PetitFrereArmada
Explorer
Thanks for the compliment about the pictures.
I have also seen that people are very comfortable here and will camp anywhere. Any pull out on the Alaska Highhway seems like a good place to camp.
Texas to Alaska to Texas. 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid driving on the Dalton Highway and the Dempster Highway. July/August 2023.
- Thread starter PetitFrereArmada
- Start date
I have also seen that people are very comfortable here and will camp anywhere. Any pull out on the Alaska Highhway seems like a good place to camp.
PetitFrereArmada
Explorer
Two days ago, I checked into my hotel at 4 pm. I got bored because there was nothing to do and the room could not get dark enough for me to go to sleep and so I decided to leave at 11pm to drive for 12 hours throughout the night to my next destination. It was quite an adventure.
The night drive on the Alaskan Highway was very beautiful. I am so glad I made that decision to travel some parts of it at night. I saw maybe only 3 other vehicles. The road from Haines Junction to the Alaska/Canada Border is rough! Be careful on this section of the road. Also, I saw tons and tons of people pulled over on almost all pull outs and camping or spending the night by lakes. It was so beautiful. I made a lot of random stops because J was sleepy myself and also to use the restroom and stretch my legs. It was a very tiring but beautiful night drive. It was not even very dark, but it was a very enjoyable experience.
As soon as I started the drive, I saw 2 bears. When it got after midnight, places got slightly darker, and I saw a moose. I took a picture. I saw tons of other animals like an owl, a red fox, a bobcat, and many rodents.
I finally got to the US/Canada Border at 3:15am. Crossing was very easy. I stopped to take pictures at the Welcome to Alaska sign, and mosquitoes tried to eat me alive. I hurried and was out of there pretty fast because the mosquitoes were biting me nonstop. It was a nightmare!
I was now in Alaska! I finally made it to Alaska! I drove to Delta Juntion to officially complete my long drive of driving the whole 1,422 miles of the Alaskan Highway. What a great bucket list achievement!
I looked for something to eat and was extremely tired. But it was time to hit the road again to head to Valdez, AK. I did that, but it was not an easy drive. But I am glad that I made it to Valdez safe and sound.
2 random stops in the middle of nowhere to listen to complete silence and take in peace and solitude. Also, to stretch my legs and not be too sleepy behind the wheel.
Quick stop at the border before crossing.
Welcome to Alaska sign @3:15am. I was tired!
My Honda Accord did it! It drove the whole 1,422 miles of the Alaska Highway! It drove from Texas to Alaska!
The night drive on the Alaskan Highway was very beautiful. I am so glad I made that decision to travel some parts of it at night. I saw maybe only 3 other vehicles. The road from Haines Junction to the Alaska/Canada Border is rough! Be careful on this section of the road. Also, I saw tons and tons of people pulled over on almost all pull outs and camping or spending the night by lakes. It was so beautiful. I made a lot of random stops because J was sleepy myself and also to use the restroom and stretch my legs. It was a very tiring but beautiful night drive. It was not even very dark, but it was a very enjoyable experience.
As soon as I started the drive, I saw 2 bears. When it got after midnight, places got slightly darker, and I saw a moose. I took a picture. I saw tons of other animals like an owl, a red fox, a bobcat, and many rodents.
I finally got to the US/Canada Border at 3:15am. Crossing was very easy. I stopped to take pictures at the Welcome to Alaska sign, and mosquitoes tried to eat me alive. I hurried and was out of there pretty fast because the mosquitoes were biting me nonstop. It was a nightmare!
I was now in Alaska! I finally made it to Alaska! I drove to Delta Juntion to officially complete my long drive of driving the whole 1,422 miles of the Alaskan Highway. What a great bucket list achievement!
I looked for something to eat and was extremely tired. But it was time to hit the road again to head to Valdez, AK. I did that, but it was not an easy drive. But I am glad that I made it to Valdez safe and sound.
2 random stops in the middle of nowhere to listen to complete silence and take in peace and solitude. Also, to stretch my legs and not be too sleepy behind the wheel.
Quick stop at the border before crossing.
Welcome to Alaska sign @3:15am. I was tired!
My Honda Accord did it! It drove the whole 1,422 miles of the Alaska Highway! It drove from Texas to Alaska!
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PetitFrereArmada
Explorer
Welcome to Valdez, Alaska!
