Back to the Lower 48 - Glenn Highway

Well, it is time to head back to the Lower 48

 We hit the road

 Fall is in full swing

 Heading to The Glenn Highway towards Valdez and go past the Turnagain Arm one last time

 Our first rest stop is for a short hike to Thunderbird Falls

 Tucson leads the way

Fall colors abound

 Almost there!

 and there they are!

 We continue on past the Eklutna River

The  Matanuska River  joining the Chickaloon river with the Chugach Mountains under clouds

Half way to Glennallen and our turnoff to Valdez!

This enormous road cut was made after crews removed over 2.4 million cubic yards of material and blasted rock in 2008 rerouting this stretch of the highway

We get a window of clearing to see the mountains

We arrive at our scheduled stop for the night - the Mantanuska Glacier1

We find a spot for the night

There is a short hiking trail to a viewpoint of the Glacier

And there it is

The 75 mile Matanuska River fed by the glacier as well as named and unnamed streams that drain the Talkeetna and Chugach ranges.

Across the road from the parking area is an example of a "Rock glacier". 

and this is why we left Tucson to come to Alaska to see the Glaciers

The next morning we are  back on the road

Uh Oh!  9 miles left on the tank . . .

Eureka!   5 miles later we arrive at Eureka Summit!  At 3,322 feet it is the highest point on the Glenn Highway and the only Gas Station for miles! 

As we leave the rain changes to snow.

We are definitely getting into a snowier area.  I saw this cool dome cloud hovering over the mountains.

and it looks like Old Man Winter is getting ready to blow in some winter weather.

We reach the Town of Glennallen where the Glenn Highway turns left to Fairbanks and the Richardson Highway goes south to Valdez.  It is supposed to be a sunny day in the 60's for our drive to Valdez.  We drop the trailer and go!