The Alaska Highway
Adventure Awaits image by Marguerite Mauritz
Driving to Alaska? How far and How Long? Am I crazY?
I begin my journey north to Healy, Alaska on Monday, June 20th. My husband and I will drive! Yes it is far! According to Toyota, the distance between Anchorage and Albuquerque is 3,572 miles by car. We will consume 165 gallons of gas and it should cost about $385. The carbon emissions from this journey will be about 3,240 pounds. My carbon foot print will be 0.91 pounds of CO2 per mile. If I were to fly my carbon footprint would be 1.4 pounds of CO2 per mile. Flying would take less time to get to Alaska, and for the eco-conscious, one can buy carbon offsets from Terrapass, http://www.terrapass.com/ to help offset the emissions from flying or driving. Steve and I have chosen to take the slow and less carbon intensive path and will drive slowly and stop often to hike and camp, taking about a month to get to my research station in Healy, Alaska.
A travel guide to help me find treasures
A Marvel Highway
I recently purchased an e-book called " Guide to the Alaska Highway", which I hope will highlight all the important milestones of the journey from the Canadian border to Fairbanks/Anchorage. Did you know why the Alaskan Highway was originally built? During World War II, just after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, the Bering Straight (the sea between Alaska and the Soviet Union) was seen as a strategic area for the two countries, the US and Soviet Union, to work together to meet the challenge of their aggressors (Japan and Germany). At this time in history, no easy way north to the Bering Straight existed. No roads, treacherous seas and air travel prevented re-supply of war-time troops, ammunition and weapons to the area. In what can be seen as no less than a heroic effort, the US Army Corps of Engineers built, in less than 18 months, the 1500 miles of road through the Alaskan wilderness, replete with blowing snow, temperatures below 40 degrees F. and an often cursed combination of upheaval from thawing permafrost and muddy sinkholes.
But First Some Rocky Mountains
But before we arrive at the Alaskan Highway, which officially starts at Dawson Creek, British Columbia, we will travel north to the Canadian border from ABQ, through the Rocky mountains of New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and British Columbia. We will hike, camp under the stars, visit old friends and soak in the natural wonders along the way. I will be blogging about this travel adventure, so stay tuned!
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