1961 my first trip from San Francico to Alaska and back.
Jan 25, 2021 11:02:05 #
jimvanells wrote:
Great set Mike and you drove a 59 Ford up there, brave man. Not because of the car, only the roads at the time and ground clearance.
Thank you very very much Jim, I had two flat tires and the windshield wipers motor had to replaced.
Jan 25, 2021 11:02:53 #
tomad wrote:
Good stuff! Love that 59 Ford ragtop!
Thank you very very much Tom.
Jan 25, 2021 11:27:49 #
Great series, Mike. You really caught the essence of the Alcan back then. Quite different now. I think your black and whites actually accentuate the beauty along the highway. Those were the days, my friend, those were the days. Thanks for sharing your trip.
Jan 25, 2021 11:32:01 #
anotherview wrote:
Like the B&&W photos. Want to do a road trip from Southern California to Alaska and back. Or I could fly to Alaska and rent a car to drive back while taking photos.
If you have the time, do it both ways. Drive the Alaska Hwy one way, and the Cassiar Hwy (Hwy 37) the other way. Lots of wild life along the Cassiar. It’s paved all the way, too, but still has some fun 1-way bridges. Give yourself a month, at least, for the entire trip. Take a week in both directions and two weeks to explore around Alaska. Another thought is to drive on the Alaska ferry, either in Bellingham, WA, or Prince Rupert, BC, Canada, and go up the inside passage, then drive back down the Alaska Hwy on your return. Do it in June to early July for the best chances for good weather.
Jan 25, 2021 11:50:35 #
hankm1
Loc: Mount Prospect IL
fotostory wrote:
Was the highway still gravel? My first trip to Alaska was in 1958 when I was 16. Alaska was not yet a state. Most people broke either a windshield or headlight from the gravel road.
The highway is almost all paved. There were maybe 5 sections that were under
re-construction. Those areas ran anywhere from a couple miles to 5 miles in length.
Gravel was not your driveway size gravel - more like baseball sized gravel.
For all but one section we had pilot cars take us through, not JUST because of the
construction, but also because of the density of the smoke from wildfires in some areas.
We had a Toyota Prius - pretty lightweight for such a trek, but it made it fine.
Amenities are few and far between, but generally there was a turn off with pit stop stations
every 50 miles or so -- always use them as they come up or you may have to commune
with the bears in the woods when you need to "go". Best / Cleanest stops were in the Yukon
segment of the hwy.
Jan 25, 2021 12:07:49 #
Wingpilot wrote:
Great series, Mike. You really caught the essence of the Alcan back then. Quite different now. I think your black and whites actually accentuate the beauty along the highway. Those were the days, my friend, those were the days. Thanks for sharing your trip.
Thank you very very much Greg. It was just to bad that it rained so much. I helped a guy with his trailer as he was stuck, he says don't stay there, luck that is all I have for staying there, too many bars. The picture of the plane, the pilot landed in front of us, he had trouble and we got him to the nearest army base. But the nicest pictures were stolen.
Jan 25, 2021 12:26:01 #
blacks2 wrote:
Thank you very very much Greg. It was just to bad that it rained so much. I helped a guy with his trailer as he was stuck, he says don't stay there, luck that is all I have for staying there, too many bars. The picture of the plane, the pilot landed in front of us, he had trouble and we got him to the nearest army base. But the nicest pictures were stolen.
What a shame they were stolen. But you did a good deed for that fellow.
Jan 25, 2021 12:53:43 #
Jan 25, 2021 13:02:26 #
Jan 25, 2021 13:22:30 #
Your rustic, muddy old photos really captured something special for me.
I've made the AlCan 3 three times and your pictures are making me want to howl!
I've made the AlCan 3 three times and your pictures are making me want to howl!
Jan 25, 2021 13:22:40 #
blacks2 wrote:
These photos are from the Yukon, the Alaskan ones were stolen in a suitcase.
Nice B&W memories⭐
Jan 25, 2021 13:29:35 #
blacks2 wrote:
These photos are from the Yukon, the Alaskan ones were stolen in a suitcase.
Lots of memories there, my first trip up 1957, a lot of dirt road. Once you see that country it will never leave you, nothing like it. Not over run back then like it is now.
Jan 25, 2021 14:41:39 #
A wonderful series! I would have been 4 years old then. You make the point of taking photos for moments frozen in time; blessed times. I hope and pray that your dear wife is still with you to reflect back on those memories. I am coming up on 34 years of marriage and wish I had taken more photos way back at the beginning of the journey. You done good! Love Alaska. On our bucket list to go back and visit it again.
Jan 25, 2021 15:01:21 #
Earnest Botello wrote:
Old but great series, Mike.
Thank you very very much Earnest.
Jan 25, 2021 15:02:19 #
Phil1191 wrote:
Is there a story about the Indian cemetery?
Thank you very very much, No story. that is all I know.
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