Shonah and Todd's Travels: July 2014

The Alaska Highway (also known as the Alaskan Highway, Alaska-Canadian Highway, or ALCAN Highway) was constructed during World War II for the purpose of connecting the contiguous United States to Alaska through Canada. It begins at the junction with several Canadian highways in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, and runs to Delta Junction, Alaska, via Whitehorse, Yukon. Completed in 1942 at a length of approximately 2,700 kilometres (1,700 mi).

The official start of construction took place on March 8, 1942 after hundreds of pieces of construction equipment were moved on priority trains by the Northern Alberta Railways to the northeastern part of British Columbia near Mile 0 at Dawson Creek. Construction accelerated through the spring as the winter weather faded away and crews were able to work from both the northern and southern ends; they were spurred on after reports of the Japanese invasion of Kiska Island and Attu Island in the Aleutians. During construction the road was nicknamed the "oil can highway" by the work crews due to the large number of discarded oil cans and fuel drums that marked the road's progress.^[4] On September 24, 1942 crews from both directions met at Mile 588 at what became named Contact Creek,^[5] at the British Columbia-Yukon border at the 60th parallel; the entire route was completed October 28, 1942 with the northern linkup at Mile 1202, Beaver Creek, and the highway was dedicated on November 20, 1942 at Soldier's Summit.

The Alaska Highway

Todd and Shonah atop Soldier's Summit, Kluane National Park & PreserveYukon Territory

Our camping spot along Kluane Lake, Yukon Territory

Sunset over Kluane Lake, Yukon Territory

Black Bear along the road in Yukon Territory

It wasn't until the Black Bear got this close that the driver decided to roll up the window!

Sea Gull flying over the marsh in Eliza Lake, Alaska

Beaver in the marsh at Eliza Lake, Alaska

Beaver swimming at Eliza Lake, Alaska

Reflections at Eliza Lake, Alaska

Ptarmigans walking along the road in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska

Mom, Dad and 7 little Ptarmigans walking down the road in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska

Todd above the ice fields (covered with gravel in the background) of the Root Glacier in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska

The Kennicott Mine produced Copper valued at roughly $207 million dollars over it's 27 years of operation

Root Glacier, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska

Those little specs are people hiking on the glacier...

Shonah and Todd sitting atop Root Glacier, Wrangell-St. Elias Nation Park, Alaska

Reflections on Long Lake along McCarthy Road, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska

Waterfall along Mineral Creek hiking trail in Valdez, Alaska

Adult Bald Eagle flying over juvenile Bald Eagle (center bottom) and Sea Gulls
It takes 5 years for a juvenile Bald Eagle to develop the trademark white head and tail