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This is Page 2 of 5 - the best of July 2021!
posted: August 2nd, 2021
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As stated at the bottom of Page 1, this page continues July 13th at 11:44 AM - day #2 of our vacation.  We are still at the Alaska/Canada Border on the Top Of The World Highway and we are enjoying ourselves immensely.  In Row 4 we change highways and are on the Tok-Cutoff, stopped for the night. In Row 5 we start vacation day #3 - July 14th - and soon after that, we start showing photos which we took in Thompson Pass, on the Richardson Highway.  Beginning in Row 16 we are in Valdez, Alaska and we stayed at the Valdez Glacier Campground for the night.  Row #21 begins the day of July 15th - vacation day #4, and this page ends soon after that.  Click on any thumbnail to begin.

July 13th Continues From Page 1 (at 11:44 AM)
  As we said at the bottom of Page 1, this page continues July 13th. It's now 11:44 AM and we are sitting at the Canada/Alaska border on the Top Of The World Highway. The third photo in this row is a scenery shot from the border area.
July13th_111_TopOfTheWorldHWYRC
July13th_111_
TopOfTheWorldHWYRC
July13th_113_TopOfTheWorldHWYRC
July13th_113_
TopOfTheWorldHWYRC
July13th_117_TopOfTheWorldHWYRC
July13th_117_
TopOfTheWorldHWYRC

  We drove back from the Canada/Alaska border about a mile or so and hiked up one of the hills which looked interesting. We found the Alaska Harebell (Campanula lasiocarpa), but that was about all. The third shot shows scenery with Daniel overlooking the world.
July13th_119_TopOfTheWorldHWY_CampanulaLasiocarpaRC
July13th_119_TopOfTheWorldHWY
_CampanulaLasiocarpaRC
July13th_120_TopOfTheWorldHWY_CampanulaLasiocarpaRC
July13th_120_TopOfTheWorldHWY
_CampanulaLasiocarpaRC
July13th_125_TopOfTheWorldHWYRC
July13th_125_Top
OfTheWorldHWYRC

  Here are three scenery shots which were taken from the hill we climbed up. In all three of them you can see the border, but the clouds and shadows are different enough so that each shot is quite unique. In all three shots, that is our rig parked down there.
Jul13_63_TopWorldHighwayRC
Jul13_63_Top
WorldHighwayRC
July13th_134_135_AutoPanoAT75_TopOfTheWorldHWYRC
July13th_134_135_AutoPanoAT75_
TopOfTheWorldHWYRC
Jul13_66_TopWorldHighwayRC
Jul13_66_Top
WorldHighwayRC

  Now we are very far away from where the previous shots were taken. We are now driving the Tok Cutoff Highway and we have stopped for the night and are taking a walk along the Slana River. Note the bird flying past in the second photo.
Jul13_72_TokCutOff_SlanaRiverAreaRC
Jul13_72_TokCutOff_
SlanaRiverAreaRC
July13th_202_SlanaRiverSideRC
July13th_202_
SlanaRiverSideRC

End July 13th, Begin July 14th
  A new day has dawned and, though it rained during the night and continued to rain lightly after we got up and started driving again, it soon stopped and turned into a pretty nice day. The first two shots show an immature eagle, but is it a Bald Eagle or a Golden Eagle, something doesn't look right for it to be an immature Bald Eagle. The third shot shows the Copper River from an overlook where we stopped to eat our lunch.
July14th_004_TokCutoff_EagleRC
July14th_004_
TokCutoff_EagleRC
July14th_011_TokCutoff_EagleRC
July14th_011_
TokCutoff_EagleRC
July14th_017_GakonaRC
July14th_017_
GakonaRC

