Alaska Highway

Mile 702

Typical scenery along this stretch between Watson Lake and Whitehorse.

Mile 708

This photo shows one of the main hazards of riding a moped on the Alaska Hwy (in fact, on any unpaved road): a wet surface. The highway department considerately waters the road to keep the dust down, but this renders the road at times almost impassable for a two-wheeled vehicle!

The reason in this case is that a lot of the Alaska Hwy is made of clay-based materials, and these get very sticky when wet. In fact, the clay can completely gum up the wheels by getting jammed in between the tires and fenders.

This photo shows the result of the wet sticky clay road.

One section of construction that I had to pass through was impossible for me to traverse. My wheels became completely locked up with this sticky mud. I had to hitch a ride from a considerate pickup truck driver, who ferried me past the construction zone, and dropped me off at a small stream where I could dig the mud out and clean the bike.

Mile 803

Long bridge at Teslin, over an arm of the Teslin Lake.

Mile 805

Teslin Lake. The Hwy runs along the northern and eastern shores of this lake for quite a ways.

Mile 830

The huge bridge at Johnson's Crossing, over the Teslin River.

The Canol Road runs north from here.

Johnson's Crossing is basically no more than a gas station. It was here that I saw the only multi-person outhouse I have ever seen. It could hold about 5 or 6 people, if I remember correctly.