Alaska LifeDriving Through Keystone Canyon
This grizzly bear has the right idea! Alaskan smoked salmon jerky is an excellent snack. Try it in Regular, Peppered, or Teriyaki flavor.
The end of our 50th year is fast approaching, don't get "caught" without your mementos!
Ray Troll designs are always a crowd pleaser. Often educational and always witty, this calendar will have you laughing all year.
Anchorage Weather
High 63°f, Low 49°f
15 Hours, 20 Mins. Daylight
Valdez is 305 miles east of Anchorage and 364 miles south of Fairbanks. On the scenic drive down the Richardson Highway, Worthington Glacier, about 30 miles north of Valdez, was spectacular. 
Bridal Veil and Horsetail Falls cascading down the steep walls of Keystone Canyon were breathtaking.
From 1910 to 1916, Valdez was busy with copper and gold mining. Fur trading, canning, and mining helped the growth of the city. Nowdays, picturesque scenes like this fishing boat with the mountain backdrop surround you in Valdez. Fishermen lined the shore as the sun was setting.
Bears in Area
In July, Valdez was all about salmon when the pinks were running at Allison Point. The waters near Solomon Gulch were boiling with thousands of fish.
As the sign indicates, there were several black bears applying their fishing skills in the creeks along the point. Some fish got away and some were not so lucky. Near the shore a sea otter was munching away on a good sized salmon. Even Fido had to get into the act. He was watching the fish and then all of a sudden instinct took over and the salmon was in his mouth.
Trans-Alaska Pipeline
One fringe benefit of a trip to Valdez is getting up close and personal with the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. The Alyeska Terminal is located at the end of Dayville Road directly across the bay from downtown Valdez..
In a pond about five miles outside of town a pair of trumpeter swans and their 5 cygnants had taken up residence. We took one last look back through Keystone Canyon toward Valdez before heading toward Anchorage with fond memories of a weekend that was over too quickly.
Where in the World is Alces Browser?
(On tour with Gary in San Juan Islands, Washington)
It's hard to leave Alaska but I went on a short trip to Washington state where I met up with Gary and Cosmo (Westland Terrier). They picked me up in Seattle where we headed to Anacortes to catch the ferry. The weather was in the high 70's with a light breeze and blue sky.
Here I am chilling with Cosmo. We're about to start on our adventure to Orcas Island.
This is me on the ferry leaving Anacortes, Washington. This is sure gonna be a fun trip!
Staying at the Orcas Hotel was wonderful. It's located on Orcas Island, right off the ferry.
There are madrona trees behind the Orcas Island Ferry Terminal sign. I'm gonna climb one!
This is a beautiful madrona tree. It's bark is an orange-red that peels off and has a pistachio color underneath.
We're headed back to the main land. Our car is waiting to catch the next ferry.
I'm on the ferry leaving Orcas Island. It was a short trip but a lot of fun. It's time to get back to the "last frontier"
Headed back to Anacortes, we took in a view of Mt. Baker. Very nice but none of the mountains can top Alaska!