately reflect the steepness.

Dave and Steve on the ascent

Our view from part way up

Our view from the top looking down at the valley and Matanuska Peak - hidden by the clouds

The gang at the top!

What goes up must come down!

Grandpa Steve crossing the stream

Someone had left a painting on this tree.

Next we headed out to get a view of the Knik Glacier. Along the way, we stopped at this General Store in search of a bathroom. They did not have a public restroom, so Steve settled for an ice cream bar.

We all liked the cool tree posts on the ends!

We were not successful in our quest to see the Knik Glacier, but we did see a moose grazing on the side of the road on our way out and on the way back!