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Old 10-16-2012, 10:28 PM   #1
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Turnagain Arm, AK Drive

After a rainy week, Saturday Sept 29th was clear and sunny. Time for one last easy overnight camping and biking adventure before "termination dust" arrived. We decided to cruise south on the Seward Highway about 54 miles to Williwaw Campground in the Portage Valley - Chugach National Forest http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/chugach/maps-pubs . Most of the scenery shots are from the windshield of our Sprinter or on our bikes on the paved/elevated deck Trail of Blue Ice. On the way down we saw a bore tide moving in.

If you come to AK and the Anchorage area, you can't beat this campground an hour south of town toward Seward. Best sites to try to reserve: #40 (see photo which I labeled as campsite #32 by mistake and don't know how to fix on this site - BTW its located in a section of the campground that is closed from Labor Day to Memorial Day) and #32 (not shown- it was occupied at the time).

Parts of the trail of blue ice was covered in sand and gravel from recent heavy rains that flooded portions of the trail.
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Bore Tide.jpg   Hope, Alaska.jpg   Turanagain Arm.jpg  

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Old 10-16-2012, 10:34 PM   #2
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Re: Turnagain Arm, AK Drive

Campground is located on the 14 mile long Portage Hwy that takes you to the lake side visitor center and the 2+ mile Tunnel to Whittier, AK
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Seward Hwy stop.jpg   Williwaw Campsite.jpg   Portage Hwy.jpg  
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Old 10-16-2012, 10:36 PM   #3
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Re: Turnagain Arm, AK Drive

Bike / Hiking trail is pretty flat, meandering through muskeg and meandering gravel bars.
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Chilly Morning Ride.jpg   Icefield Trail.jpg   Williwaw Creek.jpg  
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Old 10-16-2012, 10:39 PM   #4
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Re: Turnagain Arm, AK Drive

Portage Lake. 25 years ago Portage glacier was visible from here.
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Portage Lake.jpg   Iceberg Ahead!.jpg   williwaw campsite 32 is the best.jpg  
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Old 10-16-2012, 10:43 PM   #5
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Re: Turnagain Arm, AK Drive

Headed back to town. Tide was out. Sigh, Moose is now winterized and enclosed in its snow suit, charger plugged in and the snow is now falling....
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Winter snowsuit.jpg   Fall Seward Hwy.jpg  
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Old 10-16-2012, 11:01 PM   #6
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Re: Turnagain Arm, AK Drive

Good looking Sprinter! Thanks for sharing the trip report and the pictures. Would love to tour parts of Alaska one of these days.

Mike and Kris
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Old 10-17-2012, 04:36 AM   #7
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Re: Turnagain Arm, AK Drive

Thanks for sharing, great pictures. I like your van cover, I can read the name Classic is that the manufactuer?
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Old 10-18-2012, 07:56 AM   #8
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Re: Turnagain Arm, AK Drive

The van cover says "classic covers" on it. Fits nicely and has access zippers to front, side and rear doors. Takes two persons and a ladder to install. Seems well constructed for the price. Got it on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004QHEFCW/ref ... T1_SC_dp_1
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