The original town of Valdez no longer exists. In 1964, a Tsunami, caused by the largest re corded earthquake in the Northern Hemisphere, destroyed the town. It was rebuilt four miles west of the original site. The area is relatively quiet this time of year, but the tourist season picks up with the warming seasons and has become a popular stop ping point for most of the cruise ships making their way up the sound.

On our first down day, we decide to take the motor home into town for some fuel, groceries, and a badly needed shower. Once our business is taken care of, we spend the rest of the afternoon cruising the harbor. What a sight! An array of old-fashioned fishing boats, ferries and motorboats rock back and forth in the lazy sun. A young boy peers after his submerged hook hoping for a bite. Just another lazy day around a yacht harbor - not exactly. This quaint little port could be any where as long as yo u keep your head down towards the surface. As soon as you look up and are surrounded by a panoramic view, the snow-covered Chugach, you know that this place is one of a kind. Does any other place have such a spectacular harbor? Maybe the Fjords of Norwa y, Iceland, Greenland...

Things to Do

Thanks to the steady increase of year round visitors, a whole host of wild sporting activities have sprung up. On the top of the adrenaline list are the heli-skiing operations. We find Alaska Back Country Adventures the most flexible and affordable op tion for both helicopter and fixed wing access to wherever we want to go. If you want more information on ABA or just general info in the area, check in with Tom directly @ (907) 283-9354 or check him out on the web @ www.ptialaska.net/mbcountry. The o ther two operations are Valdez H20 Heli Adventures run by Dean Conway just past the Keystone Canyon or Doug Coombsą Valdez Heli guides run out of the Tsaina Lodge. Another outfit that offers a much more affordable access to the steeps is Vth Season. This outfit relies on snowcaps, snowmobiles and Hummers to get you where you want to go. We find them offering $20 cat rides just off the summit of Thompson Pass. This prove to be a great option when the weather and visibility make flying a little too sketchy and our pockets are starting to feel empty. Apparently, they specialize in putting custom trips together. If you want to set up a base camp somewhere out there, they have all the tools to help make it happen.

For the little less crazy there are many other options for wilderness adventures. The word on the street is that the best way to see the area is on the water. Valdez offers an array of charter services that can get you out on the sound in sea kayaks, mo torboats, ferries and planes. Whether your pleasure is active glaciers, sea life or shorebirds, there is an outfit to suit your particular needs. Once this area warms up a little, the most popular activity is fishing with world class salmon and halibu t fishing that are known to weigh over 300 lbs. I saw some great literature on the plane/heli access interior access rivers that are open for exploration. I know it will only be a matter of time before I get to experience such a voyage myself.

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