Valdez is becoming almost an annual visit. Halibut fishing (closer than Seward or Homer), scenic place and scenic drive, salmon fishing, small town.

August 1997 along the Richardson Highway about 80 miles north of Valdez. As we got out of the car to observe, the swans swam closer to us... we think attracted to the sounds of Les Miserables which Kara had playing on the cassette deck. This represents the kind of serenity which exists in Alaska, just imagine what it can be when you get away from the highways.

Worthington Glacier, 30 miles north of Valdez. The ice in the crevice is blue (does not show too well in the picture). Kara and Ruth (mom) above right, you can see from Kara's reaction that the chill off the ice can be felt.

Ok, this is back in Fairbanks after the trip... processing fish. Five of us (Kara, Ruth, Ivan, Gordon, and me) fished one day, we brought home 28 silver salmon (ate one there)... one short of limit. Silvers are probably the best eating salmon. Ivan is holding the largest, 13.25lbs. (would have won 2nd in the daily derby... if I had bought a ticket). That's just a fraction of the meat above, Ivan smoked some and some went into the freezer.

From July 1998, a trip with Kara and her friend Charlene. Above are two views from Mineral Creek Canyon (pretty little drive... must be done slowly), there are many beautiful waterfalls around Valdez. Below, of course, are halibut. We did limit that day (two each), nothing too big... largest was only 45lbs, smallest we kept was probably 15lbs. Alaskan halibut is excellent.