I was 19 years old when I drove that road in January of 1975. I had a 1972 Jeep CJ -5 towing a 1957 16 foot teardrop trailer that was custom built for cold weather conditions because it was used by an engineer who worked on the highway in the late 1950's rebuilding the original wooden bridges into concrete. Back then there was no pavement except for in the large towns like Whitehorse. But we had a smooth ride because the road had, on average, 6 inches of ice and packed snow. There were stretches with ice that was translucent enough to see the gravel roadbed. I was smart enough to have bought brand new mud and snow tires that I had studded before the trip. Those studded tires saved our lives a couple of times on that trip. Not kidding. Your video was very nice and brought back fantastic memories. Thank you!
I made this trip myself many years ago. I dreaded the thought of driving back, so I stayed in Alaska for 13 years. The highway was much improved when I finally moved back to the lower 48.
Your video is great, thank you for sharing the beauty of the places you visit, very inspiring, greetings are always healthy and successful for you my friend, 🙏☺🌹🌹👌
My wife and I with 3 year old and 5 week old Daughters made the trip southbound from Anchorage beginning july 20, 1974 camping in canvas tent. We loved it, road was all Gravel or mix of local materials. Rainy weather the entire trip. Planning to do again hope it happens.
Very nice. I read every comments in this video. When I see snowy mountains, clean clear rivers and lonely woods reminds me of "The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams". His friends Ben, Mad Jack and Nikoma.
I have drove the Alcan 3 times in my life, 2X winter 1X summer, with the last drive a bit over 20 years ago and i still recognize about everything you filmed. That drive must be IMO the most beautiful in North America
I rode my motorcycle all up through there in summer 1990. Looks the same, saw moose running alongside the road, etc. Would like to go again, thanks for the look.
@@northboundwiththenielsens23 Thanks, the moose was a bit scary, it was a full grown bull running alongside the road right next to me. The thing was huge! I rode 6,000 miles alone and camped in a tent for a month, never saw a bear.
As a boy, I went with my family up the highway. 1979. It was dynamited rock and gravel. Considerably slower journey. We loved it. The scenery brought back memories.
Beautiful, I drove it over 20 years ago, not much has changed, the scenery is breathtaking, cars few and far between, the roads always under repair. Loved the video.
Did the Alcan in 1981. Over 700 miles one way was gravel. Vehicles driving the other way throw rocks from tires. Muncho Lake area was my favorite spot. We stopped and rented a row boat . Water was blue beyond belief. The surrounding mountains were beautiful. Kluanee lake was great. We never drove at night so as not to miss anything. Thanks for reviving old memories. And yes, gravel was often smoother than pavement.
700 miles of gravel! Wow. They definitely have been working on it since then. We absolutely loved Muncho Lake, too! The color reminded me of Lake Louise in Banff National Park.
@@northboundwiththenielsens23 Muncho is very deep right next to the road. Don't miss a turn. Do you use the Milepost for reference along the highway? Great source of the Highway . Indispensable for travel on the AlCan. I still have mine from 1981. Full of info.
So beautiful scenery over there S lots animals Landscape on the road really pretty....attractive mountain and wild....so beautiful weather ...look so fresh .
I lived it. I grew up on the highway in 70s and the 80s and lived in ft. Nelson. I worked on the highway in the summers while in high school. Some of the most scenic parts of the road are located north of Ft. Nelson…Steamboat Mountain, Summit Mountain, Toad River, Muncho Lake and Liard Hot Springs. The road now is dramatically different than back in the early 80s. Imagine the road when it was all gravel with twists and turns and ruts etc. almost of the road has now been straighten and it’s still quite curvy. it would take 4.5 hours to drive from Ft. Nelson to Fort St. John. Now imagine it at -40. Our kids’ hockey teams would travel that road in the winter. We once flew to Watson Lake for a tournament in Cassiar. We took a school bus from Watson Lake down the Cassier highway to Cassier in the middle of winter (roughly 125 miles) No traffic, no cell phones in the middle of winter -40. This bus could barely climb the hills.
My name is Nielson interesting coincidence. Nothing like the Alcan I first drove in the summer of 1971 headed for Fairbanks and a 20 year stay. All frost-heaved, wash-boarded, and rutted. Broke down in Ft Nelson, BC, on blocks behind the Esso station for two weeks waiting on parts. Only good thing I got to work on the Canadian RR..always thought of Lightfoot and the Canadian RR Triology. RIP
Thank you for sharing that great memory! My wife and I needed 2-days of steering column repairs in Whitehorse. Thankfully the parts were in stock at the dealership. We will check out that Canadian RR trilogy song and remember a day long gone.
Awesome! My dream's to own a Lakehouse or Beach House and go Fishing every week. Heard Alaska shared their Oil Revenues not sure "if" they still doing that nowadays.. Back in my College days, they used to advertise Fishing Careers up in Alaska and offered free shelters and $3,000+/month for up to 4 months, that was back in the mid-late 90s