Very beautiful town.
Thompson Pass
Bridal Veil Falls along Thompson Pass
Horsetail Falls
Fish Hatchery in Valdez. 4 sea lions in there eating a buffet of salmon.
A random stop by the oil pipeline
For those still on the fence whether they should get up and travel or not. Please, I encourage you to do so if you can squeeze the time. Make it work for you financially. You can travel expensively or you can travel cheaply. I have met people traveling on foot. I have met some on bicycles. I have met some with cheap old beat-up cars. I have met some with fully luxurious 4x4s. I have met some with very expensive RVs. No matter what you have, you can travel near or far and enjoy yourself. But I have to share this pic I took yesterday. Remember this also and so get out and travel as early as you can. Do not postpone it, or it may be too late.
Very beautiful town.
Thompson Pass
Bridal Veil Falls along Thompson Pass
Horsetail Falls
Fish Hatchery in Valdez. 4 sea lions in there eating a buffet of salmon.
A random stop by the oil pipeline
For those still on the fence whether they should get up and travel or not. Please, I encourage you to do so if you can squeeze the time. Make it work for you financially. You can travel expensively or you can travel cheaply. I have met people traveling on foot. I have met some on bicycles. I have met some with cheap old beat-up cars. I have met some with fully luxurious 4x4s. I have met some with very expensive RVs. No matter what you have, you can travel near or far and enjoy yourself. But I have to share this pic I took yesterday. Remember this also and so get out and travel as early as you can. Do not postpone it, or it may be too late.
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Pacific Northwest yetti
Expedition Medic
I have met way too many folks, who are waiting for the perfect time, or the perfect vehicle. I agree: Don’t wait, just go.
PetitFrereArmada
Explorer
It's not mine, and I am not affiliated to the seller, but I saw it on the street here in Valdez, AK and thought it looked cool with the background. So, I took pictures. It is priced at $32,000. That seems kind of high, but I do not know what classics like this fetch these days.
PetitFrereArmada
Explorer
More pictures I took in Valdez today.
Valdez visitor center
Mama bear with cub running infront of me
Tons of people camping downtown Valdez. Lol, drones are blocked from flying here because the planes fly so low. My drone can not even start when I am in this area.
I went looking for smoked can salmon all around. No luck. I will look in other towns. By the time I was done today, they had known me as the guy looking for the smoked can salmon since I went to almost all the stores anybody mentioned that might have it.
Valdez visitor center
Mama bear with cub running infront of me
Tons of people camping downtown Valdez. Lol, drones are blocked from flying here because the planes fly so low. My drone can not even start when I am in this area.
I went looking for smoked can salmon all around. No luck. I will look in other towns. By the time I was done today, they had known me as the guy looking for the smoked can salmon since I went to almost all the stores anybody mentioned that might have it.
PetitFrereArmada
Explorer
More adventures today in Valdez, AK. This place below is called Valdez Glacier Lake.
If you visit Valdez AK, it is mandatory to get some pictures of the Harbor.
If you visit Valdez AK, it is mandatory to get some pictures of the Harbor.
PetitFrereArmada
Explorer
On my last night in Valdez, I was driving by a gun range and saw a bunch of teenagers shooting. I stopped by and stood there to watch. I doubt any of them was more than 21.
The kid among them who basically brought all the guns there asked me if I wanted to shoot. I said sure. So, he let me shoot all the guns they had there. They had so much ammunition to waste. I could not believe it.
The kid among them who basically brought all the guns there asked me if I wanted to shoot. I said sure. So, he let me shoot all the guns they had there. They had so much ammunition to waste. I could not believe it.
PetitFrereArmada
Explorer
On a stretch of road going to Chitina, AK, there is a stretch of road called the 6 Miles Straight Road. I stopped there to take some pictures.
I continued to go to Chitina and stopped at a small waterfall there. But I passed by their cute little Post Office before getting to the waterfall.
After Chitina, you go through the pass to start your trip to McCarthy on bad roads. There is even a warning there about how bad the road to McCarthy is.
I could not go all the way to McCarthy because of time and so I went as far as the popular Kuskulana bridge.
I continued to go to Chitina and stopped at a small waterfall there. But I passed by their cute little Post Office before getting to the waterfall.
After Chitina, you go through the pass to start your trip to McCarthy on bad roads. There is even a warning there about how bad the road to McCarthy is.
