When we drove to Portage for our train ride, we had some time before check-in to look around the area. We found Williwaw Campground and decided it would be a great spot to stop for a few days on our way to Seward.
Bob, Connie and I geocached our way to Boggs Begich Visitor Center.
As we neared the center would could see an iceberg from Portage Glacier floating in the lake.
Once inside, we enjoyed the movie and the exhibits.
Trail of Blue Ice goes from the Boggs Begich Visitor Center to Moose Flats near the Portage Road turnoff. It was a nice paved trail the entire distance.
The next day Bob and I decided to try to find the trail to the waterfall we could hear from our campsite. We could see it from Trail of Blue Ice, but there was no marked trail leading to the waterfall.
We finally found a small foot trail through the alders and willows. We made it to the foot of the falls.
The only critter we saw was hiding under a rock near the trail....a hoary marmot.
We enjoyed our time at the waterfall, no one else seemed to be aware of the trail.
Later that afternoon, we drove to the parking area for Byron Glacier. It was a short hike to the glacier. We were able to go out on the ice field below the glacier.
Of course, we were killing time, waiting for the glacier cruise that
would take us to Portage Glacier. The glacier can't be seen from the
visitor center as it is hidden behind a ridge.
We all hiked to the glacier......
....and enjoyed the views.
Then it was time to board Ptarmigan and go see Portage Glacier.
The cruise lasted an hour which was plenty of time to view the glacier. At one point it calved, but we couldn't see where the ice fell until it floated from behind another section of the glacier.
The next day we visited Whittier. To get to Whittier you have to drive through a 2 mile one-lane tunnel that is also used by Alaska Railroad. Whittier is a fishing village where cruise ships dock.
Whittier began as an army post. The tunnel was built to get troops and supplies from the port to other areas of Alaska. The Buckner Building was one of the original buildings at Ft. Whittier. It is now in disrepair. The army abandoned Ft. Whittier in 1960. Much of the area was destroyed by the tsunamis caused by the 1964 earthquake. The Hodge Building which looks like Buckner except in better condition, houses most of Whittier's residents.
Behind Buckner, at the top of the ridge is a trail to Horsetail Falls. Unfortunately, the trail head is not well marked. We found it anyway and started toward Horsetail Falls.
The trail, surprisingly enough, was well maintained. Someone spent a lot of time making wooden walkways along the trail.
Unfortunately, we came to a wetland area with no boardwalk or sign to tell us which way to go. Oh, well, we enjoyed what little bit of a hike there was.
It was time to eat lunch at Whittier Inn before heading back to wait our turn to travel through the tunnel.
Later that evening, we went for a walk along a different section of Trail of Blue Ice. We spotted some kittiwakes chasing an eagle. The eagle landed in a tree not far from us and posed for pictures! He was not bothered by us at all.
The next day would be a moving day....Seward, Alaska, here we come!
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