One final push and we're there! Prudhoe Bay - northern tip of the Pan American Highway - and goal achievement!!
But first, 666km of the Dalton Highway! Is that number sending you the same message it's sending me?
The Dalton Highway, which directly parallels the Trans Alaska Oil Pipeline, is one of the most isolated roads in the United States. There are only three towns along the route: Coldfoot (pop 10) at Mile 175, Wiseman (pop 22) at Mile 188, and Deadhorse (25 permanent residents, 3,500-5,000 or more seasonal residents depending on oil production) at the end of the highway at Mile 414. Fuel is available at Yukon River Bridge (Mile 56), as well as Coldfoot and Deadhorse.
The road itself is mostly gravel, very primitive in places, and small vehicle and motorcycle traffic carries significant risk. Nearest medical facilities are in Fairbanks and Deadhorse. Breakdown facilities nonexistent. Anyone embarking on a journey on the Dalton is encouraged to bring survival gear.
Despite its remoteness, the Dalton Highway carries a good amount of truck traffic through to Prudhoe Bay: about 160 trucks daily in the summer months and 250 trucks daily in the winter. All vehicles must take extreme precaution, and drive with headlights on at all times.
The highway is the featured road on the third, fourth, fifth and sixth seasons of the television series 'Ice Road Truckers'. It's also the subject of the first ever episode of the BBC's 'World's Most Dangerous Roads' series. Constructed in 1974 as a haulage road, the Dalton wasn't open to the public until 20 years later in 1994.
Hey folks, we drove 25,000 miles to be here. Say what you like, we WILL reach Prudhoe Bay, come what may.
Stopping at Fred Meyer Gas Station, Fairbanks, we fill the tank to the brim and take on an additional 20 litres of Premium in the Jerry Can bought to cross Bolivia. Tyre pressures - check. Radiator Level - check. Screen Wash - check. 6 Cans of Stag Chili - check. 24 Cans of Icy Bay IPA - check. 2 x 3lt Bota Box of SB - check.
All good. Start your Engine. Let's go!
Mixed weather today - heavy rain - keeps the dust down - and the mud up! Fair amount of paved surface on the 270 miles covered today. Better than dirt/gravel? No! Massive pothole count. Massive holes + massive quantity!! Dodge almost all! Mosquito count also high - and climbing. Mileage sign - fair few. Dalton Highway sign - lots. Arctic Circle - Amanda refused to get out of the car and took the photo through the window glass = swarms! Picnic at Gobblers Knob (yes - really!) David regretted getting out to take photos and sprinted back to the car!
(BTW - although 270 miles might sound lightweight to some of you, Sat Nav advised a driving time of seven hours for this journey! We completed the trip in six + picnic & photo stops)
Milepost 175 - refuelling stop at Coldfoot Camp. Mosquito count dropping! Milepost 188 hang a left for Wiseman and the Arctic Getaway B&B - Aurora Cabin - lovely - with a Full Alaskan Breakfast - yumbles!
Sadly not to be as we discovered along the way the Dalton Highway north of Wiseman is closing for 12 hours in both directions from 06:00am tomorrow!!! Didn't find out from our hosts at Arctic Getaway B&B, or from signs along the highway, but instead from a random conversation David had at the Gas Station in Coldfoot!!
Thanks Berni & Uta for your failure to mention the road closure - we enjoyed half a night in your cabin and couldn't hang around until 8:00am for the Full Alaskan, as we had to leave at 04:00am to get through MP229 before the Dalton closed. But hey - you most likely knew this when you took our booking, enjoyed the $200 you charged us, had a lovely lie in, and saved $$$s not cooking us breakfast!!!
