The complete story of Alaska cannot be told without a road trip to Deadhorse along the James W. Dalton Highway or “Haul Road” as referred to by the many truckers who earn a living transporting their loads up the 500 mile mostly gravel roadway from Fairbanks. It’s not surprising that our largest state, known for it’s pioneer spirited people, accepted the challenge of some of the most ambitious construction projects in modern history. Building the Alaskan Railroad (1910’s), Alaskan Highway (1940’s) and Alaskan Pipeline (1970’s) stretched the imagination of engineers and construction crews through some of the most severe terrain and climate conditions on the planet. The trans Alaskan Pipeline, from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez, is an amazing 800 mile masterpiece of human perseverance.
During our journey through Alaska, we were introduced to the highest mountains, the largest free-flowing rivers, the harshest environment, the most abundant of natural resources, the wildest wilderness and the tastiest fish in North America. We traversed through three distinct seasons of winter, spring and summer within a 24 hour period witnessing the bear play, caribou migrate and bald eagles soaring above mountain slopes. On board the Island Princess, we heard the glacier’s fracturing ice explode into the water and watched gentle waves carry huge icebergs out to the open sea. Of the many highlights during our trip perhaps the most memorable was being treated to a spectacular view of Mount Mckinley or by many Alaskans simply called “the mountain” or Denali. Whatever the preferred name, it is a living masterpiece that represents the loom in which true survival is woven from nature’s wilderness with civilization which has shaped the alluring state of Alaska.
During our journey through Alaska, we were introduced to the highest mountains, the largest free-flowing rivers, the harshest environment, the most abundant of natural resources, the wildest wilderness and the tastiest fish in North America. We traversed through three distinct seasons of winter, spring and summer within a 24 hour period witnessing the bear play, caribou migrate and bald eagles soaring above mountain slopes. On board the Island Princess, we heard the glacier’s fracturing ice explode into the water and watched gentle waves carry huge icebergs out to the open sea. Of the many highlights during our trip perhaps the most memorable was being treated to a spectacular view of Mount Mckinley or by many Alaskans simply called “the mountain” or Denali. Whatever the preferred name, it is a living masterpiece that represents the loom in which true survival is woven from nature’s wilderness with civilization which has shaped the alluring state of Alaska.
