Page 166 - Vacation Country Travel Guide

Visitors Bureau Visitor Information Center, 200
Fairbanks Street, PO Box 1603, Valdez, AK
99686. Phone: (907) 835-4636; Toll Free (800)
770-5954; Email: info@valdezalaska.com.
Open daily in summer, weekdays in winter.

Valdez lies at the head of Valdez Arm, one of
many natural fjords, reaching inland twelve miles
from Prince William Sound. Port Valdez enjoys a
temperate climate, is ice-free and open to navigation
during all seasons.
The region around Valdez and beautiful Prince
William Sound offers unparalleled recreational
opportunities. Surrounded by majestic mountains
and spectacular glaciers, the clear cold waters harbor
rich fisheries of five species of salmon, halibut, red
snapper, rock bass, ling cod and grey cod, as well as
Chitina shrimp, crab and clams. Fishing for pink and silver
photo by: salmon and halibut is top notch and derbies are held
VC TRAVEL GUIDE for each of these species. Many charters are available
from the Valdez small boat harbor. Hiking, sailing,
Chitina Worthington Glacier kayaking, fishing, mountaineering, hunting and
wilderness experiences may be enjoyed all summer
Location: At the end of the Edgerton Highway Worthington Glacier State Recreation Site, long.
and beginning of the McCarthy Road, at the located in spectacular Thompson Pass 28 miles In winter, Valdez boasts some of Alaska’s finest
junction of the Copper and Chitina Rivers. north of Valdez on the Richardson Highway, is a cross-country skiing at Mineral Creek and Thompson
popular stop that allows for great roadside glacier Pass, snowmobiling on endless terrain, and Alpine
Chitina sprang to life in 1908 as a service point views, or visitors can take a short day hike that skiing on challenging courses at Thompson Pass and
for trains traveling the 195 miles from the Kennecott climbs Worthington Ridge to overlook the glacier. Salmonberry Hill.
copper mine to ships waiting for ore at the port of Worthington Glacier falls 4 miles from its source to Keystone Canyon’s many waterfalls offer
Cordova. The Ahtna Native community in Chitina the lake created only 100 years ago by the terminal challenges to all levels of ice climbers and classes
relies heavily on the world-class Copper River red moraine, a mass of rock and gravel that accumulates may be taken from professional climbers and
salmon fishery, employing dip nets and fish wheels at the toe of a glacier. Like most of Alaska’s glaciers, instructors. A year round pleasant climate enhances
which are fascinating to see in operation. Worthington is in retreat, but not as dramatically as the many outdoor activities.
There are only two entrances allowing road access to many others. This area was under Russian rule from 1778 until
breathtakingly spectacular Wrangell-St. Elias National 1867 when the territory passed into U.S. hands.
Park, a northern route to Nebesna and the southern During these years, Valdez was a trading post for
route through Chitina to McCarthy/Kennecott. Whether Valdez natives from the interior who traded skins and dried
planning to drive or take a flight from town, Chitina is Location: Southern terminus of the Richardson meat. Although fur trading was the principal activity
the ideal stopover before beginning a leisurely journey Highway #4, on the north shore of Prince in Valdez, salmon canning, fox farming and gold
into the Park in the morning, providing shops, services William Sound; 305 highway miles (115 air and copper mining contributed to its growth and
and accommodations. miles and 383 nautical miles) east of Anchorage; settlement.
365 miles south of Fairbanks. Alaska Marine During the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897–98, more
Highway “Fast Ferry” service between Valdez, than 3,000 prospectors poured into Valdez, believing
RICHARDSON HWY 4 SOUTH Cordova and Whittier. Population: 4,500. the Copper River and Valdez Glacier to be the entry
TO VALDEZ & ALASKA MARINE HIGHWAY Visitor Information: Valdez Convention & to the interior gold fields. The winter of 1898–99 was
especially severe and hundreds of prospectors died
from malnutrition and scurvy. A few months later,
a detachment of American soldiers found an easier
bypass already being used by prospectors, which
made crossing the glacier unnecessary.
Mining and prospecting flourished in the area.
From 1910 to 1916, Valdez had the longest cable
aerial tramway in the world for moving copper
ore down to cargo ships in the bay. Valdez was the
staging area for work on the lower portion of the
trans-Alaska Pipeline during the mid 1970s.
Valdez has known disaster in proportions that
few areas have ever experienced. On Good Friday
in 1964, Valdez was struck by the largest earthquake
ever recorded on the North American continent. The
quake measured 9.2 on the Richter Scale and was
followed by a series of waves and waterfront fires;
Valdez was virtually destroyed. Geological studies
declared the town site unsafe and the new city
was relocated to its present site near the mouth of
Mineral Creek. In April of 1989, the Exxon Valdez
ran aground; its massive hulk was ripped apart and
millions of gallons of oil were released into the
waters of Prince William Sound. Clean up took well
over a year to complete and today the port waters
have recovered and wildlife flourishes.
The $50 million Port of Valdez container and
general purpose marine terminal boasts the largest
concrete dock ever constructed for cargo use.

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