  In the first shot in this row we are approaching Thompson Pass. When we arrived at the pass we stopped and took a short hike for an hour or so. We found Woolly Geranium (Geranium erianthum) and White Marsh Marigold (Caltha leptosepala) within just a few steps of the rig.
July14th_025_OnTheWayToThompsonPassRC
July14th_025_On
TheWayToThompsonPassRC
July14th_030_ThompsonPass_GeraniumErianthumRC
July14th_030_ThompsonPass
_GeraniumErianthumRC
July14th_031_ThompsonPass_CalthaLeptosepalaRC
July14th_031_ThompsonPass
_CalthaLeptosepalaRC

  The first shot here shows scenery and Kazuya as we hiked in Thompson Pass. As you can see, we were in the clouds. The second shot shows Fireleaf Leptarrhena (Leptarrhena pyrolifolia) in bloom. Please try to remember this plant, as later on we'll be showing you some shots after it has finished blooming. The third shot shows Daniel and from the fact that he is wearing his down jacket, you can deduce that it is chilly, but not raining.
Jul14_08_ThompsonPassRC
Jul14_08_
ThompsonPassRC
July14th_033_ThompsonPass_LeptarrhenaPyrolifoliaRC
July14th_033_ThompsonPass
_LeptarrhenaPyrolifoliaRC
July14th_039_ThompsonPass_LupinusNootkatensisRC
July14th_039_ThompsonPass
_LupinusNootkatensisRC

  Snow is still quite abundant here. The second and third shots show the Pixie Eye Primrose (Primula cuneifolia ssp. saxifragifolia), a flower which we specifically were hoping/expecting to find here.
Jul14_09_ThompsonPassRC
Jul14_09_
ThompsonPassRC
July14th_050_ThompsonPass_PrimulaCuneifoliaSspSaxifragifoliaRC
July14th_050_ThompsonPass_
PrimulaCuneifoliaSspSaxifragifoliaRC
July14th_055_ThompsonPass_PrimulaCuneifoliaSspSaxifragifoliaRC
July14th_055_ThompsonPass_
PrimulaCuneifoliaSspSaxifragifoliaRC

  Here are three more shots of the Pixie Eye Primrose (Primula cuneifolia ssp. saxifragifolia) - this plant and flower are so tiny as to be easily missed if one does not walk around with their eyes wide open.
Jul14_13_ThompsonPassRC
Jul14_13_
ThompsonPassRC
July14th_056_ThompsonPass_PrimulaCuneifoliaSspSaxifragifoliaRC
July14th_056_ThompsonPass_
PrimulaCuneifoliaSspSaxifragifoliaRC
July14th_064_ThompsonPass_PrimulaCuneifoliaSspSaxifragifoliaRC
July14th_064_ThompsonPass_
PrimulaCuneifoliaSspSaxifragifoliaRC

  Here is an Inky (Pale) Gentian (Gentiana glauca) in first position, and then there are two shots of Kazuya shooting the flowers
July14th_066_ThompsonPass_GentianaGlaucaRC
July14th_066_ThompsonPass
_GentianaGlaucaRC
Jul14_21_ThompsonPassRC
Jul14_21_
ThompsonPassRC
Jul14_22_ThompsonPassRC
Jul14_22_
ThompsonPassRC

  Here are three more shots of the Pixie Eye Primrose (Primula cuneifolia ssp. saxifragifolia). The center shot is an overview and the third shot shows Kazuya's finger so that you can appreciate just how tiny this plant and flower are.
July14th_070_ThompsonPass_PrimulaCuneifoliaSspSaxifragifoliaRC
July14th_070_ThompsonPass_
PrimulaCuneifoliaSspSaxifragifoliaRC
July14th_067_ThompsonPass_PrimulaCuneifoliaSspSaxifragifoliaRC
July14th_067_ThompsonPass_
PrimulaCuneifoliaSspSaxifragifoliaRC
July14th_077_ThompsonPass_PrimulaCuneifoliaSspSaxifragifoliaRC
July14th_077_ThompsonPass_
PrimulaCuneifoliaSspSaxifragifoliaRC

