A semi traveling on the Seward Highway overturned north of Seward, spilling diesel fuel, oil and its cargo of salmon and closing the road for several hours overnight into Saturday, Alaska State Troopers said.

Seward-based troopers were dispatched to Mile 15 of the highway, south of Primrose, shortly after 9 p.m. Friday for a report of the crash, troopers said in an online post. A semi with two trailers had overturned, “spilling diesel fuel and oil across the highway,” troopers said.

“At the time of the rollover, the truck was fully loaded with containers of salmon, which vastly covered the highway,” troopers said. Photos of the incident posted to social media showed salmon strewn across the road.

Two semi occupants were taken to Seward Providence Medical Center for evaluation and treatment of what appeared to be minor injuries, troopers said.

Troopers said a preliminary investigation indicated that the semi “was traveling too fast for conditions, and intoxication was not a factor.”

The crash and resulting cleanup closed the highway until about 4:45 a.m. Saturday, troopers said.

The closure occurred in the hours leading up to Saturday’s Mount Marathon race and Fourth of July celebration in Seward, which draw massive crowds to the Resurrection Bay town each year.

Seward pilot helps rescue harbour seal pups from remote Alaska location

Published 9:30 pm Friday, July 3, 2026

A pair of harbour seal pups have a second chance at life thanks to the efforts of a Seward pilot.

The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) recently admitted two harbor seal pups to the Wildlife Response Program, both making the nearly 300-mile trip to the ASLC with a Seward pilot who volunteered to pick up and transport the seals from the remote location.

“The first pup was found in the waters outside of Cordova with injuries that suggest she may have become entangled in a gillnet. The presence of a fresh umbilical cord indicated that she was likely only recently born, possibly less than 24 hours old,” according to ASLC.

After receiving approval from NOAA, the ASLC team worked with local Seward pilot Duke Marolf and partners in Cordova to transport the pup to the ASLC for rehabilitation. Cordova is a remote area with no main road access, so travel often depends on planes or ferries.

Once the seal arrived at the center, the veterinary team performed an initial admit exam. Their primary concern was a large laceration on the pup’s body, along with several areas where the fur appeared compressed or cut. An eye injury was initially suspected, but further examination confirmed that the blood around the eye had originated from another wound. While the ASLC team worked to stabilize the first patient, another report of a seal pup came from an Island west of Cordova.

“The second pup was spotted alone on a beach in Boswell Bay on Hinchinbrook Island, unusually far from the water. With no adult seals observed in the area, the pup’s condition raised concerns, particularly as she showed signs of severe dehydration,” noted a release from ASLC.

The pup was monitored overnight to confirm that an adult seal did not return. As concerns for the pup grew, including observations of an eagle repeatedly following it along the beach, NOAA authorized its transport to the ASLC for rehabilitation.

Marolf and his wife Pamela Eiting again volunteered to transport the pup back to the center in their plane, this time flying to the even more remote Hinchinbrook Island to pick up the seal and transport her back to the ASLC.

“What an experience to be able to fly out to an island to pick up an abandoned seal pup. I was able to join Duke for the trip to pick up the second seal, keeping him company and helping keep an eye on the pup during the flight home,” said Eiting.

“What stood out most to me about the whole experience was how much of a team effort these rescues really are. From the people who first notice and report the animals, to the Troopers, local residents, pilots, and the Alaska SeaLife Center staff, everyone plays a part in giving these wild animals a chance, and Duke and I are so grateful to be a part of it,”

The main concerns found by the ASLC veterinary team upon the initial admit exam for this second pup were significant dehydration, malnourishment, and an ulcer in one eye. The team is currently providing initial stabilizing treatments for both seal pups, and continue to examine the patients further to understand the severity of their conditions.

It is essential to give seals and their pups space and share coastal areas responsibly during this peak in pupping season for harbor seals. Do not approach, touch, or attempt to move a seal pup. Keep children and pets at a safe distance from haul-out sites and known pupping areas. Approaching or disturbing a marine mammal can cause serious harm to the animal, put people at risk, and may result in violations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Responsible viewing ensures that these young animals have the best chance to grow and survive in the wild.

If you do see a marine animal in distress in the state of Alaska, call the ASLC Stranded Marine Animal Hotline at 1-888-774-SEAL (7325). The ASLC team is available to answer calls to the hotline daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. If they are unable to answer or the call is after hours, leave a detailed message and they will return your call as soon as possible.

Meet the Parkers.

I didn’t get their real names, but we had a nice visit on the bumpy road between McCarthy and Kennicott Glacier Lodge.

This couple had a goal to visit all of the national parks in the U.S. We agreed it was a noble quest on the 250th anniversary of our country. Thus, my nickname, “The Parkers.”

The Parkers had visited all the famous parks in the Lower 48: Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Zion, Yosemite and many others. They also had visited Volcanoes National Park in Hawaii. But they were saving the Alaska parks for the end of their quest.

I could hear both of them discussing whether or not to make the trip to American Samoa to visit the national park there, 2,600 miles south of Hawaii. “Does it really count?” Mrs. Parker asked her husband.

“Yes,” I said. “It’s the only U.S. park in the Southern Hemisphere.”

McCarthy is a quirky little town at the end of the McCarthy Road in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, the nation’s largest national park.

The town is separated from the end of the road by the Kennicott River, which spills out at the toe of the Kennicott Glacier. Although there is a bridge for cars and trucks, it’s limited to locals who must buy an annual pass to use it.

After driving the 60-mile dirt road from Chitina, visitors park in one of several lots by the river and hike across a foot bridge.

Originally built in the early 1900s to service the giant Kennecott copper mine 5 miles up the road, McCarthy now hosts a couple of restaurants, a hotel, a museum and a few other businesses catering to outdoor adventure in the giant park.

