DAY THIRTEEN: DAWSON CREEK, BC

We awoke to a 35 degree temperature this morning, however the good news was that the storm had passed and the sun was shinning.  We drove only 86 miles to arrive at Dawson Creek, BC which is located at the beginning of the Alaska Highway.  For the weekend we're staying at the Mile "0" RV Park at the western edge of town.

ASPENS ALONG HIGHWAY 43

CAN YOU GUESS THE NAME OF THIS TOWN?

After we got settled we explored  Dawson Creek and at the Visitors Center  enjoyed a very informative video on the history and construction of the Alaska Highway.  Starting on early 1900's there had been several proposals to build a highway to connect the "lower 48" with Alaska, but none had ever gained traction because of the magnitude of the task and funding.  However, the bombing of Pearl Harbor changed all that, and the US and Canada agreed that it was vital to the interests of both countries to build a military highway to move war supplies to a string of air bases located in the northwest.   The United States agreed to fund and build the highway and as part of the agreement were to turn-over the portion of the highway located in Canada to the Canadian government six months after the was ended.  A common saying at the time was "Canada supplied the dirt and the US supplied the money and the labor."  Construction in the harsh conditions wasn't for the weak hearted with temperatures that ranged from -70 to 80 degrees and very primitive living conditions.  Because of the long hours of daylight the construction schedule was two 11 hour shifts, 7 days a week.  The highway was completed in 1943 by US Army Engineers and civilian contractors.  Starting in Dawson Creek, BC and ending in Delta Junction, Alaska  the first 1,221 miles are in Canada and only 200 miles are in Alaska.

MILE "ZERO" OF THE ALASKA HIGHWAY

NANCY & DON IN FRONT OF THE FAMOUS SIGN

Ben, Bonnie, Nancy and I enjoyed a great meal at "Mr. Mike's Steak House" in downtown Dawson Creek and the ladies especially enjoyed the meal because they didn't have to cook it.