Running produce to Alaska

LOL... The fun to be had in Alaska!! Is this where if it doesn't work, use a bigger hammer??

 

You also forgot to mention that the gravel portion of the AlCan is better than the paved roads in the US. Especially after you cross into Alaska. The Canadians have it down on how to maintain a gravel road.

I am also sure that some here would love to see some photos of the Northern Lights.

When we moved to the lower 48, my daughter got to see nearly every part of the deer family and more. Deer, Elk, Caribou, Sheep, Goats, Bison, Antelope and Moose. Not the farm version of these either.

 

Yup, I'll second that. I lived an Anchorage for twelve years; some of the most butt-headed drivers anywhere. Half drive like they're 85, and the rest like they're 8.5. Every time it snows, they have to learn how all over again. Lots of 4x4 trucks that figure they can stop just as quick as they can get going, and the results are about what you would expect. Glad that's behind me; it will make you old fast.

 

I'm guessing they'd have it paved, but can't keep it that way. The stretch between the border and Burwash Landing probably would be better off gravel. The permafrost plays hell with the roads, big bumps, cracks 4" wide, that sort of thing. If it's gravel, they can fix it with a grader and a compactor, and that's exactly what they do. Some of it is okay, but anywhere they can't excavate deep enough to backfill with good gravel and get proper drainage, the heaves can get big enough to launch you if you don't see them coming. Sometimes I felt like I should have been wearing a helmet!

 

I sure do enjoy reading about these trips. I've been back and forth between Anchorage and Seattle about a dozen times in the last four years. That might have been me in the Toyota honking at buffaloes near Stone Mt! I honk at all the critters so maybe they'll get the idea that the highway ain't the best place to hang out; a habit learned dodging moose.

 

Here are two things I don't go without when traveling in the north, whether by boat, airplane or truck:


The one on the left can be had for about $100 plus a monthly subscription. There are better ones, but if you can see the sky, you can get a message to someone. When you get it, you set up your account and can compose an email that will be sent to whoever you like that will be generated when you push one of the buttons, and also sends a link to a map showing your position on it. If you push the panic button, it will go to SAR nearest where you are. This is kind of nice - mine goes as an email to my co-pilot and says "I'm okay but stuck somewhere, I'll contact you when I get somewhere where I can", and she can go to the website and see where I'm stuck. This prevents unnecessary search and rescue ops. It works in Canada. The one on the right is for marauding honey badgers, crazed, rabid beavers and the like, and I also keep five aerial flares with the ammo. I've also got a sleeping bag thats good to -60, chemical hand warmers, MREs and other assorted winter gear. Foolish to travel up there without emergency gear, even during the summer. I've broken down in -50 and didn't see another vehicle for four hours. Things break when it gets cold.

Hope your missing driver is okay.

 

So is that a big money maker hauling a load back considering you bounce home a lot or is the rate next to nothing? Not looking for numbers just curious.