Re: Driving to Valdez in the winter -- stupid idea?

On Jul 24, 5:54=A0pm, Robert Bolton <robertboltond...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> On Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:42:19 -0500, Dan Foster <use...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> wrote:
>
> >Looking at a possible trip to Alaska around Christmastime-ish.
>
> >Question:
>
> >Is it a stupid idea to even think of driving to Valdez that time of the
> >year?
>
> >Obviously, the nearby Thompson Pass has heck of a reputation as being a
> >major snow generator. The last car I rented in AK in the winter
couldn't
> >handle little hills without literally sliding backwards down. So I have
> >to seriously wonder if I'm foolish in even considering Valdez as an
opti=
on?
>
> ....
> Hi, Dan.
> My guess is that how risky it is to drive in and out of Valdez depends
> on the weather. =A0Get a big dump and the road may be a mess. =A0If
there
> hasn't been a storm then the road should be plowed and sanded.
>
> One of the tricks of the trade for slowing down on icy roads is to
> move over to the non-slick areas such as the center or edge/shoulder
> of the lane where motorists haven't worn sand/gravel away.
>
> I've never driven the road in the winter, but it sure is pretty in the
> summer. =A0The glaciers are only pretty when the previous winter's snow
> has melted off.
>
> You might try calling a business there and talk to whomever answers.
> Robert

In 1962 the Fort Greely Post commander had military drivers drive
military busess from Fort Greely to the Valdez for the Class C
basketball tournament that we won (Fort Greely Grizzlies).  I remember
going through Thompson Pass.  We could not see over the snow on the
highway at Thompson Pass.  It was like driving through a snow canyon.
So I guess the snow was about 14 feet deep.  In Valdez it was also
very deep.  I remember one winter, I think it was in 1990, the snow
was 22 feet deep in Valdez.  The point is, Valdez and the Thompson
Pass has some of the deepest snow in Alaska and is not a place to take
lightly for winter driving.