Dawson Creek - Mile Marker 0
Two days drive and amazing how the landscape has changed. We continue to see lots of hills and some distant mountains but nothing like the ."Rockies". The view is still beautiful but at least this co-author is still in owe of those majestic beauties.
Last night we stopped in Grand Cache. An interesting town with like so many, having a history of fur trappers and coal mining.
The one thing we have failed to mention since we have been so busy with our surroundings, is all the animals we have seen on the roads thus far. Since leaving Jasper National Forest, we have seen many Elk both males and females. Deer, especially bucks. The co-pilot was lucky enough to see a bear as we crossed a bridge. Lastly, a Bighorn Sheep or Ram. All of these animals were close enough to the road to be almost touched but never captured on "film". It is tough to be traveling at 60 miles per hour and attempt to stop fast enough to take a picture when you have 12,000 pounds on your back.
Another item of interest or perhaps concern, is the amount of deforestation in the name of logging. The number of companies and logging trucks seen on the roads is scary. These trucks are huge with their loads even bigger. Seeing the many patches of missing pines throughout the hills is shameful.
The condition of the roads has been challenging. We are sure that weather plays a role, but we also think the continued pounding from logging trucks, refinery equipment, and the transport of other heavy equipment, is not doing the roads any favors. There have been several white knuckle moments when we had to try to avoid dips, broken pavement, and cracks. Most times they appear without warning. It is "hold your breath" time when you bounce your 37 foot trailer over those areas, wondering if your rack and kayaks will still be clinging to the trailer! Not to mention if your refrigerator is still holding on! The best or worst of these roads, is reportedly yet to come.
Dawson Creek: British Columbia
We have gotten a good education about this town. It is situated at Mile Marker 0 of the ALCAN highway, 97. (Interesting reading on this hyperlink)
This city became famous in March 1942, when the US Army began a huge undertaking. The goal was to build a 1500 mile road connecting Canada with Alaska. The objective being to protect Alaska and the rest of the US after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The US government realized how vulnerable Alaska was, and how close to Japan the Aleutian Islands were. Through wilderness, weather related challenges and other extreme hardships, the road was completed in November, 1942.
We visited the beautiful wooden Kiskatinaw Curved Bridge. This bridge took 9 months to erect. The entire Alaskan highway was built in 8 months. As can be seen, it is still active today. A testament to great U.S. Army engineering:
Last night we stopped in Grand Cache. An interesting town with like so many, having a history of fur trappers and coal mining.
The one thing we have failed to mention since we have been so busy with our surroundings, is all the animals we have seen on the roads thus far. Since leaving Jasper National Forest, we have seen many Elk both males and females. Deer, especially bucks. The co-pilot was lucky enough to see a bear as we crossed a bridge. Lastly, a Bighorn Sheep or Ram. All of these animals were close enough to the road to be almost touched but never captured on "film". It is tough to be traveling at 60 miles per hour and attempt to stop fast enough to take a picture when you have 12,000 pounds on your back.
Another item of interest or perhaps concern, is the amount of deforestation in the name of logging. The number of companies and logging trucks seen on the roads is scary. These trucks are huge with their loads even bigger. Seeing the many patches of missing pines throughout the hills is shameful.
The condition of the roads has been challenging. We are sure that weather plays a role, but we also think the continued pounding from logging trucks, refinery equipment, and the transport of other heavy equipment, is not doing the roads any favors. There have been several white knuckle moments when we had to try to avoid dips, broken pavement, and cracks. Most times they appear without warning. It is "hold your breath" time when you bounce your 37 foot trailer over those areas, wondering if your rack and kayaks will still be clinging to the trailer! Not to mention if your refrigerator is still holding on! The best or worst of these roads, is reportedly yet to come.
Dawson Creek: British Columbia
We have gotten a good education about this town. It is situated at Mile Marker 0 of the ALCAN highway, 97. (Interesting reading on this hyperlink)
This city became famous in March 1942, when the US Army began a huge undertaking. The goal was to build a 1500 mile road connecting Canada with Alaska. The objective being to protect Alaska and the rest of the US after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The US government realized how vulnerable Alaska was, and how close to Japan the Aleutian Islands were. Through wilderness, weather related challenges and other extreme hardships, the road was completed in November, 1942.
We visited the beautiful wooden Kiskatinaw Curved Bridge. This bridge took 9 months to erect. The entire Alaskan highway was built in 8 months. As can be seen, it is still active today. A testament to great U.S. Army engineering:
Thank you for the wonderful pics, it's the next best thing to being there......
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