Day 8 - Aug 11: Up the Dempster Hwy

Today the convoy heads north (no, not to Alaska! Alaska is west at this point).  They are traveling on the Dempster Highway. This road was constructed from 1959 to 1978 to connect to towns in the Northwest Territories. It ends at Inuvik. The Dempster is a year-round highway, with northerly portions being ice roads.

The convoy will not get up into the Northwest Territories, but will make it to the Arctic Circle tomorrow. Today's destination is Eagle Plains, Yukon Territory (population 8).

AC'12 Day 8 travel route

Some of the support vehicles have chosen not to travel on the Dempster Highway to the Arctic Circle. They headed to Dawson City a couple of days early.

Day 7 - Aug 10: Klondike Loop

The AC'12 convoy is now traveling the Klondike Loop. Today's portion is on the Klondike Highway, which comes up from Whitehorse, Yukon Territory to Carmacks, and on to Dawson City. The group will stop short of Dawson City at the junction of the Klondike Highway with the Dempster Highway.

At Stewart Crossing, there is a highway to the northeast called the Silver Trail.  It leads to Mayo and Keno City.  These are historic mining communities.  Today Keno City boasts of a population of 20, a mix of old-timers, miners, and artists (hmmm, sounds like St. Elmo, Colorado).  Too bad the convoy will not be traveling the Silver Trail.

Tomorrow the convoy will head up the Dempster Highway towards the Arctic Circle.

AC'12 Day 7 travel route

- Ellen

Day 6 - Aug 9: Ross River to Pelly Crossing

I found out today that due to the rough road conditions of the Campbell Highway between Watson Lake and Pelly Crossing, that most support vehicles stayed on the Alaska Highway to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. From there, the support vehicles will head north and meet up with the main AC'12 convoy. I would guess they will take Highway 2 to Carmacks, and then on to Pelly Crossing.

Some of you might be interested to know that Ross River is where the Canol Highway crosses the Campbell Highway and then the Pelly River. The Canol Highway goes way up into the Northwest Territories. The Canol (Canadian Oil) Highway was also a WWII construction project. The old pipeline bridge is now a walking bridge. Crossing in summer is by a cable ferry. Crossing in winter is by ice road.

Faint line across river from right to left is the ice road at Ross River
The cable ferry is next to the old pipeline bridge (far right)
SPOT satellite imagery

This morning the main convoy passed near the town of Faro. People in town were anxious to see the convoy and posted to Facebook that they would be out on the main highway ready to cheer them on.

AC'12 Day 6 travel route

- Ellen

Day 5 - Aug 8: Up the Campbell Highway

The AC'12 convoy left the Alaska Highway at Watson Lake, Yukon Territory. They are now traveling the Campbell Highway. Have no fear, they will come back via the Alaska Highway. This route will take them to the Dempster Highway (where they will go up to the Arctic Circle) and to Dawson City. The planned stop for Day 5 is at Ross River.

AC'12 Day 5 travel route

Until they get to Dawson City, they will be pretty much be without cell or internet. We will track their progress via SPOT (as long as they remember to turn it on!) Here is a SPOT image of a piece of today's travel:

Campbell Hwy along Frances Lake

I believe the brown areas are one of three things: wild fire, logging then burning, or beetle kill. The imagery is not high enough resolution. Riparian (creeks, drainages) are still green which could happen with all three of these events. I don't see typical signs of logging such as slash piles/rows, skidding, yarding areas, temp roads, etc.  My opinion is that it is from wild fire.

- Ellen

Day 4 - Aug 7: Resting and Sight Seeing in Watson Lake

Day 4 is a rest day at Watson Lake, Yukon Territory. It gives people a chance to do maintenance and oil changes and the like. It also gives everyone a chance to see the area.

The Sign Forest is always a big draw. Judging from the photos people have posted on Facebook, it has growing considerable since Mike and I stopped back in 1979!

Another big attraction for the AC'12 group is the Watson Lake airport. A large terminal was built in 1942 that is now housing a museum. I have been enjoying Donna's photos that she has been posting to the AC'12 facebook page.

A newer attraction is the Northern Lights Centre. How cool it must be to lay back and watch the show.

I got an email from Mike last night with a few pictures. They will be out of "internet" range for a bunch of days as they head north to Dawson Creek.

The Convoy car show at Mile 0

only surviving timber bridge
on the Alaska Highway

- Ellen

Day 3 - Aug 6: On to Watson Lake

Travel today was from Toad River, British Columbia, to Watson Lake, Yukon Territory.  The famous Sign Forest is there as well as an old airfield which now houses a museum for the Alaskan Highway and other WWII activities in the area.

Apologies to those who like to follow SPOT, but it didn't get turned on today.

Map Added 08/07/2012

- Ellen

Day 2 - Aug 5: Ft Nelson and Toad River

Today's travels for the AC'12 Convoy took them through Ft. Nelson, British Columbia, and on to Toad River.

Mike has the SPOT back on for those that are following him that way.

Map Added 08/07/2012

- 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