Photo Log - Aug 1-3: Dawson Creek, BC

Lots of things went on while the group was in Dawson Creek, British Columbia. Besides the preparations for the big trip, they had the opportunity to show off the military vehicles a couple of times.

The evening August 1, they AC'12 convoy lined up for the first time in order to head to the town of Rolla. While on the road, Mike shot some video of the convoy going around some open, sweeping curves.

On the evening of August 3, the AC'12 participants lined up in march units, and put on a display for the town of Dawson Creek. Below are two pictures of Electro-Willys all dressed up for the show.

- Ellen

Return Day 1 - Aug 31: Out onto the Plains of Alberta and southward

The AC'12 convoy disperses today, scattering to the four winds from Dawson Creek, British Columbia. Mike and his team are headed to Edmonton, Alberta, and then south from there. With 3 drivers, they plan to push as far as they can to get home in 3 days. Not much sight-seeing planned for this leg of the adventure.

The group got as far as High River. That was some 590 miles... quite a bit more than they have been traveling in the convoy.

Many convoy participants have been taking advantage of the better WiFi in Dawson Creek to update their blogs, and post pictures to the AC'12 facebook page.

- Ellen

Day 27 - Aug 30: Last leg for the AC'12

Twenty-seven days and a zillion miles! The AC'12 Convoy returned to Milepost 0 with a short 46-mile run from Ft. St. John, British Columbia, to Dawson Creek.

AC'12 Day 27 travel route

Tonight there will a Banquet, with I'm sure all kinds of fun and memories shared.  In the morning will be a breakfast for the AC'12 participants.

Tourism Dawson Creek has the convoy's return highlighted on their calendar with a big red background!

Dawson Creek is Khaki Green once again!
Help us welcome back the MVPA Convoy on August 30th at 12 Noon at the EnCana Events Centre (300 Hwy 2, Dawson Creek).
The Convoy has travelled the Alaska Highway for 27 days and over 4000 miles! Dawson Creek is excited to welcome the Convoy back to Mile 0 on Thursday, August 30, 2012.
The historic military vehicles will be on display from 12 noon onward. Everyone is welcome to attend!

- Ellen

Day 24 - Aug 27: Rivers, Lakes, and Hot Springs

After leaving Rancheria River, Yukon Territory, the AC'12 convoy made their way to Watson Lake. It was at Watson Lake, way back on Day 5 (Aug 8), that the convoy left the Alaska Highway and headed up the Campbell Highway. This completes a full circle full of adventures.

After passing through Watson Lake, the convoy will head to Laird River Hot Springs, British Columbia.

AC'12 Day 24 travel route

Just 3 days remain 'til the AC'12 Convoy arrives back in Dawson Creek. Today, the Mile 0 Alaska Highway facebook page posted "Dawson Creek is Khaki Green once again!" as the excitement builds to see the convoy on August 30.

- Ellen

Day 19 - Aug 22: Back in the Yukon!

A short trip of 110 miles brought the AC'12 convoy to Beaver Creek, Yukon Territory. I monitored SPOT as the approached the boundary, the crossing was very fast (at least for the vehicle that SPOT was in).

Beaver Creek was were the construction crews back in 1942 met, making the Alaska Highway a continuous highway from Delta Junction, Alaska, to Dawson Creek, British Columbia.

AC'12 Day 19 travel route

Day 18 - Aug 21: Ceremony, Airstrip, and Fire

Today, the AC'12 Convoy traveled from Paxson, Alaska, north on the Richardson Highway to Delta Junction. From there, they will head down the Alaska Highway to Tok.

Delta Junction is the official end of the Alaska Highway at Milepost 1422. A ceremony was to take place in Delta Junction to mark the convoy arrival. From here, the convoy will begin it's back-track of the Alaska Highway down to Milepost 0 at Dawson Creek, British Columbia.

AC'12 Day 18  travel route

As an aside to today's adventures, just west of their travel route is Delta Creek Airstrip. This airstrip was constructed in 1982 under Mike's direction when he was a young 1st Lt. at Ft. Richardson. The airstrip is on Ft. Greely. I've indicated it's location on the travel map above. Check out these SPOT satellite images. Apparently the satellite imagery used by Google caught an active fire burning at the airstrip location.  A check at the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center indicates this was the Oklahoma Range #2 Rx (prescibed) fire from June 2011.

