Photo Log - Aug 5-6: Dawson Creek, BC, to Watson Lake, YT

words

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

Photo Log - July 30: Banff and Jasper National Parks, BC

The Rocky Mountain collection convoy headed through Banff and Jasper National Parks on Travel Day 5. Here are a few pictures from that day.

This first picture is of SPOT, sitting on the dash of the support truck.

The crew stopped at Lake Louise, an old railroad resort in the middle of the parks. The lake has a beautiful, milky blue color.

Below is one of the many waterfalls throughout the parks. Mike was driving during much of the trip past the glaciers, and did not get any pictures of them.

- Ellen

Photo Log - July 28 and 29: WY, MT, ID, and BC

Here is a photo of the crew's camp in Yellowstone National Park on the morning they departed on Travel Day 3. That day they made it to Idaho.

In Idaho, the crew met up with several other AC'12 participants and created the Rocky Mountain collection convoy. On Travel Day 4, the mini-convoy crossed the border into British Columbia. Here they are getting ready to leave the Border Crossing station.

- Ellen

Photo Log - July 27: Yellowstone National Park, WY

Way back on Travel Day 2, the crew spent the day in Yellowstone National Park. Mike sent me a couple of pictures back on July 30. Here are a few more now that I have his camera download!

- Ellen

Return Day 3 - Sept 2: Home, Sweet, Home

Return Day 3 travel route

Today's travel was from Sheridan, Wyoming, back to the Thirsty Dirt Ranch here in the Colorado Rockies. The crew sure didn't cross the Continental Divide much on the way home.

It was kinda cool, the guys kept the SPOT on while they returned, and I could see just where they were. Even with that, they were able to sneak home because of the 10-minute interval. I was watching but I thought they were out on the highway still!

I can't wait to see all of Mike and Owen's pictures!

- Ellen

Return Day 2 - Sept 1: Back in the Lower 48

Return Day 2 travel route

The day began early in High River, Alberta. Mike and crew traveled back into the US into Montana. The day wound up at Sheridan, Wyoming.

Travel was pretty fast, as much was Interstate Highway.

- 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 26 - Aug 29: A Return to the Peace River Country

AC'12 Day 26 travel route

Today is the last really big leg for AC'12 convoy. They will travel some 240 miles from Ft. Nelson, British Columbia, to Ft. St. John.

Ft. St. John is said to be the oldest European settlement in British Columbia, dating back to Rocky Mountain House or Fort in 1794. During the building of the Alaska Highway, Ft. St. John served as Headquarters for the project.

The convoy will overnight here, and prepare for the final leg of their journey tomorrow.

- Ellen

Day 25 - Aug 28: Out of the Mountains

The AC'12 convoy headed out of the mountains today on their way to Fort Nelson, British Columbia. Travel must seem like a breeze now.

AC'12 Day 25 travel route

Fort Nelson was originally a North West Fur Trading Co fort, and then a Hudson Bay Co fort. The town is preparing for a big event tonight (from the Fort Nelson website):

Celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Alaska Highway

& Military Vehicle Convoy

Tuesday, August 28, 2012 - Northern Rockies Regional Recreation Centre

5:00 pm - "Ceremonial Review" - parade of historic military vehicles along 50th Ave North & South

5:00 pm - "Mess Hall" - FREE Community BBQ at the Recreation Centre

6:30 pm - Opening Ceremonies & Military Vehicle Exhibition

7:00 - 9:00 pm - Live, local Entertainment, Inflatable Obstacle Course, Facepainting & More!

Fort Nelson, BC (SPOT satellite image)

- 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 23 - Aug 26: Eastward, Ho!

After resting up in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, the AC'12 convoy is on the move again today. This really is the beginning of the home-stretch.

SPOT showed rather then taking the Alaska Highway, they detoured south along the Klondike Higway (purple line on map). At Carcross, they took the Tagish Road east to Jake's Corner where they hooked back up with the Alaska Highway.

The plan was to stop at the George Johnston Museum in Teslin. According to the Milepost, the:

"George Johnston Museum preserves the photography of Tlingit Indian, George Johnston (1884–1972), who captured the life of the inland Tlingit people of Teslin and Atlin between 1910 and 1940. Johnston also brought the first car, a 1928 Chevrolet, to Teslin, and it is on display at the museum."

The convoy is then to head to Swift River and Rancheria River Valley. They will actually dip down into British Columbia for a bit, but then end up back in the Yukon Territory.

AC'12 Day 23 travel routes

- Ellen

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