MVPA 2012 Alaska Highway Convoy

[KEKO_ JONES]

Road Conditions and Attractions—160 miles. Now paved from the Alaska Highway north to Chicken, the rest is generally good, graded gravel, with tight turns, steep grades, and seasonally poor road conditions. Chicken, Fortymile River system, high ridges, Eagle, Yukon River, Yukon-Charley National Preserve.
The Taylor is a hilly, winding, route being paved in stages, now paved from the Alaska Highway to Chicken. The gravel stretch beyond can be dusty, muddy, washboarded, and potholed—though it’s usually pretty good. The road was built between 1946 and 1953 to provide access to Eagle and the Yukon River. It is a road to river-runner’s heaven, providing access to 600 miles of national wild and scenic rivers—392 in the BLM’s Fortymile River system and 208 in Yukon-Charley National Preserve.

 

[blybrook]

Keko,

You described the Taylor / Top of the World Highway on the Alaska side of Whitehorse. It was the only way to get through to Whitehorse or the Ferry from Alaska until Saturday morning. The main portion of the ALCAN that was still closed until today gets you to Whitehorse from Ft. Nelson and is the only overland route, which everyone partaking in this convoy will be traveling on.

Anyone driving these roads will enjoy the scenery; so remember your cameras and PLENTY of batteries!

 

[m1010plowboy]

Getting to Alaska

We just got an up-date from one of the collector convoys coming through Edmonton.


CURRENTLY

[FONT='PrimaSans BT,Verdana,sans-serif']""""""the "Collection Convoy" of the Alaska group will be arriving here in Edmonton on Friday, July 27[/FONT]"""""

[FONT='PrimaSans BT,Verdana,sans-serif']""""The convoy is crossing the border at Coutts and travelling via Hwy. 36 to Brooks for an overnighter and then on to Edmonton, via Killam, Camrose, Hwy 21, Nisku Road to Hwy. 19 and on through Devon to Golden Embers RV park at the Hwy 16A overpass on Hwy. 60 near Acheson. As it's a Collection Convoy the numbers are not too large yet. He estimates about 20 vehicles. The rendezvous point for everyone is Dawson Creek.[/FONT]""""

One of the local MVPA gents' was asked to make camping "arrangements" and he booked the troops at a "serviced" RV lot with the capacity to handle the volume. Glowing Embers Glowing Embers RV Park l

Additionally, """"[FONT='PrimaSans BT,Verdana,sans-serif']we have been invited to participate in the Whitecourt Air Show. The Snow Birds will be there and there will be an F18 fly-past and lots of other aircraft and historic vehicles. As luck would have it, the Air Show is on Saturday and Sunday, July 29 and 30. So the convoy will be passing through Whitecourt on its way to the next overnight stop in Valleyview"""""".[/FONT]


If there are any troops that want FREE camping/staging at a lake location very close to Glowing Embers, send me a PM and I'll get you a location and details.

For those SS not participating in the Alaska trip but would like to convoy up through Canada, the offer is open to you as well.

One month and a week away from the 70th anniversary and the ALCAN Alaska Highway Historic Vehicle Convoy. Awesome.

 

[CatMan]

Getting to Alaska

I made the offer to camp at your farm, but the group wants to go around the North side instead.

Wendy and I are planning to meet the Texas Collection Convoy at Brooks AB on the evening of July 26 and will convoy on with the group from there on into Dawson Creek. Setting up convoy HQ at Mile 0 on Sunday the 29th.

We will try and make a short stop at the the Airshow at Whitecourt on Saturday 28th. Hope to see your Edmonton gang on Friday evening the 27th at the Embers RV park. See you then.

Jeff and Wendy

 

[hndrsonj]

Sounds like a fun time. I'm waiting for the next MVPA convoy---I'll be retired by then!

 

[dodgedougak]

Just over a month now! A small group of us will be meeting north of Cour d lane, ID on the evening of the 28th. (anyone wanted to meet up with us for the drive, PM me) We will head north on the 29th with nights in Radium Hot Springs then Hinton AB before getting to Dawson Creek on the eve of July 31 (hopefully!). The M35 just needs some minor tweaks. It will get a 600 mile shakedown going to the Arlington Air Show and back to Spokane. Been planning this for almost two years.....ready to go.

 

[m1010plowboy]

I made the offer to camp at your farm, but the group wants to go around the North side instead.

Wendy and I are planning to meet the Texas Collection Convoy at Brooks AB on the evening of July 26 and will convoy on with the group from there on into Dawson Creek. Setting up convoy HQ at Mile 0 on Sunday the 29th.

We will try and make a short stop at the the Airshow at Whitecourt on Saturday 28th. Hope to see your Edmonton gang on Friday evening the 27th at the Embers RV park. See you then.

Jeff and Wendy

Catman, It looks like the "Boots" hit the road running and is pulling the units into a 'serviced' facility just west of Edmonton. Great central location and still only 20 miles from the ranch. There will be a few of us staged at the lake and we'll certainly convoy in to see you kids when you land.

