Whittier is the light at the end of the tunnel

There really is a light at the end of the tunnel -- and a town as well.

Whittier is the town at the end of the tunnel -- the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, which is North America's longest highway tunnel at 2.5 miles long. It is a shared tunnel, with railroad cars and vehicles alternating uses, making it also the longest combined rail and highway tunnel in use in North America.

The tunnel itself is something to behold, before ever even getting to Whittier. It has won numerous engineering and architecture awards for its design. It is built to withstand avalanches, and jet engines are used to ventilate the entire length of the tunnel.

Once you reach Whittier, you'll find a small town much like other coastal communities -- there's the harbor, which is a center of activity, with fishing boats going in every direction. During the summer, you may catch a cruise ship there, or at the very least, a sightseeing cruise boat or two.

You probably won't get lost in Whittier -- the limited road system covers the entire 17 square miles of town, which is a fan-shaped delta on which the infrastructure is located.

Whittier is surrounded by snow-capped mountains and valleys filled with glaciers. Because of the topography, the town receives lots of wind, and plenty of precipitation. Portage Pass is a wind accelerator, and it funnels the winds right through the heart of Whittier.

While temperature-wise Whittier is about average by Southcentral Alaska standards, by measures of precipitation, Whittier often stands out among other communities. Winter snow accumulation can approach 12 feet on the ground during February and March. According to the city of Whittier's Web site, this poses a problem.

"Snow accumulations can pose particular dangers to small boats moored at the city's harbor, and buildings have been damaged due to accumulations of snow and water," the Web site states.

With a large amount of snow, high winds and steep mountain slopes, the areas surrounding Whittier are naturally a major avalanche zone.

Whittier is a gateway to Prince William Sound, and that means a big reliance on both the fishing and tourism industries. Cruise ships from Valdez often stop in Whittier, bringing thousands of visitors to the small town every summer.

Sightseeing cruise ships are also quite popular, with many tour operators based in Whittier.

The sightseeing cruises take visitors right into the heart of ice fields and fjords. With glaciers calving and the abundant wildlife and marine life in full view, a sightseeing cruise trip can be a photographer's dream.

Fishing is another important part of Whittier's economy. The Wally Noerenberg Hatchery is the world's second-largest salmon hatchery, and just outside of the hatchery, the ocean water is filled with salmon-harvesting boats.

Whittier can also be a fun place to visit for outdoor enthusiasts, thanks to good fishing and plenty of hiking trails in the area, and the area surrounding the nearby town of Portage.

Whittier is less than 150 miles from the Valley by road.

Previously accessible only by rail, water or air, the tunnel now makes Whittier and an easy and inexpensive day trip from the Valley.