Foggy Thompson Pass
Our drive to Anchorage started with a clear but cool and damp day in Valdez. As we climbed higher the fog got thicker, got to the point we couldn’t see 100 metres. Once through Thompson Pass we started our descent and into clear, warmer weather. Our trip to Valdez was cloudy but today the clearing skies allowed us to see the mountain tops we previously missed. Our drive north was back over the rough and heaved Richardson Hwy to the town of Glenallen where we filled up the truck’s gas tank. The gas pump here was the start of a frequent practise at Alaskan gas stations. We required a valid US zip code that matched our credit card address to pay at the pump. If you couldn’t do that you had to pay up front with cash or leave your debit/credit card. After several days it didn’t become any easier to leave a card at the till and walk away.
Today’s drive turned out to be a scenic one. Hwy 1 (Glenn Hwy) towards Anchorage was a hilly 
route (over 3300 feet at one point) as we drove westward from Glenallen. There were a few places along the way with large parking areas and several trucks, trailers, campers, and ATVs. Some of this area looks popular to camp, hike, and ATV trail but it is not all free access. Much of the area seems to be owned by Ahtna Incorporated an Alaska Native Regional Corporation established by Congress under terms of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act .
We crested numerous hills, followed large rivers, mountains of striking colours, and drove down winding steep descents, and drove along wide plateaus. As we closed in on Anchorage the land dropped, flattened out, and we drove into the city. Not sure what we were thinking going to a city. The RV Park we stayed at was the worst we have been in; beside a major road, short, cramped sites, cars and trucks parked blocking lanes, and numerous full time residents (and all their belongings stored outside their trailers) where we were put. We were glad to get up and leave each day to tour the city. We checked out their craft market and bought some handmade craft items from one of the artisans. We also went to the museum and the touristy shop areas.
After Anchorage we drove north to Denali National Park. Our RV Park was about 20 minutes from the park entrance and was located between the mountains offering great views. Denali is a beautiful Park and the town site outside of it is typical touristy trap stuff and a couple of nice looking lodges, including one of Princess Cruises’ Wilderness Lodges. They have 5 up here. When we got to the park we found out that we should have booked a bus ride into the park’s interior in advance. The road to the interior is open to the public for the first 15 miles/24km to Savage River. From this point, to go further you must be on one of the Denali Park buses. As we missed that, we drove to the Savage River to hike the trails there. They were a short 3 km but there were lots of photo opps. We also stopped at the Savage River gate to say Hi to the Park Rangers. One was a former Canadian Armed Forces vet that moved to Alaska after leaving the Forces. We found out that RV camping is permitted further in the park but it is dry camping – no site services, and it must be for a minimum 3-days. Maybe next time.
Surprisingly, we never saw an animal other than a rabbit and ground squirrel. Not to be a spoiler, but in the 10-days we were in Alaska we never saw a wild animal. We then walked the town site and didn’t find anything there either. Back at the trailer we got set for leaving in the morning for Fairbanks. Sleeping up here is kind of odd, especially when it stays light after midnight. This photo was taken at 1:30 am.