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 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 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

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

Deja Vu III - One last look at Alaska and the Yukon

Matanuska Glacier - AK

Lily pond - AK

But, it says 'Turn Right' - YT

Whitehorse - YT

Pickup on the White Pass RR - YT

Lake along the White Pass RR - YT

St. Andrew's Church - White Pass RR - YT

In the fall of 1982, we had to depart Ft. Richardson, AK, for Ft. Belvoir, VA. We drove through Alaska to Whitehorse, YT. At Whitehorse, we loaded the pickup/camper on the White Pass RR, and headed south to Skagway, AK. From Skagway, we took the Inland Passage ferry down to Seattle, WA, where the Blue Mule (our first 1952 M38) was waiting for us.

We towed the Blue Mule to Leadville, CO, and had a nice visit with family. After leaving the Blue Mule in the trusted hands of Pepere, we headed out to Limon, CO, to see the rest of the family. From there, we hit the highway to Tennessee. We stopped at Knoxville at the World's Fair. Eventually we made it to Ft. Belvoir.

- Ellen

Deja vu? Alaska Highway 1979

In July of 1979, Mike and I traveled the Alaska Highway on our way to Ft. Richardson. We visited Yellowstone, drove the Going to the Sun Highway in Glacier, and took in the Calgary Stampede all before hitting the Highway at Milepost 0 in Dawson Creek.

Like AC'12, we detoured up to Dawson City, but we did not go up the Dempster Highway. The poor Blue Mule (our other 1952 M38) and the pickup truck were so muddy when we got to Ft. Rich, that the neighbors all thought we had a green truck and jeep!

- Ellen

Welcome!

E-W and the Juice Box

Welcome to Electro-Willy's blog.  Mike (m38mike), Greg, Nate, Owen, Electro-Willys, the Juice Box, and The Cave will soon all be heading out for a grand adventure.  We hope to use this blog as a way to keep track of those adventures. 

They will be travelling the Alaska and other highways on a circuit between Dawson Creek and Denali NP, and back with the AC'12.  This is a convoy, organized by the Military Vehicle Preservation Association (MVPA), in honor of the Alaska Highway's 70th Anniversary.

Communication will be sparse at times, but after all, who really wants a lot of cell-phone and computers when you are out there enjoying the great wilderness of truly northern North America.

Updates to the blog will be linked to Facebook and several other of Mike's favorite jeep and electric vehicle forums.  You can also subscribe to updates using the Subscribe to: link below.

Let's all get on board and follow Mike as he tries to get a Guiness World record for single driver/distance for an all electric vehicle!

- Ellen