While driving, the
two RV Gypsies saw another moose by the side of the road |
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The two RV Gypsies drove south
on the Richardson Highway about 23 miles from Delta Junction to the vicinity
of Donnelly Dome (originally called Delta Dome). It is a popular climbing
adventure - the top is about 2,400 feet above actual ground level, with
an elevation of 3,910 feet. The Dome is an unusual feature of terrain called
a fleigbert ("mountain overridden by ice").
 Natives
claim that the first snow on Donnelly Dome means snow in Delta Junction
within 2 weeks. No snow was seen at this time, thank goodness.
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| Below: The drive
south also presented a picturesque rural setting complimented by spectacular
views of the Alaska Range and the Delta River. Clear days allow stunning
views of Mt. Hayes, Mt. Moffit and a number of other peaks, lakes, and creeks. |
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| Below;
Notice the big dips in the road - very common. The
Richardson Highway is a wide paved highway in fair-to-good condition,
with some sections of frost heaves and patched pavement.
On the majority of roads in Alaska, the two RV Gypsies were able to see
the road for many miles ahead. |
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Below: Frost heaves and
patched pavement |
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Below: Various mountains
in the Alaska Range - very beautiful scenery |
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 It looks like the road
just explodes into the mountain |
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| Below: Looking out
the side window of the RV, the two RV Gypsies could see the same road many
miles ahead, because it weaved and curved so often. |
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Below: Along the way, there
were many spots where the two RV Gypsies saw the Alaska pipeline again.
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Below: The zig-zag of the
Alaska pipeline could be seen for many miles ahead. |
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| Below: Because of
the varying soil conditions along its route, the pipeline is both above
and below the ground. Where the warm oil would cause icy soil to thaw and
erode, the pipeline goes above ground, Where the frozen ground is mostly
well-drained gravel or rocks and thawing is not a problem the pipeline is
underground. |
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Below: The pipeline went
into the ground once again. |
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Below: The braided Delta
River, Darling Creek, and Gunny Sack Creek |
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| Below:
Black Rapids U.S. Army Training Site at Fall Creek |
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Below: A view of The Delta
River |
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| Below: Black
Rapids Glacier - a retreating glacier with little ice visible. This
glacier was nicknamed the Galloping Glacier when it advanced more
than 3 miles during the winter of 1936-1937. |
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Pump
Station #10 - the pipeline has an earthquake detection
system. Ground accelerometers at pump stations measure earth movement
and computers identify critical supports, valves and other items to check
after a quake. The pipeline's design was tested in November 2002 by a
7.9 earthquake. |
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Below: As the two
RV Gypsies rolled along the highway in their RV, more glimpses of the Alaska
Pipeline came into view. The pipeline occasionally went underground, but
soon would re-surface again. |
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Below: Rainbow Ridge and Rainbow Mountain - this 6,000-foot-high
ridge extends north-west 8 miles from McCallum Creek. The highest point
on the ridge is 6,700-foot Rainbow Mountain. The mountain and ridge were
named for their varicolored talus slopes. The reds and greens are volcanic
rock; the yellows and pastels are siltstone and sandstone. |
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Below: Snow poles along the highway guide
snowplows in winter |
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Below: Summit Lake |
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Below: Water Edge Cottages
at Summit Lake |
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Below: Fireweed. The willow ptarmigan is Alaska’s
state bird and the mosquito is NOT. Also, the forget-me-not is the state
flower and not the far more ubiquitous fireweed. The fireweed so commonly
seen in Alaska — Chamerion angustifolium — proliferates during
summer, aggressively erupting in open spaces before cottoning in the turn
toward fall. While summer visitors will almost surely see fireweed, they
will likely not come across any wild forget-me-not. As such, they’re
often surprised to learn fireweed is not the state flower of Alaska. Some
natives told the two RV Gypsies that when the fireweed no longer has blooms
on it, winter is close behind. |
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| Below: Summit Lake
was just so beautiful with the fireweed wildflowers, that the two RV Gypsies
decided to stop and have lunch. So while Lee Duquette was preparing lunch
inside the RV, Karen Duquette went crazy photographing the lake. |
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Below: After lunch, Lee
Duquette took a few photos of Karen Duquette by Summit Lake |
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Below: These photos
were taken through a closed window of the moving RV - as are many, if not
most, of the photos on this page and so many places on this website. (The
RV window was not designed to open). Therefore, much of the beauty of the
scenery is not evident in some photos. Alaska has so much breathtaking scenery. |
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| The two
RV Gypsies have previously driven on other parts of the Richardson Highway
and those photos are included within previous sections of this website.
The photos above were strictly photos taken between Delta Junction and Glennallen. |
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