The Alaskan Highway

Picture # 1:
They will tell you that the trip of a lifetime begins in Dawson Creek, British Columbia at Mile "0" of the Alaskan Highway. I would argue that it begins weeks, months, even a couple years before reaching this historical marker by the side of the road.

Since completion in 1942, the Alaska Highway has held a fascination for travelers and want-to-be travelers the world over. The building of the highway is one of epic proportions that continues to this day to possess a certain mystery and intrigues the human mind.

For those less familiar with it's significance, allow me to give just a bit of history as to how this magnificent road came into being. In 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This significant event forced the American and Canadian governments to re-evaluate their security. Having been taken by surprise at Pearl Harbor only served to illustrate the obvious need to shore up and protect the sovereignty of North America. In response, a secure land transportation link was needed to transfer military goods, materials, and troops from the continental states to Alaska. At the time, there simply was no link and 1500 miles of road needed to be punched through the vast untamed wilderness of northern Canada and Alaska.

Building in these northern areas was not an easy feat. For eight months, men and women battled mountains, cold weather, mosquitoes and muskeg to finish this vital supply artery to the north. If none of you have had the opportunity to rent, "Alaska - The Final Frontier", please do so and learn what a magnificent feat the building of the Alaska Highway truly was.

In March of 1942, Dawson Creek, a small northern Canadian community with a population of 600 people, swelled with activity when the first train carrying American troops arrived. In a matter of weeks the town's population has exploded to 10, 000. To build the Highway, approximately 11,000 men (including three regiments of men of African American heritage), 16,000 civilians and 7,000 pieces of equipment were thrown into action against some of the toughest and most unforgiving wilderness in the world.

After a little over eight months of intense construction, the Alaska Highway was complete. On November 20, 1942, Mile 1061 (known as the soldier's summit) saw the ribbon cutting ceremony that officially opened the "Alcan Highway." The 1528 mile road included 133 major bridges and more than 3000 culverts.

Now, they'll tell you that the workers had to endure relentless attacks from hoards of mosquitoes but having camped along this highway, I offer up the ....................................

"Mack Daddy Mosquito Rebuttal."

Mosquito Myth #1: Mosquitoes in these parts are often the size of a half-grown German Shepherd dog.

The Mack Factor: Hogwash.........they're blowing things out of proportion. I personally haven't seen any larger than a man's fist!


Mosquito Myth # 2: These isn't a single mosquito on the Alaska Highway.

The Mack Factor: That one may be true, as I will swear that they've all married and raised very large families!


All joking aside, not all mosquito's bite. Only the female sucks blood. In fact, only the females possess the mouth parts necessary for drawing a blood meal. The female mosquito takes blood because she's trying to get enough nutrients, enough nitrogen, so she can lay her eggs, to simply reproduce. Some have pointed to how that contrast with the human female, which reproduces and then sucks the life blood out of anything in it's path..........haaaaaa...........

Did I say that out loud? I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself. I'm going to fall off this log from laughing so hard. haaaaa

** Don't forget guys, anything I've highlighted in red is usually a link I've created so you can get additional information in a particular topic.

Pictures # 2 & 3: I'm so fare behind on this blog, I can't remember what day I actually crossed into the Yukon, but there was nobody or anything around for miles. Also you can see wildlife along the road.

Picture # 4:

Oh darn, I meant to miss that puddle but couldn't help myself. Murphy tends to be a bit skittish around water so I tried to miss every puddle I can. Playing around on the "Top of the World" highway west of Dawson City, Yukon. I just couldn't help myself. hee heee Now, I'm not going to mention any names, but I know two old boys (one from Miss. and the other from Jackson, MI) who have lost a decent bet about whether or not I would allow the Freedom Machine to get dirty or not. Make that steak well done please. ;-)

Picture # 5:

Just having fun with some of the awesome people I've met on this trip. This gentleman and his riding partner, were on bicycles headed to the southernmost tip of South America! Now that's a lot of peddling. (more about these guys in a later posting.)