Tunnel through the Chugash Mountain to Whittier
According to the Lazy Daze itinerary we would catch up with the group in Whittier. They had planned to take a cruise in Prince William Sound and although it was a rainy day, I was more than ready to see more glaciers.
The Portage Road took us to the 8-lane staging area that controls vehicle traffic entering the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel. The tunnel uses a computerized traffic-control system that regulates both rail and highway traffic. It took us 6.5 minutes to travel through the tunnel. It is the longest highway tunnel and longest combined highway/railway tunnel in North America. David was driving with white knuckles going in because he had to straddle the railway tracks and there was very little shoulder room on either side. Luckily, the return trip was easier.
Whittier was created by the US Army during WWII as a port and petroleum delivery center for the bases farther north. The tunnel and railroad spur was completed in 1943 and Whittier became the primary debarkation point for cargo, troops, and dependents of the Alaska Command. It was strategically valuable because of its ice-free deep-water port. Since the military activities ceased the economy has depended largely on the port and the fishing industry, and increasingly on tourism.
David and I checked out the one RV park and did not find any Lazy Daze rigs, so we decided we had missed our friends. Apparently the weather had been bad for a few days, so they may have left days ago. With the rain, cold wind and poor visibility this was definitely not the time to book a cruise.
Whittier's main streets were narrow and lined with pickup trucks, so was difficult driving the RV. From the little we saw, the town did not look very inviting. There are a couple huge buildings that were constructed for military families years ago, and are now used as apartments. We decided to walk around a little and then return to the campground. We had difficulty finding a place to park and the one huge parking lot near the harbor was jammed with trucks and boat trailers. Whittier is a serious fishing community. Finally an attendant allowed us to double park without paying, since we were not going to be there for long.
The first thing I had noticed as we exited the tunnel was a trash container cabled to the ground. Then I read in a brochure that "Portage Pass is a narrow land bridge between Prince William Sound and Turnagain Arm. As the air pressure between the two areas equalizes, extremely high winds can be created. These winds have snapped 50 foot flagpoles like twigs, peeled away asphalt, and lifted boxcars from the railroad tracks." That explained the cabled trash container, and it explained why there is a pedestrian tunnel from the residential area to the harbor and the wharf.
Whittier Harbor with a cruise ship docked
David chatting with some fishermen
This guy lived in Eugene for awhile... now he is a "forever Alaskan"
David got into a conversation with a group of fishermen who had just finished cleaning their catch. We could see a pile of fresh halibut in zip-locked bags, ready to freeze. After seeing that we started talking about the possibility of going halibut fishing. That fish looked delicious!
Tourist shops on "The Triangle"
There is a section of shops near the harbor called "The Triangle". Here you will find all kinds of shops for the tourist. The people from the cruises spend alot of money here during the summer season, and then these shops close for the winter.
We were told that the islands and the fjords of Prince William Sound were breathtaking. All we could see was a fog bank. I am sure that on a sunny day our experience would have been very different. The day we were there the weather was nasty and nothing looked very inviting. However, we got a good taste of what it would be like to make a living as a fisherman!
We could not wait to return to our cozy site in the Williwaw Campground!
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