Alcan Highway 2012...be there!

[gary_bath_jr]

Hey Derek

I would really appreciate you posting any info as I live at Mile 52 of the Alaska Highway and can arrange events at the Legion, ie: Lunch, refreshments, etc. I know our Legion would be more than happy to have everyone stop in and visit.

[Harry Moon]

Just some initial discussion at our latest club meeting with no firm commitment but maybe we will have our biannual freedom route do the 2500km round trip to Mile "0" and back to meet up with the start of the convoy and see it off for the first leg.
And of course visit every legion in between!
Maybe some will go on the Alaska portion as well.
We have not made it north of Cache Creek on any of our previouse freedom routes so it would be some new territory and actually the road beyond cash creek isn't as steep as some of the other trips we have taken.

[sapper740]

Originally Posted by gary_bath_jr

Hey Derek

I would really appreciate you posting any info as I live at Mile 52 of the Alaska Highway and can arrange events at the Legion, ie: Lunch, refreshments, etc. I know our Legion would be more than happy to have everyone stop in and visit.

Absolutely! As I get more info I will definitely be passing it on through this forum. I recently received an email from Terry Shelswell who was the Director of the 2009 Intercontinental Convoy across the United States and will most likely be the same for the next convoy. An MVPA Alcan Highway convoy in 2012 is not a done deal just yet. Terry told me that it was being "considered" along with some other convoy options. At this point it would be beneficial for us who would like to see the Alcan Highway chosen as an MVPA sponsored event to start campaigning for it. A few letters and/or emails to the Directors of the MVPA now might give the Alcan Convoy an impetus that would carry it through to 2012. Points of contact along the way would be extremely beneficial, both for support and for having meaningful stops. Gary, you could start a buzz for the convoy in your area and maybe get some service groups such as the Canadian Legion onboard. Others on this forum who are members of Western Command (Harry?) could start promoting the convoy from their end. The logistics for an event of this sort are huge when you consider such necessities as Police escorts where required, maps, meals, service and community groups, etc.

[gary_bath_jr]

Hey Derrek, (sorry if it is mispelled)

I can arrange all Details from Mile 0 to Fort Nelson, BC. Dawson creek (Mile 0) is about an hour from Fort St John, (My Town)and then about 4 hours to Fort Nelson, now this is in a modern vehicle doing about 100 km/h (80 mp/h) or faster. I would expect a full day to travel with our convoy. If need be I could find contacts for further north and get things organized, I know that this is "if" the route is planned.

I do hope that the route is chosen as I hope to have my CMP ready for the trip and I know a few other vehicles that could join in as well.

If you can give me some proposed dates I can get the legions organized with lunches, as for mapsit is a very simple route here the alcan highway is the only road north but I could do something if needed.

[sapper740]

Originally Posted by gary_bath_jr

Hey Derrek, (sorry if it is mispelled)

I can arrange all Details from Mile 0 to Fort Nelson, BC. