Day 22 - Aug 25: Whitehorse, YT

Whitehorse is the capital of Yukon Territory. The town got it's start from the norther terminus of the White Pass & Yukon RR that brought gold seekers up from Skagway, Alaska. It was here that the miners prepared to head down the Yukon River to the Klondike region and Dawson City.

The SS Klondike is one of the sternwheelers that traveled the route from Whitehorse to Dawson City. Today it is part of a historical interpretive site that I'm sure at least a few of the AC'12 participants will visit. This photo was taken of the SS Klondike back in 1982. We spent some time in Whitehorse as we waited to board the White Pass RR to Skagway.

Steve in front of the SS Klondike (1982)

Other sites that the convoy will take in include the Yukon Transportation Museum, the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre (Ice Age), the Frantic Follies, and the MacBride Museum (history). I understand that the convoy will provide a static display (not sure just where and at what time) of the convoy vehicles.

- Ellen

Day 21 - Aug 24: A quick run to Whitehorse

From Haines Junction, Yukon Territory, to Whitehorse is only 95 miles, and SPOT showed they arrived before lunch. They will have a nice chance to check out Whitehorse, as tomorrow is also a rest day.

AC'12 Day 21 travel route

Whitehorse is on the Yukon River, and just north is the famous Lake Laberge that Robert Service talks about in his poem, 'The Cremation of Sam McGee'. (Service spelled it Lebarge.) Whitehorse is the northern end of the White Pass and Yukon RR that comes up from Skagway, Alaska.

- Ellen

Day 20 - Aug 23: Yukon's Largest Lake

Today's AC'12 route continued down the Alaska Highway from Beaver Creek and past the Yukon's Largest Lake. It is Kluane Lake, and there are some fabulous view points along the way. The convoy spent some time at the monument for Soldiers Summit. This is where the Alaska Highway was dedicated, and opened for military use in November 1942.

The convoy stopped  for the night at Haines Junction. During WWII, the army created a road south from this point to the port at Chilkoot Inlet.

AC'12 Day 20 travel route

I read that Destruction Bay got it's name from structures being blown down during the construction of the Alaska Highway in 1942-1943.

- 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

Rain drops keep falling on their trucks!

At Tok, Alaska, Mike had some decent internet and sent me a couple of photos. The clouds, rain, and green remind me of when we lived up there.

This first picture was taken during lunch on the Denali Highway (Day 17, Aug 20). That is a gravel pit, and they have the vehicles lined up in march units. Each row represents one march unit.

Lunch, Denali Highway, Aug 20

This next picture was from today (Day 18, Aug 21) at the monument at the official end point of the Alaska Highway in Delta Junction.

End point of Alaska Highway, Aug 21

- Ellen

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 17 - Aug 20: Denali Highway to Paxson

The AC'12 convoy back-tracked down the George Parks Highway to Cantwell, Alaska in order to drive the Denali Highway from Cantwell to Paxson.  This should be a neat experience across the wilds of Alaska.  It is only 155 miles, but is likely to take them all day.

AC'12 Day 17 travel route

- Ellen

Day 16 - Aug 19: Mt. McKinley

A mid a mix of sun and rain, the AC'12 convoy had a rest day. Some took the bus tour up to the Mt. McKinley view point. Mike told me the group saw lots of wildlife.

Mike and Greg had to make a round-trip into Anchorage. Apparently it was sunny in Anchorage, but elsewhere, they encountered lots of rain.

Mt. McKinley, 1981

Be sure to check out the Paper Doll Blog, RV Adventures blog, and the AC'12 facebook page. There is a nice variety of pictures of the roads, wildlife, towns, BBQs, and the Alaska Veterans Memorial posted on them.

For those that might have missed seeing Mt. McKinley, here is a photo I took back in 1981 from the bus view point at Wonder Lake.

- Ellen