Palmer & Valdez (July 4-7)

After covering the leisurely 200 miles from Kenai we got into Palmer around 8PM and checked into The Colony Inn, a former teacher's dormitory in the heart of an Alaskan agricultural area. The Inn was very cozy, full of warm woods and old fashioned charm. We probably could have used more than an overnight stay at this point in our trip, and I would have loved to catch the Inn Cafe for lunch.

Palmer has an interesting history because of the waves of people who settled the area. Of course the first humans there were were the native Dena’ina and Ahtna Athabaskans who were followed by the Russians who arrived in the 1740s. In the mid-1880s, an entrepreneur named George W. Palmer built a trading post on the Matanuska River, near present-day Palmer. The town was later named after this Alaskan pioneer. In the late 1800s, the US began to exploit the rich coal deposits in the area and built railroads to get the coal out for use in US warships. Finally, Roosevelt's New Deal moved in over 200 families from Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin to settle 40-acre plots made available by lottery.

Susan on the Matanuska Glacier

But Valdez awaited us, some highly scenic 250 miles ahead along the Glenn Highway as Alaska Route 1 was known here, then down the Richardson Highway (Alaska Route 3).


On July 5th we stopped to hike on our first glacier, the Matanuska, with easy access off the Glenn Highway (Wikipedia says it's the largest glacier accessible by car in the US). Glaciers are such a fun place to play!

Mike on the Matanuska Glacier

In Copper Center we stopped for a quick sneak preview of Wrangell St-Elias' Mt Drum as we headed south on Richardson Highway. We'd be coming back up this way soon enough.

Mt Drum in Wrangell-St Elias National Park

One more glacier before Valdez, we stopped to check out the Worthington.

Mike on the Worthington Glacier

Susan on the Worthington Glacier

Bridal Veil Falls

Steep cliffs with stunning waterfalls lined the Richardson Hwy as we approached Valdez, and I couldn't help thinking about my dad traveling this road in a school bus filled with boy scouts including both my brothers in 1964. Now that was an adventure!

Valdez Harbor from our dinner spot

Our three nights in Valdez were spent at the Valdez Harbor Inn overlooking the gorgeous harbor.

The next few days we thoroughly enjoyed exploring and realizing in this beautiful area, including a trip back up to Worthington Glacier.

We especially enjoyed the little Valdez Museum where we learned more about the disastrous 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, and a docent was able to tell us firsthand stories of the Good Friday Earthquake (magnitude 9.2) 45 years ago. The quake killed 131 people and the whole town of Valdez had to relocate! These tragic events were such a stark contrast to the beauty that surrounded us this July.

Valdez Glacier

Here's a map of this part of the trip.

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