Alcan Highway

The Alaska Highway starts in Dawson Creek , British Columbia. It’s 1459 miles to the end in Alaska. They claim the road is “paved” but the term is loosely used. The pavement is really just oil sprayed on gravel with a top coat of more gravel. The perma frost makes road maintenance a night mare. The result is often some smooth highway, some rough sections and some really nasty areas. The speed limit is 65 with many drivers doing 80.

Wildlife is a constant worry, hitting one of the wild beasts will end their lives and my vacation. Early morning is the real danger time .

The driver quickly learns to very carefully watch the road ahead, occasional monstrous potholes appear suddenly, a direct hit can loosen your teeth.

After the first bone rattling strike, I carefully scanned the road ahead constantly looking for trouble. The signage was a bit baffling at first but the subtle way they warned of danger became apparent:

The rough road icon signs means REALLY rough pavement ahead, usually across both lanes. This sign requires quick braking.

The rough road sign spelled out is a notch above the icon sign, this warning requires slowing WAY down as road ahead is unusually rough and loosing control is possible.

The Road Damage sign indicates the pavement ahead is either severely damaged or non existent, time to slow to 10 MPH.

Another sign to be noted was the DIP AHEAD. I ignored this sign the first time as the “pavement ” looked unbroken and smooth. I suddenly dropped 2 feet into a “DIP” and after 30 yards hit the up ramp, launching the truck airborne and semi out of control, a frightening experience.

So much for sight seeing, gotta watch the road !

The distances between fuel stops can be huge, it behoves the driver to carefully monitor fuel levels, 1/2 tank means start looking for a gas station. The more remote the gas station, the higher the cost. I paid $7.45 a gallon at one place. There are usually warning signs giving drivers a heads up to gas availability ahead. Those who don’t pay attention can be in serious trouble. I stopped at a remote intersection to do a map check ( very few intersections) . While engrossed with my map, I was startled by a voice at my window. A clearly distraught women ( who spoke very poor English) was babbling about being g out of gas. She asked which way I came from and how far was a gas station . She was horrified at my answer , 75 miles . She apparently had not gassed up when she departed up north ( 85 miles). She ( and her husband) now didn’t have fuel to make it back or south to gas. She pleaded with me for some gas which I had none to offer. She walked away mumbling, clearly on the verge of tears. This is not a place to wing it, traffic is almost nonexistent and I NEVER saw a cop etc. I can’t help but wonder how they made out.

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