...the Alaska Railroad

The engine pulls into Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop to take us back to Portage.

We rode up top in the Chugach Explorer car. We had a great view.

Our group was fairly large and we posed for a photograph at the Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop sign immediately after we got off the train.

A family photo in front of Spencer Glacier.

On Sunday afternoon we took a wonderful ride on the train from Portage to Spencer Whistle Stop. It's a great trip and Alaska residents are able to get some great deals. We all rode for the two-for-one price.

As mentioned, our journey started in Portage and we got off the train at Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop, which is an extremely remote location in the mountains between Portage and Seward. In fact, you can only get there by train. When you get off the train there is a covered waiting area and restrooms. A USFS ranger then leads you down a trail to the lake at the terminus of Spencer Glacier. Along the way he provides information and anecdotes about the area. Once you get to the lake you are on your own after the ranger warns you not to be late for the return train. It leaves at 4:30 PM--sharp!

We spent the remainder of the afternoon checking out the glacier ice, eating a picnic lunch, geocaching (there are two of them in the area), taking photographs, and looking at the campgrounds which have been established for tent campers. We are already planning a return trip to camp there sometime.

At 4:30 PM--sharp--we were waiting by the tracks to board the train for the trip back to Portage. It was a great day and we thoroughly enjoyed our ride on...the Alaska Railroad.