Alcan Hwy

My late friend Jean Ball starting her Canol adventure in 1943. Put up a sign and it becomes the truth? :)

This is Soldier's Summit, above Kluane Lake

The trip to Alaska is just as scenic and has so many wonders, it can be the best part of the trip.
Coming through British Columbia on any of the access routes has many features. Stopping at the historic sites along the highway, makes you look back at how times have changed.
Sliding off the main highway to visit the old wooden bridge built on a curve, the sign post forest and even the small stores are a trip of their own.
Many things change nearly annual to draw people back time and again!

joe b. wrote:
The sign just over the bear's rump is interesting as it lists across the top, Alaska Hwy and under that is Aksala Construction Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Interesting information if true as AI had never head of any outside Lower 48 US construction company working on the highway in 1944. This would have been 4 years before the highway was opened to the public for use.

Most of the contractors in 1943-44 were based in the States, though the "Aksala" company is made up (that's "Alaska" backwards as well as the name of one of our sternwheelers).

Well I guess that settles it, as we all know you can't get much more official than a Sports Afield magazine cover. LOL The sign just over the bear's rump is interesting as it lists across the top, Alaska Hwy and under that is Aksala Construction Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Interesting information if true as AI had never head of any outside Lower 48 US construction company working on the highway in 1944. This would have been 4 years before the highway was opened to the public for use.

Wonder who got to be the official namer of the highway, whether you call it the Alaska hwy or the Alcan? The Parks Hwy in Alaska was named by the Alaska Legislature in honor of George Parks, an early territorial governor of Alaska. But who did the naming honors for the highway we are discussing.

A good topic as no one on the forum, that I know of,is currently using the highway for RV travel, so it is fun to have an interesting topic to discuss at this time of year.

Actually Murray and I go back a long ways on the forums. We both were active members of one called Alcanseek.com that ceased operating a number of years back and Murray at one time had a bulletin board type forum on his explorenorth.com web site which he shut down.

DownTheAvenue wrote:
Maybe you are different, but I am never older, get younger, then older again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You should travel with me - I'll show you how that can happen. Of course, sometimes the day after I get younger, I feel MUCH older :)

When I got fuel, I believe it was at Teslin, the operator didn't like it to be called the Alcan. He was about 110 years old and very gruff.

joe b. wrote:
Funny how when you reach my age, 73 currently, the oldest I have ever been, 30 years doesn't seem all that long ago.

Hi Joe!

Your quote of "....when you reach my age, 73 currently, the oldest I have ever been....." made me laugh!!!!!!!

I am almost as old as you, and every day I get a day older, and that is always the oldest I have ever been. Maybe you are different, but I am never older, get younger, then older again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PA12DRVR wrote:
"Just curious why the name Alcan is such a sore spot?"

I'll leave it to Sue and Murray to say if it actually is a "sore spot".

I've never considered it a "sore spot" particularly - in fact, many years ago, I bought the domain name AlcanPhotos.com for my main Alaska Highway photo album, and still use it.

"Just curious why the name Alcan is such a sore spot?"

I'll leave it to Sue and Murray to say if it actually is a "sore spot".

My 1st trip was 70 or 72, I think 72. Several (!) trips in the next 26+ years, not many recently.

That first trip, I was too bull-headed to care/notice, but later on when asking/talking about the road when in Canada, I'd refer either to the number designation or "Alaska Highway".....since the "Alcan" reference either drew honestly puzzled looks or "umm, it's actually the Alaska Highway" statements.