To A Guide to Valdez

Click on each photo to greatly enlarge it.

American and Alaska flags flying in front of Valdez High School.

Looking north from near the summit of Thompson Pass on the Richardson Highway. The elevation at the summit is only 2,678 feet, but it feels much higher. The drop from here to Valdez is very dramatic. Click here for more information about the highway. February 12, 2004, 3:30 p.m.

Looking south from near the summit of Thompson Pass. In the distance are the Chugach Mountains, with the Lowe River running up the glacier-carved valley through Heiden Canyon. February 12, 2004, 3:40 p.m.

Approaching Keystone Canyon from the north, on the Richardson Highway. At this point, you are only 16 miles from downtown Valdez. The old road, a.k.a. "The Goat Trail", can be seen low on the mountain ahead. February 12, 2004, 3:55 p.m.

The heart of Keystone Canyon, popular with whitewater rafters and kayakers in the summer, ice climbers in the winter, and photographers year-round. February 12, 2004, 4:00 p.m.

Christmas lights on a sailboat mast make a charming scene in the Valdez Small Boat Harbor. February 12, 2004, 10:01 a.m. - although official sunrise was at 08:37, it takes a long time for the sun to climb over the 7,000-foot peaks that surround the community.

Below - sunrise from Kennicott Drive, with Dock Point on the left. February 12, 2004, 10:05 a.m.

Early morning at the dry-storage area of the Small Boat Harbor. February 12, 2004, 10:16 a.m.

One of the considerations when the new community was being planned after the 1964 earthquake was ease of snow removal. The average yearly snowfall is over 325 inches, and the record is over 560 inches (in the winter of 1989-90)! Streets are extremely wide, and the city's snow equipment fleet is large and varied. February 12, 2004, 10:29 a.m.

The day's first blush of sun on the mountains makes a superb backdrop for the Valdez Convention & Civic Center. February 12, 2004, 10:35 a.m.

A morning panorama of Port Valdez. February 12, 2004, 10:45 a.m.

Looking across Port Valdez to the Alyeska Pipeline Terminal, with an emergency response vessel patrolling. The terminal pumps oil that has come 800 miles down the pipeline from Prudhoe Bay into waiting tanker ships. Click here for the story of the 1989 wreck of the tanker Exxon Valdez. February 12, 2004, 10:48 a.m.

Looking north along Harbor Drive. February 12, 2004, 12:46 p.m.

The dry-storage area of the Small Boat Harbor. On a day like this, the name of the business at the end of the street seems appropriate - "Easy Freeze". February 12, 2004, 1:00 p.m.

Is there a harbor anywhere in the world that's better than this for a photographer? No boats will be moving without a very good reason today, though, as the water in the inner harbor is frozen solid. February 12, 2004, 1:03 p.m.

The Valdez Museum is excellent, providing a great deal of information in an easy-to-absorb way. This photo shows a detail of the superb restoration of a turn-of-the-century fire engine. February 13, 2004.

A residential street off Meals Avenue gives an idea of how much snow must be dealt with (and this is still early in the winter!). February 12, 2004, 2:10 p.m.