The McCarthy Road, which follows the old rail bed of the Copper Valley Railroad to the Kennecott (with an “e”) Mine, is a deterrent for some to visit the park. The posted speed is 35 miles per hour. The road is in pretty good shape, although there still are some bumps from the old railroad ties and the occasional spike that pierces the occasional tire.

Most rental car companies prohibit driving their cars on this road, the haul road (Dalton Highway) or the Denali Highway between Cantwell and Paxson. Some companies, like Alaska 4×4 Rentals and GoNorth RV Rentals, allow travel on any Alaska road.

If you want to avoid driving on the road, take a plane ride from Chitina with Wrangell Mountain Air. The 30- to 40-minute flight goes through the mountains and over the massive glaciers on the way to McCarthy. Travelers get a great view of the old mining district, including the 14-story wooden mill building where the copper ore was processed for shipping on the train to Cordova.

Between the mine, the giant glaciers that you can hike on, the rivers you can raft and the massive expanse of wilderness, the park is one of my favorite destinations in Alaska.

Plus, you can drive there. There is just a small collection of national parks in the state accessible by road.

Denali National Park is a giant attraction both with visitors and locals. Even though the park road still is washed out about halfway to Kantishna, the hotels near the park entrance are full of folks who want to see the mountain and the critters that call Denali home. From the park entrance, visitors can hop aboard one of the buses and go as far as possible while they’re rebuilding the road.

I like the option of going to Talkeetna and catching a ski plane for an up-close and personal view of the mountain. Three air services, K2, Talkeetna Air Taxi and Sheldon Air Service, offer flights up to the Ruth Glacier (or others, depending on the weather), where you’re as little as 11 miles from Denali’s summit.

Kenai Fjords National Park is most easily accessed on one of the tour boats operated by Major Marine Tours and Kenai Fjords Tours. It’s possible to walk into the park at Exit Glacier, but that’s a rough way to go.

While Denali National Park was founded in 1917 as Mount McKinley National Park, most of the state’s parks were established or enlarged due to the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act in 1980.

That includes Lake Clark National Park.

Maria Benner just returned from a weeklong camping and kayak trip in the park. Much of the time was in the Twin Lakes region, where Dick Proenneke built a cabin and kept a journal on his experience in the wilderness.

“Lake Clark blew my mind,” said Benner. “I had no idea it was so beautiful.”

Benner’s outfitter, Alaska Alpine Adventures, designed a trip using inflatable kayaks that they’re able to fly in to Twin Lakes, including a stop at Proenneke’s cabin.

The National Park Service maintains the cabin, which includes a logbook for visitors to sign.

“I was amazed at how few people have visited,” said Benner. “Most of the people I met were on a mission to visit all of the national parks.”

Valerie Stimac runs a travel website featuring Alaska itineraries and trip-planning strategies called Valerie and Valise.

Last summer, Stimac planned out a fast-and-furious journey up to Kotzebue to visit two national parks, a couple of national monuments and a national preserve.

“My goal is to see all of Alaska’s national parks,” she said. “So this was sort of a tick-the-box trip for me.”

From Kotzebue, Stimac booked a flight with Golden Eagle Outfitters to see Gates of the Arctic National Park and Kobuk Valley National Park.

Stimac loves the geologic features of Alaska, so she was drawn to the sand dunes of the Kobuk Valley. Although she did touch down at the western edge of the Gates of the Arctic park, she acknowledged that much of the dramatic landscapes in the park are farther east.

Stimac booked another flight to see two more sites: Cape Krusenstern National Monument and the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve.

Golden Eagle’s landing spot at Bering Land Bridge was at Serpentine Hot Springs, which ended up being Stimac’s favorite location on the trip. “The hot spring is a geothermal area that’s rustic with lots of hiking opportunities,” she said.

While Stimac enjoyed her exotic adventure up north, a big part of her heart is in Denali National Park, where she worked for one summer.

“Denali is my favorite,” she said. “It’s really special and so large and so accessible. I think that provides visitors with a sense of scale.”

Bob Kaufman has been to most of Alaska’s national parks.

As the founder of Alaska.org, a travel planning website, Kaufman and his family have been camping, rafting and backpacking all over the state.

“There are lots of locations in Alaska that would be national parks elsewhere,” he said.

What surprises Kaufman about Alaska’s parks is how little they get seen.

As an aviator, Kaufman is able get up in the air and see more than most.

“One of my favorite places is Kichatna Spires, 70 miles southwest of the entrance to Denali Park,” said Kaufman. “It’s one of the most dramatic spectacles in the world. It takes flying to get there.”

Flying has opened up much more of Alaska to Kaufman — as it has to other adventurers.

Still, Kaufman says, “you’re only seeing a sliver.”

“There’s something about pure wilderness,” said Kaufman. “You just feel like a flicker of time in the scope of eternity.”

It’s worth the effort to get out of town to see Alaska’s national parks, although it’s not cheap.

To see part of Katmai National Park at Brooks Falls where the bears feed on the migrating salmon, check with Rust’s Flying Service or Anchorage Aero at Lake Hood.

To visit Glacier Bay National Park out of Juneau, check with Glacier Bay Lodge.

Many travelers sail through on big cruise ships without touching land. I recommend flying the 60 miles from Juneau and staying at the lodge. The next morning, take the boat on a daylong tour of the park. In addition to the glaciers, you’re likely to see some wildlife, including whales and bears. There also are beautiful trails through the rainforest around the lodge.

Do you want to feel small in the face of nature’s grandeur? Do you want to craft a deeper connection with the natural world? Then perhaps a trip to a national park is in your future.

Be sure and say hello to the Parkers!