Day 5 Driving to Glenallen, Beluga Whales, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

Bright and early this morning we drove from Girdwood toward Anchorage and onto Glenallen. Alaska has a highway very similar to California's Highway 1 that twists around the coast. Coincidentally, it is also called Highway 1 and offers beautiful scenery--especially in the early morning. All along most of Alaska highways (by all, I mean the four or so they have) are areas to pull off to take photos--scenic areas, sights likely to see wildlife, etc. Today we drove up on a huge crowd of people by the side of the rode and promptly made an illegal left turn into the viewing area. It was terribly cloudy and dark this morning making any visibility at a distance rather difficult. However, once we approached the beach, we realized why everyone had stopped--a HUGE (12-14) pod of Beluga whales. It was stunning. They don't rise out of the water very far this close to shore, but we got a couple of good shots. These are the whales most like dolphins--totally white--they are going to look grey in this pic because of the foul weather. You could hear them breathing and communicating with each other. Wow. We stuck around long enough to take a few pictures of the train, and for me to slide/trip/fall down on some very sharp rocks--with my $4.6 million dollar camera. I protected my camera as best I could on the way down, but as you know, these things happen quite quickly. I cut up my knee a bit and my right hand is fairly swollen from attempting to break my fall, but all in all I survived. My camera initially showed no signs of disrepair, but since I have noticed it acting a little quirky. This causes an above-average amount of distress as this is my main source of livelihood. Long story sort, I don't want to go back to dancing in the clubs.After the disaster involving me almost falling into the ocean, we pulled off at another scenic view point several miles up the road. Eliot promptly dropped is million dollar Ray-Bans into a crevasse. The area had been receding quite a bit with the change of seasons and what not and was completely blocked off with signs, fence, tape, etc. Eliot slithered down in to the hole to retrieve his glasses while our father held onto him so he didn't slide off into the wilderness. I documented the whole affair (of course) while my mother watched/suffered a nervous breakdown.Of course, I can't get this pic to load. I'll try again tomorrow.

After finally arriving at the hotel (I use this word loosely), we checked in and drove to the park visitor center to check it out. The actual entrance to the park is another 55 miles south. We'll go there tomorrow.

I have a few pics to go here that won't upload. @#$%^&

We got back to the "hotel" and ate at the restaurant across the parking lot (I use this work loosely as well.) I got the Grilled Pork Chops they came with a baked potato and school-lunch-esque-frozen-vegetable-medley.

Tomorrow I will try to upload the other pics. One in particular will serve to illustrate the splendor of our current lodging. Stay tuned.