Portage Valley and Hope

Video family portrait waiting for the bore tide on the Turnagain Arm. Vid credit to @upintheairstream #boretide #turnagainarm #cookinlet #advodnaxmascard

This wave forms as the tide constricts into the Cook Inlet and travels up the Turnagain Arm. We were a little farther down so it wasn't quite as big but still pretty interesting to watch. And yes, there were people out there to ride it. And yes, @malimish_dan, you could totally catch it. #boretide #turnagainarm

I'd totally camp below that glacier. In fact, we will tonight! #airstream #liveriveted #airstreamtoalaska #portageglacier #williwaw

#latergram Backup plan if one of us got stuck in the aqueous silt mud as the tidal bore approached was to throw the baby to safety. A few practice tosses seemed like a good idea. #childhoodunplugged #familytravel #fulltimefamilies #boretide #shedidntthinkitwasboring #turnagainarm

Nice short hike up to the Byron Glacier this afternoon with @upintheairstream and the boys. The Portage Valley is lined with several glaciers. We may just hang here a couple days to see a few more. #airstreamtoalaska #byronglacier #portagevalley #fulltimefamilies #familytravel #advodnaxmascard #wynnehangingwiththefamily

Airstream to Glacier, come in Glacier. I repeat. Glacier, this is Airstream. Do you copy? #noresponse #somethingmustbewrong #oritsignoringus #portagevalley #middleglacier #airstream #liveriveted #myrivetedlife #airstreamtoalaska

Not a bad way to spend your first birthday. #horsetailfalls #whittier #wishihadawittierhastag #princewilliamsound #childhoodunplugged #itsmaesbirthday!

Pretty sweet first birthday. Naked breakfast, ice cream for lunch, hike up to an awesome view, then a leisurely stroll around the campground. Happy Birthday my baby Mae ❤️😍 #cantbeatbeingone

We'd actually planned to hike the Portage Pass Trail from this side of the tunnel, but the clouds were looking pretty low. A quick Google search yielded info on a hike up to the waterfalls pouring down from the glaciers above the town. Much of the trail was boardwalks made from pressure treated wood, sometimes double width and sometimes only single. I assured @advodna_ann that the thick cover of berry bushes that sometimes consumed the trail were *definitely* not the kind Grizzlies liked. At the top, we were rewarded with great views of Whittier and across the cove to the Billings Glacier. We broke out the apples, granola bars and PB&J's on a wooden platform overlooking it all, hoping the bears were full from all those delicious berries below. #whoops #horsetailfalls #whittier #billingsglacier #familytravel #fulltimefamilies #advodnaxmascard

This afternoon, we drove through the 2.2 mile tunnel to the little village of Whittier on the Prince William Sound (I bet Prince Harry is super jealous). Since the tunnel is only one lane, traffic alternates directions for 30 minutes at a time, outbound at the top of the hour, inbound at the bottom. Add to that the fact that it's the longest tunnel in North America that accommodates both vehicle and train traffic (you drive on top of the slightly sunken rails), it's not a super easy little town to get to. That may have been part of its value as a strategic military base during WWII and into the Cold War where it served as one of the main entry points for American troops into Alaska. Today, the majority of its 200 and something residents live in one of the old barracks that has been converted to condos. We strolled the waterfront, ate fish and chips and let Mae mash her face into an ice cream cone to celebrate her birthday. #whittier #princewilliamsound #whittiertunnel

Even with some low clouds, the southern coast of the Turnagain Arm on the way out to the little town of Hope is pretty spectacular. #airstream #liveriveted #myrivetedlife #airstreamtoalaska #turnagainarm #hopealaska #kenai

Awesome waterfront site in front of the Seaview Cafe along the southern coast of the Turnagain Arm. The cute little town of Hope is only a few streets but each one has a couple cabins built around the end of the 19th century. We had a nice pub meal at the cafe and will walk back over for the open mic at the bar. #hopealaska #turnagainarm #kenai #airstream #liveriveted #myrivetedlife #airstreamtoalaska

They said they're fully booked tomorrow (Friday) night. But tonight? It's just about all ours. #airstream #airstreamwithkids #liveriveted #myrivetedlife #airstreamtoalaska #hopealaska #turnagainarm #kenai

I took a panorama shot of the view of the 10:30 pm beginnings of a sunset in Hope and, on the way back to the trailer, was trying to figure out how I could get Instagram to do a pan from left to right over the image. Then I realized I could just take a video and pan it myself. #ahamoment #setinmyways #hopealaska #kenai #airstream