Witty at Whittier

The only road access to Whittier uses the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel.  Vehicles must share this tunnel with the local train.  Traffic is controlled by a computerized system and is ONE way traffic only.  If you want to visit here, be sure and check the schedule.  Timing is everything here.  We used Norm and Landi's RV since it was the smallest camper of our group.  It cost us $12 to get to Whittier but they let us back out for free!

We waited patiently in Lane 3 for the go signal on the western side of the tunnel.

The tunnel seemed awfully long even though the average time to drive through it is less than 7 minutes.  There is a posted speed limit of 25 MPH.  I was looking for the "light at the end of the tunnel" so to speak, but I sure didn't want to see it half way through!  That would have meant the train was coming at us!

We emerged from the tunnel into a sea of gray mist and drizzling rain.  We all had on our rain gear as we headed for the dock.

Was the ship and the crew ready for this group of anxious Arizonans?  Hope so! 

We didn't expect to see much on the cruise because of the inclement weather.  Patches of mountains and glaciers could be seen at various times, peeking out from the fog and low lying clouds.  Occasionally, a small chunk of ice would pass by the boat.  Everything seemed to be colored in shades of blue and gray.

It was amazing to see the glaciers up so close.  It was cold on the outside deck!  Not only was it still sprinkling lightly, I think the wind was picking up moisture from the glacier and flinging it straight at me!  No problem......I had on 6 layers of clothes!  It may have been overkill for some people, but desert people like myself like to be warm.  One guy on the deck was taking pictures in his short sleeves!  What was he....part polar bear?  Or did he just come over from Siberia?  Good grief!

During part of the trip, the crew got out a dip net and caught a piece of the floating ice, which they later used for drinks!  Sandy had a margarita made with the glacier ice and Sherry had flavored ice tea.

About half way through our 4 and a half hour cruise, the sun peeked out.   A wonderful rainbow was off the stern of the boat. 

The rain had quit when the captain spotted this group of floating sea otters.  I didn't get a very good picture since I had left my expensive one behind in the RV.  I didn't want it to get wet and possibly ruined so I borrowed a waterproof camera from our son just before we left for Alaska.  The cute little guys didn't care whether I was taking their picture or not.  It does look like one waved at me.....maybe.....possibly....or maybe I just imagined he waved.....

Further on, the clouds parted.  There was a blue sky here!

As we came close to another group of waterfalls, the sunlight turned the water a beautiful turquoise color.

The little "spots" are birds clinging to the sides of the wet, slippery rocks.  It was quite noisy here,  All of the birds seemed to be chattering at each other at the same time.

Here is a view of the same waterfall looking off the bow of the boat.

This day had turned out so much better than we had expected.  We even saw a bald eagle up close.  Our expectations in the morning were very low.  If we didn't get to see anything, at least we would have a good salmon and prime rib meal.  We had all of that and more!  In the picture below you can see the very small town of Whittier, sitting below the glacier.  There is one 14 story building that houses 80% of the town's population.  It also contains a small store and laundromat! If you were looking for a Walmart or Safeway store, you sure won't find it here!  Time for us to get in line again for the trip back through the tunnel to Portage Valley.