  Here are two shots which show Langsdorf's lousewort (Pedicularis langsdorfii) and then a shot of Aleutian Mountainheath (Phyllodoce aleutica).
Jul14_28_ThompsonPassRC
Jul14_28_
ThompsonPassRC
July14th_081_ThompsonPass_PedicularisLangsdorfiiRC
July14th_081_ThompsonPass_
PedicularisLangsdorfiiRC
Jul14_30_ThompsonPassRC
Jul14_30_
ThompsonPassRC

  This little Arctic Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus parryii) studies Kazuya, who is sitting at its front door waiting for it to come out. Cute, eh! The third shot shows more Aleutian Mountainheath (Phyllodoce aleutica).
July14th_084_ThompsonPass_ArcticGroundSquirrelRC
July14th_084_ThompsonPass_
ArcticGroundSquirrelRC
July14th_085_ThompsonPass_ArcticGroundSquirrelRC
July14th_085_ThompsonPass_
ArcticGroundSquirrelRC
Jul14_32_ThompsonPassRC
Jul14_32_
ThompsonPassRC

  Here is another shot of Pixie Eye Primrose (Primula cuneifolia ssp. saxifragifolia) and then a Wandering Fleabane (Erigeron peregrinus) and then in third position is Aleutian Mountainheath (Phyllodoce aleutica) and Daniel.
Jul14_43_ThompsonPassRC
Jul14_43_
ThompsonPassRC
July14th_090_ThompsonPass_ErigeronPeregrinusRC
July14th_090_ThompsonPass
_ErigeronPeregrinusRC
July14th_091_ThompsonPass_PhyllodoceAleuticaRC
July14th_091_ThompsonPass
_PhyllodoceAleuticaRC

  In this row you see Ledge Stonecrop (Rhodiola integrifolia ssp. integrifolia), Pixie Eye Primrose (Primula cuneifolia ssp. saxifragifolia), and Capitate Lousewort (Pedicularis capitata).
July14th_108_ThompsonPass_RhodiolaIntegrifoliaSspIntegrifoliaRC
July14th_108_ThompsonPass_Rhodiola
IntegrifoliaSspIntegrifoliaRC
Jul14_44_ThompsonPassRC
Jul14_44_
ThompsonPassRC
Jul14_48_ThompsonPassRC
Jul14_48_
ThompsonPassRC

  Here you see a blooming Blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum) and an Alaska Violet (Viola langsdorffii). The third shot shows the flats as one enters Valdez.
July14th_115_ThompsonPass_VacciniumUliginosumRC
July14th_115_ThompsonPass
_VacciniumUliginosumRC
July14th_112_ThompsonPass_ViolaLangsdorffiiRC
July14th_112_ThompsonPass
_ViolaLangsdorffiiRC
July14th_124_ValdezRC
July14th_124_
ValdezRC

  We decided to spend the night in Valdez, so we stayed in our Topper Motel at the Valdez Glacier Campground. It is a huge campground, more than 100 sites and very few of them were occupied on this Wednesday night. The second and third shots show Valdez Glacier Lake, complete with icebergs.
July14th_125_ValdezGlacierRC
July14th_125_
ValdezGlacierRC
Jul14_52_ValdezGlacierLakeRC
Jul14_52_
ValdezGlacierLakeRC
Jul14_53_ValdezGlacierLakeRC
Jul14_53_
ValdezGlacierLakeRC

  Here are three more shots which show Valdez Glacier Lake and icebergs floating around.
July14th_173_ValdezGlacierRC
July14th_173_
ValdezGlacierRC
July14th_182_ValdezGlacierRC
July14th_182_
ValdezGlacierRC
July14th_191_ValdezGlacierRC
July14th_191_
ValdezGlacierRC

