North Pacific Passage to Japan
Ocean Cruise from Vancouver to Tokyo via Alaska
Valdez
Valdez (Val-DEEZ) is located at the head of Port Valdez on the eastern side of Prince William Sound. Valdez flourished after the road link to Fairbanks was constructed in 1910. It is loacted at the epicenter of the 1964 Alaska Earthquake and suffered catastrophic damage, and is located near the site of the disastrous 1989 Exxon Valdez oil tanker spill. Today, it is one of the most important ports in Alaska, a commercial fishing port as well as a freight terminal. Valdez is the terminus for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System.
On Saturday the 20th, our ship docked near the town center and we walked from there to a couple trailheads for hikes and toured three of the four museums in town. We even had time for a beer at the Valdez Brewery during the town’s Oktoberfest celebration.
Prince William Sound from Port Valdez (1760)
Valdez (8385)
Valdez Cruise Terminal (1765)
Valdez (1768)
Chugach Mountains on the north side of the town (1796)
Chugach Mountains (1824)
Mineral Creek Trail (1798)
Mineral Creek (1801)
Mineral Creek (1802)
Mineral Creek Trail (1804)
Chugach Mountains (1806)
Mineral Creek Trail (1810)
Mineral Creek (1815)
Mineral Creek (8374)
Mineral Creek (1816)
Whitney Museum (1790)
Whitney Museum (8369)
“Proper” chainsaw technique and attire at Oktoberfest (1818)
Oktoberfest at Valdez Brewery (8375)
Oktoberfest at Valdez Brewery (8378)
Valdez Harbor (1821)
Valdez from Dock Point Trail (1826)
Valdez from Dock Point Trail (1827)
Dock Point Trail (1830)
Chugach Mountains from Dock Point Trail (1836)
Aleyeska Pipeline Terminal, Valdez (1846)
© Tom Lebsack