Today we made the trip to the Arctic Circle and it was a 421 mile round trip by Jeep. We traveled the Elliott and the Dalton Highways and I'd estimate about 50% was paved, however much of the paved portion had frost heaves and dips (one area was even called "the roller coaster road"). When we left the Elliott Highway and started up the Dawson Highway a sign read "HAUL ROAD-Heavy Industrial Traffic" indicating that the road serves as the only land supply route to Berring Sea and is used primarily by heavy trucks. There are many long steep grades, sharp turns, damaged road surfaces and lots of dust. The highway parallels the Alaskan Pipeline which is 50% below ground and 50% above ground much of which can be seen from the Dalton. We saw Loons, a Black Bear and even a Snowshoe Rabbit.
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| A SECTION OF THE ALASKAN PIPELINE. THE SHINNY METAL COVERS INSULATION WHICH IS INTENDED TO KEEP THE HEATED OIL FROM COOLING TOO FAST AS IT'S PUMPED THROUGH THE PIPELINE. THE SUPPORT POSTS EXTEND 30+ FEET DEEP TO GET BELOW THE PERMAFROST. THE PIPELINE IS SUPPORTED ON SLIDES WHICH ALLOWS THE PIPELINE TO EXPAND AND CONTRACT GROWING LONGER OR SHORTER TO ALLOW FOR AMBIENT TEMPERATURE CHANGES RANGING FROM +80 TO -50 DEGREES. |
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| AS THE HEATED OIL TRAVELS THROUGH THE PIPELINE IT COOLS AND WAX SEPARATES FROM THE OIL AND ADHERES TO THE INSIDE OF THE PIPELINE. THE DEVICE PICTURED IS A PIPELINE "PIG" WHICH WHEN INCERTED INTO THE PIPELINE AT A PUMP STATION, MOVES THROUGH THE PIPE AND SCRAPES OFF THE WAX. |
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| FROST HEAVE DAMAGE AND DUST ON THE DALTON HIGHWAY |
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NANCY AT THE ARCTIC CIRCLE
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A SIGN INSIDE THIS TRADING POST IN JOY, ALASKA READS:
"THERE'S NOT A SINGLE MOSQUITO IN JOY, THEY'RE ALL MARRIED WITH LARGE FAMILIES." |
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