I could not go all the way to McCarthy because of time and so I went as far as the popular Kuskulana bridge.
ITTOG
Well-known member
Beautiful pictures, except for the river. That is some nasty water.On a stretch of road going to Chitina, AK, there is a stretch of road called the 6 Miles Straight Road. I stopped there to take some pictures.
I continued to go to Chitina and stopped at a small waterfall there. But I passed by their cute little Post Office before getting to the waterfall.
After Chitina, you go through the pass to start your trip to McCarthy on bad roads. There is even a warning there about how bad the road to McCarthy is.
I could not go all the way to McCarthy because of time and so I went as far as the popular Kuskulana bridge.
Pacific Northwest yetti
Expedition Medic
Alaska prices, are a lot like Island prices at times.
I worked a lot of villages where trucks and cars had to be flown, or barged in. As the only roads were the one inside the little community. With none leaving. And very limited access in the summer.
I worked a lot of villages where trucks and cars had to be flown, or barged in. As the only roads were the one inside the little community. With none leaving. And very limited access in the summer.
PetitFrereArmada
Explorer
Today on my way to Whittier. This was on a pull out on Seward Highway just before exit to Whittier, AK
PetitFrereArmada
Explorer
Seward Hughway just before exit to Whittier, AK
Approaching the tunnel to go to Whittier. I was extremely lucky that each time I got to the tunnel, I had to wait just 10 more minutes, and it was time for us to go through the tunnel.
In the tunnel
After exiting the tunnel. I stopped to take some pictures
After visiting Whittier, return trip to go through the tunnel again
Approaching the tunnel to go to Whittier. I was extremely lucky that each time I got to the tunnel, I had to wait just 10 more minutes, and it was time for us to go through the tunnel.
In the tunnel
After exiting the tunnel. I stopped to take some pictures
After visiting Whittier, return trip to go through the tunnel again
PetitFrereArmada
Explorer
The highlight of my trip to Whittier today was meeting Brenda.
Brenda is one of the oldest residents of Whittier. I pulled up and stopped to take pictures of the famous "city under one roof" when Brenda approached. e from nowhere and said hi, what are you doing? I told her I was visiting and wanted to take pictures of the building. And before I realized it, Brenda and I had spent 1 hour talking and laughing, and I was giving her lessons on how to fly my drone, and she was flying it and jumping with joy and laughter.
Brenda told me a lot. She told me she is one of the oldest residents there and owns a lot of the unsold land in Whittier. She has a sho downtown that sells crafts. She moved to Whittier in 1980 and has never left.
She is the first white person to own a reindeer in Whittier and the only person who owns one currently. She we.t and cut some grass and ket me feed the reindeer and take pictures with it and videos with it. She asked me if I wanted to go inside its cage and feed and pet it. But my shoes would be ruined in the mud so I did not do that.
As much as she told me about herself, she made sure to ask me a lot about me. She was very intrigued too about my own history and background and my story of driving from Texas to Alaska and back for vacation. She just could not process that. She was fascinated that I had time to do that.
She took me into the building and showed me around and I trounced. e to the lady who works at the post office. Then I needed to use the restroom.and the public ones were locked a d she had to take me to her office in that building to let me use the restroom. After that, she showed me into another room in her office to show me a leg bone of a mammoth that is over 100 years or did she say 10,000 years old. Also, tusk of a mammoth 🦣 which was also 10,000 years old. Then she tok me into another room where she showed me where she makes the things she sells in her store. I never went to her store in downtown Whittier.
We went outside, and I told her it was time to fly my drone. I flew the drone and showed her the screen, and she was fascinated at the angles I could take of the buildings even without seeing my drone. She asked me if I had to go to school to learn how to fly this. I said no. It is very easy to fly and you can fly it too. She said no way. I landed the drone and gave her the controls, and instructed her on what to do. I had that old lady jumping as she flew my drone. She was ecstatic. She got too excited that she was flying backward towards her truck, and I stopped her. She immediately handed over the controls back to me and said that it was a lot of fun and that she did not want to crash my drone. I told her it would be my fault if she crashed it.