For those not sleeping that night we'll have live music, fishing and we can arrange rides to West Edmonton Mall for the ladies who like to shop.

We'll chat as the days get closer so keep us in the loop as to how we can help out.

 

[seano11]

I'm riding alone as the gf say's I'll spend more money on sports bra's then I will on fuel so if anyone wants to ride shotgun from Edmonton send me a pm

 

[CatMan]

MVPA 2012 Alaska Convoy

Well, its time to "mount up"! In just a few days the collection convoys will start to roll from all corners toward Dawson Creek BC Canada.

There are 90 Steel Soldiers lined up to go. Here is what the line up looks like.

Follow the drivers on their convoy blogs on the MVPA web site WWW.MVPA.org. We'll be posting blogs and photos when we can get a connection.


Cat Man - Convoy XO

 

[m1010plowboy]

Collector Convoys

Is anyone able to identify the timing and route of the various Collector Convoys. For those of us not on facebook is there an alternative communication page somewhere?
This is what I found on the MVPA site Get Ready to Follow the AC’12 Convoy! | Military Vehicle Preservation Association

I know of a few folks that can't make the ALCAN run but would love to show the MVPA and private collectors support as they tour through their region.

It would be really great if the MVPA could find a way to let the SS boys know where and when proposed convoy movements are happening.

If you are heading up to Alaska and know the dates and routes of your convoy, can you include the info here. This would be a great comms' page for ALCAN support.

Our local MVPA is currently running to Whitecourt from Edmonton (Glowing Embers) on July 28 (730hrs time to be confirmed) with Canadian Military G Wagons in escort and hopefully 15-20 of America's finest MV's.

I will confirm the route as soon as I know.

 

[CatMan]

The largest collection convoy of 22 HMV's will be entering Canada from Montana on the 26th. Staying on the northeast side of Edmonton Friday night the 27th. Glowing Embers I';m told is the location. There is BBQ at Reg Hodgson's on Friday evening.

The convoy is planning to make a mid day parade at the Air Show in Whitecourt on Sat.

Sounds like we'll be meeting you Friday night.

The other groups are crossing in the Vancouver area and will proceed north.

Everyone else in one and two vehicle groups on their own.

See you in a few days.

Cat Man

 

[Stan Leschert]

Let me know about the Vancouver bound groups, we will see what is possible.

 

[m1010plowboy]

Prepared for Alaska

Catman, I understand we may be running a combined Alberta / American convoy from Edmonton to Whitecourt on the 28th. However it works we look forward to seeing you all again.

We've had some of the best conditions up north for mosquito's this year so if you're heading to Alaska, be prepared. Locally we're ok for now Edmonton Mosquito Activity :: City of Edmonton

When you get up north this next 2 week old report may be old news......but......

Bloodsucking mosquitoes are driving Anchorage buggy: Anchorage | Alaska news at adn.com

Stock up on mosquito netting for the very outside chance you may need it.

We hung mosquito net across the back of the 1010 and in the cab windows so we could get some air circulation with windows and doors open while keeping the critters away. It won't keep the bears out but if you hang your cooler in a tree, the bears have somewhere else to eat.

A hot night in an MV or in a tent can be much more enjoyable without the bugs inside. At the same time be prepared for snow, cold, high winds, hot temperatures, forest fires, hail, heavy rains......and at times some of the most beautiful, comfortable climate you could ever imagine.

Days ago the entire region locally was under "smoke advisories" from 49 forest fires burning in Alberta. Today highway 16, west of Edmonton was closed due to flooding from some crazy heavy rains. It will not have an impact on the convoy to Whitecourt.

So be prepared with the anti histamines and bite meds with the mosquito coils and citronella candles in your full body mosquito suits and cold wet towels under your rain gear.

First Gear 20 days away.

 

[Baradium]

Do you know the condition of the alcan now? I'm sure the areas that they had to do the repairs to are still in fairly shoddy condition.

Regardless, wish I had gotten a rig together to make the trip. Maybe next year. Only going to take 3 or 4 runs to get everything up there....

 

[gunboy1656]

I was looking at pics on facebook and curious as to who owns that M915 it is a very nice looking truck.

 

[123mack]

The owner of the M915 is Ken Field from Florida. The front part of the trailer is living quarters and the rear parts and tools. He along with a few others will bring up the rear to handle breakdowns.

 

[Amer-team]

What a great looking truck and setup. Bon journey.

 

[markmontana]

The owner of the M915 is Ken Field from Florida. The front part of the trailer is living quarters and the rear parts and tools. He along with a few others will bring up the rear to handle breakdowns.

Fabulous !!!

 

[m1010plowboy]

Edmonton Arrival

13 units arrived in Edmonton today.

 

[Amer-team]

I met Mike from New Zealand at 1st Sgt. Giffords, yesterday. He arrived on Tuesday. They have the CCKW mostly loaded and are planning on leaving Olympia, WA at 0700 Sunday morning.