ALCAN HIGHWAY

[jeanne penrod]

Folks the Alcan highway was built during WW2 to provide a means to deploy
troops and materials.The Japanese had capture one of the Alution Islands
and we were afraid this would lead to an invasion of the lower 48 thru
Canada.It was an epic undertaking by the Corp.of Engrs.Built in about a
year! Survey teams were, in some case, only a mile or two ahead of the
construction crews.Much of the original highway has been changed or
rerouted.Road surfaces are constantly under repair due to frost heave and
wash outs,sort of like the Detroit,Pittsburgh,Chicago,New York Streets
after winter.Maybe I'll regret it, but how can I disappoint a 9 year old
after 50 years of waiting? Jim& jeanne Penrod Still hangin out
in Lake Placid F L A

 

[chuck botts]

Did the Alcan Highway in 97 in SOB. Was in a tour with 20 other RV's. 4 had
rock pits/cracks. 2 required new windshields, 2 could be fixed on the spot.
Windshield repairers come around the RV campground out of Watson Lake which
is where all 4 got their damage. $20 american per pit.

I would recommend to a fellow GMC 'er doing the Alcan in Canada portion,
have the nylon bug/rock screen over the entire front with a removable
polycarb section for a peep hole to look out of when in rock covered road
country, which is only about 20% of the Alcan trip. Look for average speeds
of 20 - 25 mph max in rock road country and being passed by trucks/locals
doing 60 dancing across the tops of the corduroy roads. Every one of the
damaged windshields got it when they didn't stop and drove into the fast
truck created rock shower. Got to stop and wait for the rocks to fall
before heading out again. Luckily, there aren't many people there so that
fast trucks may come by only a couple times a day when you are on rocky
roads. Its the ones that come from behind that get most because you don't
see them in time to pull over and stop. Your busy concentrating on dodging
pot holes and looking out for wildlife. You can easily see the fast ones
coming at you because of the dust storm they create.

You don't see old local cars or trucks in daily use.

Chuck Botts, San Diego,CA.

 

[brad & mary grems]

Did the ALCAN last summer in an SOB. Saw about a dozen GMCs, all moviing
along smartly, none broken down, but my SOB did. There was a lot of
construction last year with some rough gravel and dirt stretches. My
father-in-law is going to do it agin this summer. He tells me the whole
thing is paved now. Should be a piece of cake.

Brad Grems
Blacksburg, VA