Saturday, July 19, 2014

The Alaska Highway....

 
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


Sea Gull coming down to snatch a fish from the Salmon Hatchery in Valdez, Alaska


Juvenile Bald Eagle


Adult Bald Eagle


Valdez, Alaska scenery


Water bird


Island scenery in the Prince William Sound, Alaska


Humpback Whale pectoral fin and tail as he rolls to execute a fin slap


Humpback Whales in the distance along Prince William Sound, Alaska


Humpback Whale tail


One Humpback Whale diving while another is surfacing (spouting)


Remember: "Only you can prevent a forest fire"


Woody the Sea Lion at the Alaska Sealife Center in Seward, Alaska


Woody diving into the water for his reward


Tufted Puffin at the Alaska Sealife Center in Seward, Alaska


Horned Puffin at the Alaska Sealife Center in Seward, Alaska


Sea bird rookery (nesting area) in Aialik Bay, Alaska 


Hundreds of birds nest in the same rookery


Sea Lion colony in Aialik Bay, Alaska


A closer look at the Sea Lion colony


Bald Eagle in flight over the Aialik Bay


A Sea Lion leaps for the water in Aialik Bay, Alaska 


A Horned Puffin flying along Aialik Bay, Alaska 


Dall's Porpoises swimming along side and in front of our tour boat in Aialik Bay, Alaska
They look like small Killer Whales


Dall's Porpoise in Aialik Bay, Alaska 
Dall's Porpoise in Aialik Bay, Alaska 


Sea Otter in Aialik Bay, Alaska
Sea Otters spend their entire life in the water from birth


Rhinoceros Auklet in Aialik Bay, Alaska 


Rhinoceros Auklet in Aialik Bay, Alaska 


Todd and Shonah in front of Aialik Glacier, Alaska 


Commorant Birds in Aialik Bay, Alaska 


Sea Lions on the icebergs near Aialik Glacier, Alaska 


Sea Lions and Sea Otters on the icebergs near Aialik Glacier, Alaska 


Ice calving from Aialik Tidewater Glacier


Ice calving from Aialik Tidewater Glacier


Bald Eagles in the tree above our campsite in Seward, Alaska


Bald Eagles in the harbor of Seward, Alaska

 

 

 
We crossed paths with EarthRoamer CEO Bill Swails and nephew in Glennallen, Alaska

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