Day 15: Travel to Fort Nelson, Canada

Today dawned bright and clear around 5:00 a.m.!  We were excited to get on the Alaska Highway after seeing the Mile 0 sign in Dawson Creek yesterday. No stops today to view the sights, but it WAS an interesting drive!  We went up and down steep winding roads with up to 10% grades, over bridges including a metal grating bridge, through some construction areas for road repairs, over some rough patched miles and by some interesting historical milepost markers.

Many curves and hills to climb

One of the winding descents took us down to the Peace River Bridge (the metal one) high over the Peace River.  First built in 1943, it is a 2,130 foot suspension bridge.  In 1957 the original bridge collapsed after erosion undermined its the south block.  The current bridge was completed in 1960. 

Bridge at the bottom of the hill

Peace River

Next we passed through Ft. St. John—the energy capital of British Columbia.  Along our route we saw many gas pipelines, natural gas compression stations, microwave towers and logging operations. We also drove through many acres of farmland, esp. in the earlier part of the day.  We passed by “happy cows”—the lucky cows that get to spend their days on open range land eating grass!  ‘Course, in the winter they have to fed hay and grain.   

Pipe lines over the river

One of the many benefits of traveling in a caravan (although we don’t all travel together in a straight line!) we experienced along the way.  We had pulled off on a gravel turnout to wait for another rig and had our flashers on.  While we waited several of our fellow caravaners called out to us on the family radio system (walkie-talkies) inquiring whether or not we were having problems, in which case they would have stopped to help us.  It’s reassuring to know we are not alone!

It was sad to see many beetle killed pine trees along the route today!  I was hoping the infestation hadn’t reached this far north.

We stopped at Blueberry Control Station while one of the rigs in our small group filled up their propane tanks.  This is the site of the Blueberry Control Gate, a 24-hr military checkpoint operated by U.S. Army personnel through the war years.  Lots of gas and oil exploration is going on right now in this area and we passed many room and board buildings for workers. 

We passed Historic Milepost 148 commemorating Suicide Hill, one of the most treacherous hills on the original highway, noted for its ominous greeting:  “Prepare to meet thy maker”.

Suicide Hill

 We were warned that large areas of today’s route are corridors for moose and deer, but mostly at dusk and nighttime.  We were hoping for a glimpse, but to no avail.

Nearing Ft. Nelson there is a Sulfur gas pipeline that crosses the highway overhead.  There is a Spectra Energy gas processing plant to the east and a Sulfur pelletizing plant to the west.  The former is the largest natural gas processing plant in North America.  Petrosul is a recovery plant processing sulfur, a by-product of natural gas, into a marketable pellet form.

After stopping for fuel in Ft. Nelson we arrived at Triple G Hideaway Campground, our stopover for the night after 7 hours on the road. We toured the Heritage Museum next to the campground and watched an actual film of the Alaska Highway being built. 

Dan & Nancy at the Fort Nelson Heritage Museum

Lots of historical information and artifacts there, including 20 or more old cars and trucks as well as many stuffed animals such as a white moose cow, grizzly bear, mountain goat, sheep, fox and many more. 

One of the cars in the Museum

Another car that was in the Museum

We talked with an Meryl Brown who works around the museum.  He started the collection and owns all the cars, which he proudly stated are all in running condition!

Meryl Brown feels the way we do (Alaska or Bust)

Submitted by: Rig #16

Dan & Nancy with Meryl Brown, the guy who does all the upkeep of all the old cars