Wednesday, July 14, 2010

The Alaska Pipeline



No trip to Alaska would be complete without seeing the pipeline.  In 1975 when I first saw Fairbanks it was a boom town.  Now it's just grown a lot.  The pipeline runs to Valdez because it's the only Alaskan port that doesn't freeze.  It begins on Alaska's North Shore and runs 800 miles.


The boys were more interested in the pipeline than the girls were.  Go figure!



According to Aleyska, since the pipeline first started running they have pumped over 16 billion barrels of oil.


It is an engineering marvel to be sure.


Selwyn looks so happy because he just retired and took a trip to Alaska.  Susan always looks happy.  She says that people talk about their cup being half full or half empty but hers is always brimming over.  I love her positive attitude - maybe that's why we have been friends for 45 years!!


We continued our trip south towards Valdez, stopping many times along the way to admire the scenery.  We used the Milepost guide which is extremely useful as a guidebook.

8 comments:

Martha Z said...

It looks a lot like the penstock that supplied water to the hydro-electric plant Hubby opperated. The Alaskan landscape is much greener than our high desert, though.

I want to know who keeps throwing water on the Denali WebCam and I want them to stop, soon ;)

Sylvia K said...

More gorgeous captures! All of your posts about Alaska have been so interesting and informative in addition to the wonderful photos! Such fun being able to follow your Alaska adventure! Thanks again for sharing it with us! Have a lovely evening, Loran!

Sylvia

George said...

It was interesting to see all of these wonderful pictures of the pipeline. I've heard so much about it, but haven't seen many pictures. Thanks for sharing this part of your Alaska trip with us.

Michele said...

I would be interested in that pipeline and I'm a girl =)

How I would like to take a trip out to Alaska, that's my dream as well.

I can only imagine stopping often, the scenery out there is breathtaking!

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

Great pictures.

I know a bunch of people who worked on the construction of the Alyeska Pipeline. They have lots of stories. During my brief stint at BP years ago I knew lots of people who worked operating the pipeline and the production facilities on the North Slope.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Loran, I guess boys would be more interested in the Pipeline, but I think everyone should see it --at least once, especially if they are visiting Alaska... I want to see it...

Glad you had a milepost guide... And--you saw some beautiful sights along the way didn't you????

Thanks for sharing.
Hugs,
Betsy

Linda said...

The pipeline is quite something. Interesting what humans can accomplish when oil is involved. (Unless it's in the Gulf of Mexico)

Cher' Shots said...

I'm reliving my trips through Alaska with you. So did you see many moose around the Delta Junction area?