Portage 07 23 thru 24 2013

 Portage is the gateway to Whittier on Prince William Sound.  It was used by early travelers as a portage between Prince William Sound and Cook Inlet.  The road system was only completed in June 2000.  The only other way to reach Whittier overland was by train.  It is only 55 miles from Anchorage, but because of its location it hosts a variety of wild weather situation.  As the clouds rise over the Chugach and Kenai mountains it extreme high winds can snap a 50 foot flagpole like a twig, peel away asphalt and lift boxcars from the railroad tracks.  They have a nice visitor center and a great view of Shakespeare, Burns and Portage glacier.

 

Skookum Glacier             

A very small part of the Kenai Mountains    

A very small part of the Chugach Mountains    

Twentymile Glacier      

Explorer Glacier        

Maynard Mountain and many water falls

Jack and Barb inside visitor center.       

Burns Glacier is at the end of Portage Lake.  Portage Lake was created when Portage Glacier started to retreated, about 2 miles, in the early 1900.  Portage Glacier is around the bend to the right (not viable to us).      

Shakespeare Glacier        

Begich Peak and Bogge Peak      

 

 

Middle Glacier      

Byron Glacier    

Different view of Maynard Mountain            

 

  Different view Middle Glacier

Car tunnel under Maynard Glacier from Portage    

Car tunnel under Maynard Glacier from other side of the mountain

Small part of Portage Glacier     

 

Back side of Maynard Glacier 

Different  view of Shakespeare Glacier        

Right side of toll Anton Anderson Memorial tunnel To Whittier.  The tunnel was built in 1942-43, is a 2.5 mile long railroad tunnel that had concrete add beside the railroad track in 2000 so that car could go from Portage to Whittier.     

Left side of toll tunnel To Whittier     

Center of toll tunnel To Whittier.  This part of the tunnel is both the train and car go.    

Inside of the tunnel.     

Almost at the end of the tunnel.

   The end of the tunnel and also a good view of the track and the concrete for the cars.      

Exit of tunnel    

Staging area for the tunnel     

The crossing over from tunnel to road for the cars.    

Found a cruise ship “Coral Princess” in Whittier.      

 Coral Princess      

Jack and Barb at the beginning of the boat docks for Whittier Harbor.     

I just like the sign that tell you things that would be hard to do.   This harbor is ringed with steep mountains.   How do they expect you to get up the mountain?   

Nice waterfall from Blackstone Beloit Glacier.    

An even bigger waterfall from Blackstone Beloit Glacier.      

The top of the waterfall from Blackstone Beloit Glacier.    

Middle of waterfall from Blackstone Beloit Glacier. 

Middle of waterfall from Blackstone Beloit Glacier. 

Nice waterfall from Blackstone Beloit Glacier.       

Nice waterfall from Blackstone Beloit Glacier.       

The train is getting ready to leave.      

084   Different view of Coral Princess.        

The Inn at Whittier.   

 View of The Inn at Whittier from the tour boat. 

Leaving the train tunnel from Whittier to Portage.    The car and busses are waiting to go into the tunnel.   We were leaving Whittier, but don’t miss the pic under Whittier on 07/24/13    The car and busses are waiting to go into the tunnel.     

A train going toward the tunnel.    The line of cars and busses will now have to wait for the train to go into the tunnel.   The train always goes before and other vehicles.      

A last look of Portage Glacier.      

I like the poles that line some of the road that the snow trucks use for a guide for where the road should be.    I am glad that I am not here when the snow gets that high.