Truckers Guide to the Alaska Highway

Anchorage to AK/Canada Border

for the purpose of this guide, the distances referenced in this guide are from

the intersection of Muldoon and Glenn Highway in Anchorage, AK

Total distance 403 miles

Next turn/Junction Distance Comments

Glenn/Parks Hwys 30.5 E-146 miles to Jct Richardson Hwy W-30 miles to

Anchorage

Glenn/Richardson Hwys 176 W-146 miles to Parks Hwy E-14 miles to Tok C.O.

Richardson/Tok C.O. 190 W-14 miles to Glenn E-122 miles to Alaska Hwy

Tok C.O./Alaska Hwy 312 W-122 miles to Richardson E-91 miles to border

AK/Canadian border 403 W-91 miles to Tok C.O.

Grades/Conditions

From Muldoon-Anchorage to Jct Glenn/Parks the highway is multi lane freeway, rolling hills, river deltas, and urban traffic

From the North side of Palmer for the next 70 miles East bound the highway is 2 lane, narrow, sharp curves and steeper grades.

From the Junction of Richardson/Tok Cutoff the highway is much more rough, a few sections of newly built highway offers welcome relief.

Weigh stations and DOT presence

6 miles E of Anchorage there are scales on both sides of the highway. 3-4 miles E of Tok a scale is located E of the Tok River bridge. It serves both E and W bound sides. It is newly rebuilt to handle inspections. Until it is complete expect roadside inspectors from Northway Jct to Tok and again from Tok South for at least 20 miles.

Truck services- Tesoro, Sutton, AK -truck parking, showers, fuel

Tesoro, Glennallen, AK-truck parking

Fast Eddys, Tok, AK-truck parking, restaurant, motel

Northway Jct, AK -truck parking, showers

Border City-Truck parking, showers, restaurant, fuel

Yet another option for trick my flatbed

I would like to get a box like the one on this box perhaps. With that on that Chevy truck and a rebuilt Cummins diesel engine and a total work over- I might drive it North with a load of mules in it.

I am not comforted that in this day when we are still engaged in a war on terror that NORAD is mostly associated with tracking Santa Claus.

Of course one only remember that Obama has decided to not utilize Alaska's strategic position to fully and efficiently defend the continent. In fact he decided that the anti missile systems were bargaining chips to be given up to appease the Russians. This President is train wreck and it a matter of time we get hit again like on September 11. We are more concerned with tracking a fat man in a red suit that we have taken our eyes off those flying in from Russian airspace, or Korean, or Chinese, or Middle Eastern.

My Case in Defense of the Military Record of

George W. Bush

Yes this is a bit belated but I figure maybe critics of President Bush will stagger onto this and trip over the truth for once. Who knows but what they might even cut him some well deserved slack.

George W. Bush served in the USAF Texas Air Guard in the

period of May 28, 1968 to October 1, 1973.

He was trained for flight duties specific to flying the Convair F102, an interceptor aircraft. To understand why President Bush never flew in Vietnam you must also know the history of what he was trained to fly. The F102 was an aircraft that the Air Force used in the 1950's but were

phasing out in the 60's. The F102 saw limited duty in Vietnam being replaced with the F4 Phantom. As the Air Force phased out their own use of the F102 it reassigned many of them to Air Guard units in the U.S. This aircraft was tasked with defending the U.S. at the call from NORAD-scrambling to intercept prowling Russian Bear Bombers. That would be the mission to which President Bush was assigned. No Viet Nam service because there was no role for his aircraft. Even the President to be can not write a change to his assigned mission.

Now as to his early release from the Air Guard you once again have to follow the history of the aircraft he was tasked to fly. The F102 was being phased out at the time of his discharge in favor of the F101 Voodoo and then the F4. To fly those would require additional retraining and the military was under pressure from a post Viet Nam era to cut back costs. His discharge was actually in the best interest of the service.

There has been must ado over his miltary record containing N.O. in his evaluations. N.O. means the evaluating authority did not have sufficient information on which to base an evaluation-it has nothing to do with being absent. President Bush served his nation and Air Guard of Texas with honor and should be respected for that. Just as he would serve our nation as President-he did so with honor.

At Last It Has Been Revealed.