By this time, I realized it was over 1 hour since she came over to inquire about who I was and what I was doing. She said she better be going now, and I said I have a tip for her. Lol, I did not have cash but luckily had some money in the car that I almost forgot about. So I got the money and tried to slip it in her hand. She said there was no way she was going to take any money from me. She said she just enjoyed talking with me and getting to know new things and flying my drone. I said it was just a gift from me to her. She said no way. That is too much money, and she was just having a conversation and not needing any money from me. I pleaded with her to take it. She said no. She just had a good time talking with me. I said Brenda, you have a shop downtown, and I would love to support your business by going down to the shop to buy a souvenir to take home with me. I am not very good at buying souvenirs and keeping. So, can you please take this money as if I paid this money at your store to buy a souvenir to take home to Texas with me? That seemed to help a lot as she finally took the money. I thanked her a lot. I was really happy as I waved her goodbye and left to go downtown to look at other things.
Hodge Building. Brenda told me 80% of Whittier residents live in here
Front of the building
Back of the building
Top of the building. My drone was very high up in some serious foggy weather
The Buckner Building. I have seen many YouTube videos about Whittier, but none of the videos ever mentioned this abandoned huge "city" of a building
Brenda is one of the oldest residents of Whittier. I pulled up and stopped to take pictures of the famous "city under one roof" when Brenda approached. e from nowhere and said hi, what are you doing? I told her I was visiting and wanted to take pictures of the building. And before I realized it, Brenda and I had spent 1 hour talking and laughing, and I was giving her lessons on how to fly my drone, and she was flying it and jumping with joy and laughter.
Brenda told me a lot. She told me she is one of the oldest residents there and owns a lot of the unsold land in Whittier. She has a sho downtown that sells crafts. She moved to Whittier in 1980 and has never left.
She is the first white person to own a reindeer in Whittier and the only person who owns one currently. She we.t and cut some grass and ket me feed the reindeer and take pictures with it and videos with it. She asked me if I wanted to go inside its cage and feed and pet it. But my shoes would be ruined in the mud so I did not do that.
As much as she told me about herself, she made sure to ask me a lot about me. She was very intrigued too about my own history and background and my story of driving from Texas to Alaska and back for vacation. She just could not process that. She was fascinated that I had time to do that.
She took me into the building and showed me around and I trounced. e to the lady who works at the post office. Then I needed to use the restroom.and the public ones were locked a d she had to take me to her office in that building to let me use the restroom. After that, she showed me into another room in her office to show me a leg bone of a mammoth that is over 100 years or did she say 10,000 years old. Also, tusk of a mammoth 🦣 which was also 10,000 years old. Then she tok me into another room where she showed me where she makes the things she sells in her store. I never went to her store in downtown Whittier.
We went outside, and I told her it was time to fly my drone. I flew the drone and showed her the screen, and she was fascinated at the angles I could take of the buildings even without seeing my drone. She asked me if I had to go to school to learn how to fly this. I said no. It is very easy to fly and you can fly it too. She said no way. I landed the drone and gave her the controls, and instructed her on what to do. I had that old lady jumping as she flew my drone. She was ecstatic. She got too excited that she was flying backward towards her truck, and I stopped her. She immediately handed over the controls back to me and said that it was a lot of fun and that she did not want to crash my drone. I told her it would be my fault if she crashed it.
By this time, I realized it was over 1 hour since she came over to inquire about who I was and what I was doing. She said she better be going now, and I said I have a tip for her. Lol, I did not have cash but luckily had some money in the car that I almost forgot about. So I got the money and tried to slip it in her hand. She said there was no way she was going to take any money from me. She said she just enjoyed talking with me and getting to know new things and flying my drone. I said it was just a gift from me to her. She said no way. That is too much money, and she was just having a conversation and not needing any money from me. I pleaded with her to take it. She said no. She just had a good time talking with me. I said Brenda, you have a shop downtown, and I would love to support your business by going down to the shop to buy a souvenir to take home with me. I am not very good at buying souvenirs and keeping. So, can you please take this money as if I paid this money at your store to buy a souvenir to take home to Texas with me? That seemed to help a lot as she finally took the money. I thanked her a lot. I was really happy as I waved her goodbye and left to go downtown to look at other things.
Hodge Building. Brenda told me 80% of Whittier residents live in here
Front of the building
Back of the building
Top of the building. My drone was very high up in some serious foggy weather
The Buckner Building. I have seen many YouTube videos about Whittier, but none of the videos ever mentioned this abandoned huge "city" of a building
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