Anybody drive the AL-CAN ROAD ?

[MegalosSkylaki]

Just watching a Doc on the construction of the Alaska -Canadian Highway.

WOW !

Took the inland route via Canada to protect it from Japan --During WW II--instead of the Coastal route deemed easier, but more vulnerable to attack.

10,000 Corps of Engineers.Workers didn't know where they were going !

"The doogs here outnumber the humans"
"Miles and miles of---miles and miles !"

US sent construction supplies through Canada--asked Canada afterwards.
In a hurry it appears!

Dawson Creek, Canada to Fairbanks, Alaska.

Want to hit the road again ... get that back in shape...

AL-CAN-DOOOG

P.S. US Army Corps of Engineers weren't given a specific route--"Proceed in a nothwesterly direction". No good maps inland.No maps , period.

So they followed tracks laid down in 19th Century.
By doog teams !

"The Road that DooGs Planned! "

[RustyGT]

Way Cool! Chilly even...

[sharder8]

Hey Mega --

The Al-Can doesn't even go to Fairbanks!

The Al-Can ends in Delta Junction, that's about 100 miles from Fairbanks. That's where I met my wife!

From Delta Junction, you take the Richardson Highway into Fairbanks!

Harder

[vass0922]

Ok so where does the Al-Can Doo0000g highway begin?

So THATS where dawson's creek is LOL J/k!!

[MegalosSkylaki]

According to the Doc on the Discovery Channel --which I might have misheard--the road was barely laid down when a civilian work crews followed up the actually building, the straightening and other mods.

Over time as damage has been done it has been rebuilt in sections.

I gather it is a work in progress even today.

Perhaps that was the original intent but metamorphosed over time to its present route. Anyhow, Fairbanks and 100 miles doesn't seem all that far off by Alaska's expanse. Maybe nearest big city DK.

Or maybe da DOOOG misheard.

Anyhows the real point is CONGRADULATIONS to you and your wife for giving it a human drama--or romance !

And did you get a chance to drive any part of it ?

Best Wishes,

DOOOOOG

[Warthog]

I didn't watch that but I did watch the winter trucking road they have way up north in Canada....all the truckers use it and it runs over all the lakes! It's crazy.....every winter.

[MegalosSkylaki]

Thse trucks have to be driven in a special way and a big truck outfit that does claims it trains its drivers rather well.

First they have to keep there distance and communication by radio.

Go slow because the weight of the truck compresses the ice which cause and underwater wave or swell. If the swell crashes against an underwater rock, it "crashes" and back through the ice.

The released water than goes to the lowest area which is where the truck is on the ice. The additional wight of the released water plus the truck cause the truck to fall through the ice.

Oil trucks are double-hulled. Rescue rigs have to dig out the fallen truck without falling through themselves.

The road over the lakes is marked for safety but a driver can lose sight of them. They can be disoriented in the vast expanse of whiteness.

The divers get double te pay of other truckers for this work. Many don't think it's worth it i.e. enough for the hardship.

DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOG

[sharder8]

And did you get a chance to drive any part of it ?

YUP! Both ways!!!

They are constantly up-grading and trying to figure a way to pave it without having to repave the next year. So, it's gravel all the way!

Harder