This is that flatbed I often brag about. I am looking for suggestions and ideas on

how to 1) get it North 2) what to do with it when I get it here and 3) how to modify it

Just an idea I have been toying with for my flatbed. I am certain the North country may get a glimpse of me around Memorial day or just after. I may stay if permanent offers of employment are secured but until then it is just a seasonal committment.

First you take hay grown on ranches and farms in Utah, Idaho, or any of the other Mountain states. You then aggressively market it and export it to China, you ship it out to the Asian markets while hay prices in the U.S. remain at high prices. Those high prices for feed have

put the crimp on the horse market in the states.

Beef one direction

Trees back the other

and we do that in a refrigerated rig pulled by a KW tractor.

Beef from out of Greeley to the West coast and nursery stock the other direction

to Colorado markets.

Found some of Andy Thomas paintings on display at a store in the Ft. Worth stockyards.

Quite interesting-to former living presidents, of the other deceased presidents all were recent except for Lincoln. The democrat version is the same-two former living presidents, recent presidents and then Old Hickory to represent the past.

Watch Out for Wildlife

I have been considering a booklet of advice and information for those who need to know how to avoid vehicle wildlife encounters which result in damage to vehicles, injury to drivers and passengers, and fatalities for the wildlife. I came across this photo which demonstrates that some wildlife is not of the meek variety and they actually demand the right of way.

The single best way to reduce your risk of such encounters is to drive slower and when visibility is at its best-during daylight hours. Habitat awareness is key. Look for indicators that wild life is present-manure on roadway, tracks, road kills, warning signs, past experience, other vehicles.

In future blogs I will add to these to help you make 2010 a year without roadkill credits.

While not a photo of my taking, I discovered this pic from the net.

Now this is trophy moose and what a pose. Bet Holly Bull would be smarter than to put it to a buffie statuesque. Bet his woodie is a bit

sore from the experience.

Remember this picture

Whose country is this? I am among the many who definitely believe it belongs to us,

and not to a few in Washington D.C. who would give us the bird. Dingy Harry

likely believes this is the National bird. Make it your aim to suprise them in November

by voting these bastards out. If your senator is not up for election-send your contributions to

the states that are electing new representation. Hell, use Harry's bird against them

and let it be our standard-up yours Harry and May God Save America.

I am hoping that someday I can wake up to news of his resignation. But then horror of horrors we would have Biden to deal with or San Fran Nan. When I start thinking he can't possibly do anything else to bury the United States he proves me wrong again. A wise cowboy once saidwhen you find yourself in a hole-stop digging. So here is my President-Barak Urkel Obama.

For Sale

But not this one, one quite like it (less the plow). Will deliver for the right price especially

if it is to Alaska. Or will trade for a Spit Rat's bus or other hippie vehicle. If I can't sell it I am seriously considering joining the carnival circuit-save me from myself.

Picked up my last load in Dubuis, ID-a load of hay bound for China.

I delivered it not without problems to Carson, CA. But I could not have done it without the assistance of my trucking buddy and girlfriend-Dana.

Being overweight was the least of our problems-the load not Dana.

Working our way through blizzard and congested city freeways we left some highway damage in our wake. But hey-we got the damned load there on a New Year holiday weekend.

Lazy Moment Last Summer

Break between projects this last summer. Hope 2010 brings new inspiration for projects about the pit. Remembering the blessings and joys we shared with departed family members.

Tad's birthday, Mom's birthday just passed. Don has been gone for four years now. Shane for a little over a year. They are missed but lovingly remembered. Take care of one another family of mine. Hope to see you all again soon.

With a hot girl friend and co driver like Dana, I don't need Christmas trees

in my sleeper. Merry Christmas to you one and all.

This was the camper when I started to Alaska last May. Now of course in the trust of Crystal.

I have been traversing the Western half of our country over the past two months in very fine company, my friend and future co driver Dana. Not much to add to that. We just completed a trip back to Oklahoma in which we visited Leah. Leah if a full fledge professor now at U of Ok Arts and Sciences in Chickasea. She is working on her DR at U of OK in Norman.

Thought this one funny. The convertable is soon to get a lesson on tailgating. The truck a lesson on clearances. I have picked up an empty trailer in Portland equipped with lift gate and electric pallet jack. The aim was to visit all Napa Auto Parts stores in Hermiston, Umatilla, Condon, La Grande, and in SE Idaho . I was picking up old batteries and now fully loaded I return the trailer to where I picked it up-Portland.