Reservations Wise

Since we were recent visitors to Deadhorse and Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, we were eager readers of the “Loneliest Road in the Far North” by Richard John Pietschmann (July 30). Readers should know that it’s wise to make reservations a year in advance for the trip on the Dalton Highway or “Haul Road.” As an alternative, we recommend the two Gray Line of Alaska tours from Anchorage via Mark Air with an overnight in Barrow at the comfortable Top of the World Hotel.

We had evening and morning tours of Barrow, a short noon-time flight to Deadhorse and an afternoon tour of the oil field facilities of Prudhoe Bay. Dinner at the Deadhorse Motel with the oil workers was a unique experience, and the $6.95 soup and salad bar a rare Alaskan bargain. The Brooks Range was cloud covered, but the round-trip flight provided spectacular views of glaciers and mountains, including magnificent McKinley.

One important correction to the article: the Prudhoe Bay oil fields produce 2 million barrels, not gallons, of oil a day.

THELMA and WALT WHISMAN

Fullerton