Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
(and Professional Travelers)

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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.
While driving, the two RV Gypsies saw another moose by the side of the road
moose moose
moose moose
 
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's 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"). The first snow on Donnelly Dome means snow in Delta Junction within 2 weeks.cool
Donnelly Dome Donnelly Dome
Donnelly Dome Donnelly Dome
 
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.
the Alaska Range the Alaska Range

Notice the big dips in the road - very common. The Richardson 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, you can see the road for many miles ahead.
a big dip int he road a 'roller coaster' road
frost heaves and patched pavement
frost heaves frost heaves and patched pavement
various mountains in the Alaska Range - very beautiful scenery
various mountains in the Alaska Range various mountains in the Alaska Range
It looks like the road just explodes into the mountain
the road into the mountain the road into the mountain
Looking out the side window of the RV, you can see the same road many miles ahead, because it weaves and curves so often.
curvy road in the mountain mountain, trees, road
various mountains in the Alaska Range the RV of the two RV Gypsies
various mountains in the Alaska Range various mountains in the Alaska Range
various mountains in the Alaska Range & curvy road various mountains in the Alaska Range & curvy road
 
Along the way, there were many spots to see the Alaska pipeline again.
pipeline view point sign where the pipeline goes underground under the road
Alaska pipeline Lee Duquette and the Alaska pipeline
see the zig-zag of the Alaska pipeline for many miles
Lee Duquette and the Alaska pipeline sign about the zig-zag of the pipeline
Lee Duquette and the Alaska pipeline Lee Duquette and the Alaska pipeline
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.
sign about the elevated pipeline Lee Duquette and the Alaska pipeline
the pipeline goes into the ground
the pipeline goes into the ground sign about transitions of the pipeline
Alaska pipeline sign about the buried road crossing
sign about the heat pipes
 
The braided Delta River, Darling Creek, and Gunny Sack Creek
river river
creek creel
 
Black Rapids U.S. Army Training Site at Fall Creek
Black Rapids U.S. Army Training Site at Fall Creek Fall Creek
the Delta River
the Delta River the Delta River
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.
Black Rapids Glacier Black Rapids Glacier
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.
Pump Station #10 scenery
 
As the two RV Gypsies roll along the highway in their RV, more glimpses of the Alaska Pipeline come into view. It occasionally went underground, but soon would re-surface again.
Alaska pipeline Alaska pipeline
Alaska pipeline Alaska pipeline
 
sign - entering Federal Susuistence Hunting Area creek and mountains
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.
Rainbow Ridge and Rainbow Mountain Rainbow Ridge and Rainbow Mountain
Rainbow Ridge and Rainbow Mountain Rainbow Ridge and Rainbow Mountain
snow poles along the highway guide snowplows in winter
 
snow poles road and mountains
Summit Lake
road to the Water Edge Cottages
 road to the Water Edge Cottages & Summit Lake
Water Edge Cottages at Summit Lake
Water Edge Cottages road to the Water Edge Cottages
Summit lake cottages, lake, road
sign - Summit Lake Summit Lake & fireweed
a small RV and small cabin Summit Lake & fireweed
Summit Lake is just so beautiful with the fireweed wildflowers, that the two RV Gypsies decided to stop and have lunch. So while Lee was preparing lunch inside the RV, Karen went crazy photographing the lake.
Summit Lake & fireweed the RV of the two RV Gypsies at Summit Lake
Summit Lake & fireweed Summit Lake & fireweed
After lunch, Lee took a few photos of Karen by Summit Lake
Karen Duquette at Summit Lake Karen Duquette at Summit Lake
Karen Duquette at Summit Lake Karen Duquette at Summit Lake
 
These photos were taken out a closed window of the moving RV - as are many, if not most, of the photos on this page. (The window does not open). Therefore, much of the beauty of the scenery is not evident in some photos. Alaska has so much breathtaking scenery.
sign - welcome to the Copper River Valley sign - Paxson Lake
Paxson Lake Paxson Lake
Paxson Lake Paxson Lake
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 are strictly photos taken between Delta Junction and Glennallen.
next page Glennallen and Mt. Drum