The Alaska Highway, also known as the Al-Can, was built in 1942 to allow the military ready access to Alaska, which was considered vulnerable. Japan did, in fact, make an incursion there by establishing a presence on two of the Aleutian Islands, the only U.S. soil captured during the war. Aided by the highway, America was able to deploy a large force to Alaska and recapture the islands.
The Al-Can starts in the quaint town of Dawson Creek, BC, which has naturally tried to capitalize on its one claim to fame. Lots of signage celebrates the "Mile Zero" status, and many businesses are themed to make tourists feel a little like they have already reached Alaska. Despite having driven about 3900 miles to reach Dawson Creek, this is where we felt like we were finally on the way to Alaska.
The highway, built hastily and for military purposes, was once very rough, and wasn't even opened for public use until 1948. However, it has been constantly improved over the years and is now a perfectly good highway. Not only does it offer great scenery and plenty of wildlife, each town and village along the way tries to provide something that encourages visitors to leave a few dollars. Many have developed "oddities" that are fully covered by the guide book "Milepost", which describes every one of the fifteen hundred or so miles.
There is the unusual curved wooden bridge, the hats left at a restaurant by travelers and a "village" of signs brought in by many from their home towns.
One of the more famous stops was a restaurant called "Mukluk Annie's" where a delicious meal of grilled salmon was almost a requirement to use the highway. They also offered a campground with hook-ups for a modest fee, as well as a "dry camping" area at no charge. In addition, buying a meal entitled you to a boat ride on the adjacent lake with stories told by the owner. Sadly, I've learned that the owners retired and the business is closed.
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