The beginning of the 4th of July parade in Valdez. It was amazing how the town filled up in the past several days.I am always amazed by the four-wheel drive fire trucks. Look at the ground clearance!Sorry, bear not included. Actually there was a walking bear handing out candy just behind this but he would not give me any!This looks like a kind of fun job, but I would bet it is not a bed of roses!This was a man enjoying himself in the parade. You gotta love small town parades!This statue was erected to honor the men and women who participated in the World’s Largest Private Construction Project, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, 1969-1977. It is located at the Ferry Terminal in Valdez. Cathy finally agreed to pose with Uncle Salmon.The Valdez convention and Civic Center is located on a hill in downtown. We were warned that this hill has been known to harbor grizzly bears as it is covered in berries.After the parade, we decided to leave the “crowds” of Valdez and head out to hike the 4.4 mile John Hunter Memorial Trail, formally know as the Soloman Gulch Trail. It was fairly steep in the beginning so we had time to take in some of the flora and fauna. These ferns were growing of top a a granite rock with their roots dangling. We also saw trees in this area growing on top of the rocks. The water in the nearby streams was crystal clear.Soon the trail joined with the original Trans Alaska Pipeline maintenance road and hiking became easier. There was no traffic here as you have to go through security gates to access the pipeline terminal to reach this road.A view back at Prince William Sound and the incredible mountains.This is Solomon Creek. We had to cross this creek three times while climbing to Solomon Lake.Looking back down the hill from the viewing area, you can see the penstocks, made from excess Alaska Pipeline pipe and the right side of the dam in the distance.Looking down at Valdez, across the sound. We were about 650 feet above sea level here.This mountain dominated the view hiking up to Solomon Lake.This is the second crossing of the creek.Crossing Solomon Creek, just before the dam.Looking down the trail at the creek after the third crossing.The dam at Solomon Lake. There was a left side and a right side dam. The center “island” or rock hill contained the penstocks.Solomon Lake was a tidy-bowl blue due to glacial silt but totally stunning, well worth the hike.This is the left side dam, feeding Solomon Creek and falls.After getting back down the trail to Dayville Road, we noticed several groups of eagles on the flats. We came back in the morning to take some photo- graphs as we were tired, worn out and dusty. The next morning, we stopped to watch these Golden eagles vie for morsels in the mudflats (it was low tide). I was lucky to get all three of the feathered brothers together: the raven, the gull and the Golden eagle.This raven had some guts, challenging the eagle. The eagle seemed to be sizing him up for an appetizer.A Golden eagle in flight is something to see.Another even larger bird flew by. I didn’t know that Valdez airport could support planes of this size.Looking north we saw the afternoon fog starting to roll in between the mountains, near the Shoup Bay and Glacier.The Alaska highway maintenance crew was busy filling potholes from the heavy winter. This is on the bridge crossing Lowe River.
I fished for a while as the pink salmon were just beginning to run. I did catch one, fought her for a while and finally let her go. These salmon boats entered the area and I would imagine they got their fill. We will return this evening to try to photograph the Steller seals and the Bald eagles.
Travelling with the Schinglers 
Nice pictures! I think you got special shots of those birds! (Lucky you!)
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I hope you are getting this. It always says “duplicate comment”
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