The winter of 1952-1953 was one to remember in Alaska. Near the town of Valdez, the Thompson Pass is the throughway from Valdez up the Richardson Highway to inland Alaska. In that fateful winter, more snow fell on Thompson Pass than any other snowfall on record in one place in Alaska, as well as the most snowfall of any place in the U.S. at the time. The winter of 1952-1953, and the epic quantity of fallen snow, have gone down in the history books as an event to remember.

Thompson Pass is a gap in the Chugach Mountains northeast of Valdez that lies 2,805 feet high (855 meter-high).
mcav0y | Flickr
The pass is the only way to get from the coastal town of Valdez to Anchorage or Fairbanks via the road system. Of course air and water travel are possible, but winter seas in the Prince William Sound often prevent travel by those means.
JKBrooks85 | Wikipedia
With an average of 551.5 inches of snow per year, it is the snowiest place in Alaska.
James Brooks | Flickr
In the winter of 1952-1953, there was a flood in Great Britain, a drought in Hawaii, and a massive snowfall in Alaska.
mcav0y | Flickr

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Thompson Pass had 974.1 inches (2,474 cm) of snow fall that winter. That's more snow than has ever fallen in one place in Alaska in a single season.
b k | Flickr
It also held the record for being the most snow to fall on any location in the U.S. in a single season until Mount Baker ski area in Bellingham, Washington had the world record snowfall in 1998-1999 at 1140 inches.
mcav0y | Flickr
Thompson Pass still gets a significant snowfall of perfect powder, and winter sports are very popular in the area.
mcav0y | Flickr
The Worthington Glacier lies 28.7 mi (46 km) east of Valdez, adjacent to the Thompson Pass. The Worthington Glacier State Recreation Site is a popular place where you can walk up to a glacier.
Frank Kovalchek | Flickr
Thompson Pass is strikingly beautiful place to visit in Alaska, but always be cautious of the record breaking snowfalls that can block the road.
Frank Kovalchek | Flickr

Were you in Alaska during the winter of 1952-1953? Do you know a story about the infamous blizzard? Tell us about it in the comments below!

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