Alaska's Richardson Highway, the Alaska Pipeline and more

Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers

The Richardson Highway

and more of the Alaska Pipeline

The Richardson Highway (originally called the Valdez Gold Rush Trail) is Alaska's oldest highway, beginning as a gold rush trail to Eagle in 1898. General Wilds P. Richardson worked to upgrade it to a wagon road in 1910 after the Fairbanks gold strike. It was made suitable for automobiles in the 1920's and was paved in 1957. Below are just a few interesting places & beautiful scenery between Delta Junction and Glennallen. And as usual, there are a lot of photos on this page, so a touch of patience may be needed while photos load.

While driving, the two RV Gypsies saw another moose by the side of the road


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.


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.

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.

Below: Frost heaves and patched pavement


Below: Various mountains in the Alaska Range - very beautiful scenery

It looks like the road just explodes into the mountain

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.




Below: Along the way, there were many spots where the two RV Gypsies saw the Alaska pipeline again.


Below: The zig-zag of the Alaska pipeline could be seen for many miles ahead.


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.

Below: The pipeline went into the ground once again.



Below: The braided Delta River, Darling Creek, and Gunny Sack Creek


Below: Black Rapids U.S. Army Training Site at Fall Creek

Below: A view of The Delta River

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.

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.

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.



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.


Below: Snow poles along the highway guide snowplows in winter

Below: Summit Lake

Below: Water Edge Cottages at Summit Lake


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.


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.


Below: After lunch, Lee Duquette took a few photos of Karen Duquette by Summit Lake


Below: These photos were taken out of a closed window of the moving RV - as are many, if not most, of the photos on this page. (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.



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.

please continue on to Glennallen and Mt. Drum - the Hub of Alaska's road system