Guest Misfit69 November 15, 2006 November 15, 2006 Just thought I would share a link to a kinda blog I am doing on my drive to your part of the world. It has lots of pictures, some good, some not so good. Alaska to Maryland drive Brian
Jenny November 15, 2006 November 15, 2006 Very cool! Can't wait to meet you guys! Just out of curiosity why do you post in the Colo forum of RC?
ErikS November 15, 2006 November 15, 2006 That's some excellent & very cool pictures. Looking forward to following this adventure. Just an FYI - the winter "drivers" here are going to drive you nuts Been close to 30 years & these ID-10-Ts still frustrate me.
Sugar Magnolia November 15, 2006 November 15, 2006 Eric is correct. People around here get STOOOOOPID when it snows. Glad to see you popped in to say hi!
tygger November 15, 2006 November 15, 2006 So that's what Alaska looks like! Thx for sharing the pics. Didnt realize there were that many "moving road hazzards". lol good luck on the journey
rsaavedra November 15, 2006 November 15, 2006 I lived in Anchorage for 3.5 years and is one of my favorite places!!! There is nothing like driving down Glenn Hwy and having to stop because bears and moose's were crossing the Hwy and they had the right away, or downtown 4th Street walking down the sidewalk and there is a moose walking on the sidewalk or the streets... Man I miss Alaska and the Santa's Village in the North Pole and Fairbanks and the northern lights and skiing in Aleyaska and fishing in resurrection bay and salmon fishing on the russian river or parachuting inside the artic circle and bear/moose/caribou hunting and going to Denali State Park and going to the Bering Straight or going from Wales to Diomede Islands and into Naukan Russia... Oh do I miss it... Summer Solstice 24hrs Daylight and Winter Solstice 24hrs of Nighttime... I'll tell you what I don't miss... The ALCAN (ALaska-CANadian Highway), what a crazy place to drive, please be XTRA Careful!!! Look forward meeting you, Raf **Brief History of the Alaska Highway Construction of this highway officially began on March 8, 1942 and ended eight months and 12 days later on October 25, 1942. But an overland link between Alaska and the lower 48 had been studied as early as 1930 under President Herbert Hoover. It was not until the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December of 1941 that construction of the highway was deemed a military necessity. Alaska was considered vulnerable to a Japanese invasion. The general route of the highway was along a line of existing airfields from Edmonton AB, to Fairbanks, Alaska. This chain of airfields was known as the Northwest Staging Route and was used to ferry more than 8,000 war planes from Great Falls, Montana to Ladd Air Base in Fairbanks. The Americans paid for the construction and turned over the Canadian portion of the highway to the Canadian government after the war ended. Canada furnished the right of way, and waved import duties, sales taxes, income taxes and immigration regulations and provided construction materials along the route. By June more than 10,000 American troops had poured into the Canadian north. The highway followed existing winter roads, old Indian trails, rivers and on occasion "sight" engineering. For the soldiers and workers it was a hard life. Working 7 days per week, they endured mosquitoes and black flies in summer, and below zero temps in winter. Weeks would pass with no communication between headquarters and field parties. "Equipment" was always a critical problem. There never was enough. In June 1942 the Japanese invaded Attu and Kiska in the Aleutians, adding a new sense of emergency. The Alcan Highway stretches in a northwesterly direction from mile 0 at Dawson Creek, BC through Yukon Territory to mile 1520 at Fairbanks, AK. The Alcan highway does not compare with highways in the lower 48, it is no longer a wilderness road, but rather a road in the wilderness. The highway is open and maintained year-round. The highway is asphalt-surfaced, but the condition ranges from poor to excellent. There are many chuckholes, gravel breaks, poor shoulders, and bumps. On the northern portion there are frost heaves caused by thawing and freezing. When traveling with a trailer it can ruin trailer hitches and trailer tongues. While traveling you have to watch out for wildlife. Moose and bears are probably the largest animals that you will encounter. A large bull moose can weigh 1500 lbs, and bear "Black and Grizzly" can weigh as much as 900 lbs. It is best to take your time and drive with your headlights on at all times. The driver must aways yield the road to aircraft that want to land. Dust and mud may be a problem in construction areas. The gravel road in the construction area is treated with calcium chloride to keep the dust down. This substance will eat the paint off your vehicle if you don't wash it right away. The highest point along the highway is at Summit Lake, elev 4250 feet. Flying rocks may damage headlights, radiators, windshields, and gas tanks. I have put hail screen over my headlights and radiator. Gas, food, and lodging are found along the route every 20 to 50 miles. The longest stretch is about 100 miles. You must remember that not all businesses are open 24 hours a day or are open during all seasons.
HowardofNOVA November 15, 2006 November 15, 2006 Cool info Raf, I was there for 17 days in Unit19C chasing around Moose and Caribou. Awesome Country! Geez, I want to go back soon!!
funnyguy911 November 15, 2006 November 15, 2006 whats going on, you are the same guy looking for the tanks. I was born and raised in alaska and half native, and we drove down too during the start of winter it is crazy we saw alot of semi's that went over the cliff or banks. What an adventure, well see you soon...........
Guest Misfit69 November 16, 2006 November 16, 2006 Thanks a lot guys. The reason for the Colorado board post is that is where I was at before I moved up north. Still have a few friends from the club and it's the best way to keep everybody up to date. We made good time today and should be able to get some extra sleep tonight. No new pictures, just some text on RC. Look forward to attended some meeting down the road and setting up a tank down the road. Brian
Guest Misfit69 November 22, 2006 November 22, 2006 We are leaving in the morning to finish the trip. Should be there by Friday. cya Brian
Jenny November 27, 2006 November 27, 2006 Are you guys here? Did you and all your stuff make it safe and sound?
Guest Misfit69 November 28, 2006 November 28, 2006 Yep, we made it but I don't have good internet access here. All is good and we like the area so far. Done some driving around trying to learn the road and such. We have access to our townhome on the 1st but not sure when the stuff will get here, no later than the 21st is what they told us so we shall see. Brian
Guest Misfit69 December 6, 2006 December 6, 2006 thanks guys, we our in our very empty townhouse now just waiting for all our stuff to catch up with us. Brian
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