Alcan Highway 2012...be there!

[George McKenzie]

It should be a good trip .The road is very good and there won't be any mosquitos by Aug .The last time I went up I drove to White Horse from 100 mile east of Dawson Creek one day . Then loaded a 45 Holmes wrecker for my DT969 ,did some visiting and drove back the next day with the wrecker .The Dempster road has alot of crushed granite rock that is hard on the tires .There is a neet museum in FT Nelson on the south side of the road with some military things .Most of the military vehicles that worked on the hiway ,you will be driving over them The fellow that owned the Petro Canada service station in Watson lake buried most of the vehicles on the Canol pipline just a few years ago .It will be a great experience and I have always said It is twice as far to go North as to go South .When you are in Dawson City you are half way to the north pole .I hope to meet you folks in Dawson Creek .George

[George McKenzie]

Hi Stuart I have been to Inuvik a couple of times . but I flew from Yellow knife .I was getting the polution out of Tuktoyaktuk from the Dome Oil's base camp . I was amused that we had to drive up over the water and sewer lines all above the ground so they wouldn't melt the perma frost in heated pipes so they wouldn't wouldn't freeze .Thanks for your comment about the Dempster ,and O yes Eagle plains can be windy too .

[Hans Mulder]

I would go but the carrier isn't quite a suitable vehicle. Maybe I'll bring my civy 3/4 ton and trailer for those who run into trouble.

[gary_bath_jr]

Hey Hans

If you had planned to drive a military vehicle in the convoy you would had to pay the participation fee. If you want to be someones "support Vehicle" you do not have to pay to follow along behind the convoy, and you can have a few people fide with you.

If there is anyone that would like to be a support vehicle send me a pm with details of your vehicle (make, model, year, fuel type, and the number of passengers) and I will try to add you as a support vehicle.

Gary

[jeff davis]

Hans Check out the western Command they have something planned but without fees and i believe involving the Royal Canadian Legions

[Lang]

Stuart,

I don't think there is any need to go over the top on preparation for a journey on good roads at convoy speeds. Almost any reasonable club vehicle could do it.

Original pattern tyres are fine provided they have enough legal tread to complete the miles and are not 20 years old. Usual prerun checks are all that should be required (oil changes, grease, check brake linings, fan belt and any major leaks - all 1940's vehicles leak!) and obvious problems like loose steering, bad shock absorbers etc looked at. New plugs points and condensor if they have not been done for many years and that should be it if it is running OK and not making any expensive noises right now.

Lang

[Lang]

I just bought a Dodge WC53 Carryall to do the Istanbul to Normandy convoy but thought the Alaska people might be interested in the writing on the door under the top layers of paint.

[jeff davis]

Hans is the Wetern Command Version of the Convoy open to all Comers still?Still no participation Fee ?
I have to see if I can switch some Time off.
rgards
jeff

[Hans Mulder]

Hi Jeff,

Yes the Western Command convoy is still open and free. It sounds like they have been doing plenty of leg work to line up meals and accomodations at RCL branches along the way. Hopefully they get around to updating the site soon, as I'm quite a distance away to attend regular meetings.

[Harry Moon]

Our convoy is in part hooked up to the MVPA convoy in this respect. We are arranging the drive from the lower mainland to mile "0" in Dawson Creek prior to the start of the MVPA convoy to Alaska.
That's about 1250 km. We are arranging it the same as our Biannual Freedom route convoys although this is the off year. We will arrange to stop at every Legion or Army and Navy club en route. Many Legions have signed on and are offering Meals and overnight accommodations. This will be only our second journey north of Cache Creek and the first time North of 100 mile house. Our RV point for the start is at the CMEC facility in Chilliwack on July 29th, leaving north that day. It was the intention of some to join the MVPA convoy and go to Alaska but Registration closing caught a few by surprise. Others were just going to see that convoy off and return to CMEC. Given the amount of time involved that will be the case for most of the participants from our club. I'll post the itinerary as soon as I get a copy.

[SteveJ]

Here are a couple of pictures I took many years ago while hunting up on the North Canol Hiway. We drove out of White Horse and took the ferry across at Ross River heading for MacMillan pass. The trucks in the pictures look pretty rough but as we headed north they got better and better to the point that they were complete including glass except for the rubber tires had rotted. there were dozens and dozens of them all parked in lines on the sides of the road. Shop vans, dump trucks, pickups you name and also other vehicles. I still regret to this day not taking more pictures. For years I had adventurous thoughts about taking a flatbed up there and bringing back two or three but it never happened. This was very early in September cool but not uncomfortable, no bugs, One morning we got up and the weather had come off the mountains and everything was covered by a half inch of clear ice just like glass had been poured.

[Hans Mulder]

At the Western Command meeting last night there was some discussion about their convoy, which is separate from the MVPA convoy. Had an offer from another member to use his truck for the Western Command convoy, so I'll see how I can make that work... My wife and I are expecting our first child in July and she's not keen on my disappearing into the wilds for a few weeks leaving her alone...