  After we went to the Valdez Glacier Lake, we returned to the campground and walked around. We found Common Self-Heal (Prunella vulgaris) and this small waterfall, plus more (keep looking).
Jul14_62_ValdezGlacierCampgroundRC
Jul14_62_Valdez
GlacierCampgroundRC
Jul14_64_ValdezGlacierCampgroundRC
Jul14_64_Valdez
GlacierCampgroundRC
July14th_204_ValdezGlacier_PrunellaVulgarisRC
July14th_204_ValdezGlacier
_PrunellaVulgarisRC

  In first and third position are photos of Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) and in the center is a shot of Fringecup (Tellima grandiflora).
July14th_215_ValdezGlacier_RubusSpectabilisRC
July14th_215_ValdezGlacier
_RubusSpectabilisRC
July14th_207_ValdezGlacier_TellimaGrandifloraRC
July14th_207_ValdezGlacier
_TellimaGrandifloraRC
July14th_216_ValdezGlacier_RubusSpectabilisRC
July14th_216_ValdezGlacier
_RubusSpectabilisRC

End July 14th, Begin July 15th
  Now it's the morning of July 15th and we were camped maybe 100 feet from an Eagle Nest Tree, so as we drove out of the campground we caught this beautiful sight. Then we drove down to the Small Boat Harbor to look around.
Jul15_003_EagleTree_ValdezGlacierCGRC
Jul15_003_EagleTree
_ValdezGlacierCGRC
Jul15_004_EagleTree_ValdezGlacierCGRC
Jul15_004_EagleTree
_ValdezGlacierCGRC
Jul15_006_ValdezSmallBoatHarborRC
Jul15_006_Valdez
SmallBoatHarborRC

  Here is another shot of the Valdez Small Boat Harbor. The second shot is a scenery shot and the third shot shows a pair of bicyclists riding a bicycle built for two, with a small trailer in which they were carrying two dogs and their gear. We stopped for a while at an information stop to ask about Chocolate Lilies, so while we were stopped they passed us and we caught them again (next row).
July15th_041_ValdezRC
July15th_041_
ValdezRC
Jul15_009_SceneryLeavingValdezRC
Jul15_009_
SceneryLeavingValdezRC
Jul15_023_LeavingValdez_SceneryRC
Jul15_023_Leaving
Valdez_SceneryRC

  Here are two scenery shots and then these bicyclists again. We honked in a specific way every time we saw them, and with our going back and forth and stopping to hike and so on, we ended up passing them at least 3 more times after this. By the final time, they had learned to recognize our honk and just started waving as soon as we gave our honk. We wondered where they were going, as the final time we saw them was along the Tok Cutoff Highway 2 days later.
Jul15_025_LeavingValdez_SceneryRC
Jul15_025_Leaving
Valdez_SceneryRC
Jul15_026_LeavingValdez_SceneryRC
Jul15_026_Leaving
Valdez_SceneryRC
July15th_094_ValdezRC
July15th_094_
ValdezRC

  Now we are driving back up towards Thompson Pass and are in Keystone Canyon again.
Jul15_031_LeavingValdez_SceneryRC
Jul15_031_Leaving
Valdez_SceneryRC
Jul15_037_KeystoneCanyonValdezRC
Jul15_037_Keystone
CanyonValdezRC
Jul15_038_KeystoneCanyonValdezRC
Jul15_038_Keystone
CanyonValdezRC

  In the first two shots we are still in Keystone Canyon, but in the third shot, it appears that we have cleared the canyon and are getting closer to Thompson Pass.
Jul15_032_LeavingValdez_SceneryRC
Jul15_032_Leaving
Valdez_SceneryRC
Jul15_039_KeystoneCanyonValdezRC
Jul15_039_Keystone
CanyonValdezRC
Jul15_049_DrivingTowardsThompsonPassFromValdezRC
Jul15_049_Driving
TowardsThompsonPassFromValdezRC

End Page 2, but July 15th continues on Page 3
Thanks so much for taking the time to look at this page.  Now, please go on to Page 3 for the continuation of our vacation adventures, beginning at 10:34 AM on July 15th. Go To Page:

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