Notice smoke column along Delta Creek side of fire

Distinct N-S diagonal is the Delta Creek Airstrip
Bright orange is active fire
Dark orange is burnt area

- Ellen

Day 1 - Aug 4: First Gear

The AC'12 convoy kicked off at 0700 sharp this morning from Dawson Creek.  As each convoy march unit rolled out, Mike took video.  Day's travel plan is to head to Buckinghorse, British Columbia.

Along the way, they will be going through Ft. St. John, as well as passing by Charlie Lake.

Map Added 08/07/2012

- Ellen

Dawson Ck Day 3 - Aug 3

This was the big day before the convoy departed.  Lots of meetings and last minute preparations.  In the evening, there was  huge gathering down at the Mile 0 Cairn.  The MV's (military vehicles) lined up for photo ops.  And there was a kick-off ceremony with dignitaries from around provinces along the route.

One of the pictures posted on the MVPA's AC'12 facebook page shows Electro-Willys and Juice box.

- Ellen

Dawson Ck Day 2 - Aug 2

I have been enjoying looking at all the photos people are posting to Facebook and to individual blogs. I find myself looking closely at them to see if I can see E-W or the E-W crew. From the postings and pictures about the convoy and get-together at Rolla last night, it appears it was a lot of fun. I understand that 58 vehicles went on this little 12 mile side trip.

I guess today is full of meetings. There was a driver's meeting this morning, followed by march unit meetings. The convoy will be divided up into March Units. Each march unit will have a person in charge at the front, and a tail-gunner at the rear. Mike and E-W are the tail-gunner for a march unit made of jeeps.

Each participant and vehicle going on the AC'12 convoy has to be registered and safety inspected. There is a list of specific equipment that each must carry. A large enclosed car-hauler will follow the convoy full of spare parts that people have put in there. There will be a maintenance section, but maintenance and repair is up to individual vehicle drivers.

Over the last year, I have been listening in on Mike's teleconferences with the core team. There was a huge amount of planning that went on. As refuel planner, Mike investigated the Canadian and provincial rules on carrying extra fuel. He designed a monstrous spreadsheet with each days travel plans and stops. Included in the spreadsheet was everyone's military vehicle and any personal chase vehicles.

Based on mpg of the vehicles he determined fuel needs for diesel and gasoline. Both gallons and litres were used, as well as the projected cost. It became clear that refueling could become a nightmare at some stops that have just one pump for each type of fuel. At other times, the spreadsheet showed that vehicles with same fuel tanks were going to have to use their spare fuel cans. Mike called those days a "Gas Can Day". Most fuel stations are anticipating the convoy, and have said they will have plenty of fuel on hand.

Version ??? of the Fuel Spreadsheet

Dawson Ck Day 1 - Aug 1

Got to chat with Mike last night, and now I need to add to that list of things they are doing in Dawson Creek during their "rest days". As I suspected, there is no resting!

Mike, aka Gas Can Mike, is the refuel planner for the AC'12 convoy, and as such, is involved with meetings of the core AC'12 team. He is also working to get Electro-Willys and Juice Box running smoothly. And, of course, showing off E-W to anyone that is interested in it. E-W draws a lot of attention when it stealthily motors through camp.

Last night, it was a chore getting E-W and Juice Box out of The Cave. They had to unpack a lot of stuff before they could back out. But, hey, they need to reorganize The Cave for living quarters now, anyways.

The Cave at Round Lake State Park
(photo by Jen on 07/29)

This afternoon, the participants in AC'12 will get to practice lining up for movement and rolling out. The group has been invited to come over to the small town of Rolla to help celebrate the town's 100th anniversary. They will even get a RCMP escort.

Check out the Paper Doll Blog's posting of July 31: Day 12 - Recon Run to Rolla for some interesting facts about Rolla.

- Ellen

Travel Day 6 - July 31

It's the last day of the month, and the Rocky Mountain collection convoy arrived in Dawson Creek this evening. The E-W crew turned north from Hinton, Alberta and headed through Grande Cache to Grand Prairie. From Grand Prairie, the group traveled northwest to Dawson Creek, British Columbia and Mile 0 of the Alaska Highway.

Travel Day 6

I'm sure the crew is eager for the travel days to be done. They will have several days in Dawson Creek to rest, do laundry, meet the rest of the AC'12 convoy members, chew the fat, compare rigs, make plans, attend special events, go to Rolla. Hmmm... not sure that list of stuff sounds like rest to me!

- Ellen