Page 120 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

118  ALASK A AREA B Y AREA

Pleasure boats docked at Whittier, at the western edge of Prince William Sound
1 Whittier the army left in 1960, the few 2 Blackstone Bay
hundred residents who stayed
59 miles (95 km) SE of Anchorage. Transport map E4. g from Whittier.
Transport map E4. * 220. behind continued to live in
£ from Anchorage via Portage. two towers, one of which, the One of Alaska’s most dramatic
g from Valdez and Cordova. 14-story Begich Towers, has sights, the 18-mile- (29-km-)
∑ whittieralaska.gov now been converted into con- long Blackstone Bay lies at the
Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel: dominiums. The town’s other foot of three calving tide water
Open 15 mins hourly in each occupied building is the less glaciers – Blackstone, Beloit,
direction. ∑ tunnel.alaska.gov obtrusive Whittier Manor. Most and Northland. These choke
residents are accustomed to the upper por tion of this
Whittier’s name came from unflattering remarks about spectacular fjord with growler
the adjacent Whittier Glacier, these buildings, and even ice, bergy bits, and small
named after the American seem proud of the undeniably icebergs (see pp30–31).
poet John Greenleaf Whittier. quirky architecture. From the unofficial campsite
Founded in 1943, when the US One of Whittier’s main at the southern end of Willard
Army used this ice-free port to attractions is a large colony Island, campers have a front-
build an Alaska base, the town of black-legged kittiwakes in row view of nature’s intrigu ing
was made accessible by the the cliffs across Passage Arm, displays, as well as a minor
3-mile (5-km) Anton Anderson which can be viewed on sea lesson in physics. As chunks
road-rail toll tunnel, which kayaking trips. Lovers of the calve off the glaciers, three
connects Turnagain Arm outdoors will also enjoy the types of waves appear. First,
with Passage Canal, an arm 26 Glacier Cruise run by light waves make the calving
of Prince William Sound. Phillips Cruises and Tours. visible to observers. Several
Despite its spectacular The cruise boats travel deep seconds later, a sound wave
setting, surrounded as it is by into Barry Arm and College arrives, carrying the thunder-
glaciers and thundering water- Fjord, offering visitors close-up like crack of the breaking ice.
falls, Whittier is probably one views of wildlife and glaciers. Finally, after a minute or so,
of Alaska’s oddest towns. The the waves created by the
army, not especially concerned Phillips Cruises and Tours big splash roll onto the shore.
with aesthetics, housed their Cliffside Marina. Tel 276-8023, (800) Most visitors to Blackstone
personnel in Soviet-style high- 544-0529. Cruises depart May–Sep Bay arrive on day cruises from
rise apartment buildings. After 12:30pm daily. ∑ phillipscruises.com Whittier, but it is also popular
as a venue for ocean kayaking
(see 266–7). Kayakers typically
take two days to reach Willard
Island in the middle of the
fjord. Although it can be an
enjoyable experience to paddle
around between the bergs,
visitors should be careful not
to approach the glacier faces
or be caught on an incoming
tide. Pieces of ice, pushed
by the forceful current, can
Sea kayakers gliding past Blackstone Glacier, Blackstone Bay crush a kayak.
For hotels and restaurants in this area see p243 and p253

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