Kenai, Alaska

        We have ended our cruise and disembarked at Whittier, Alaska.  Whittier is a
        small town of about 400 residents located on the western edge of Prince William
        Sound in south central Alaska. Whittier was established during world war two as
        a military supply port.

        Today Whittier’s economy is comprised mainly of shipping and port related jobs,
        fishing and tourism. Recently, a number cruise lines have begun to use
        Whittier as a departure port for their Gulf of Alaska Cruises. Whittier is
        only 62 road miles southeast of Anchorage. One of the unique features of Whittier
        is that it is separated from Alaska's road system by a 2.5 mile long tunnel
        that is shared by alternating one-way auto and railroad traffic.  This is the 
        the longest combined vehicle-railroad tunnel in North America and links
        Whittier to Portage, Alaska.

        The tunnel is named after Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel after Anton Anderson,
        an Army engineer, who in 1941 headed up the construction of the original tunnel.

        Once out of Whittier and through the tunnel we continued our bus tour and arrived
        2 1/2 hours latter at the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge in Copper Landing, Alaska.
		
        Once in our rooms at the lodge we hiked in the area. 
		
		As the land tour continues we will be staying at the Mt. McKinley, Denali
        and Fairbanks wilderness lodges.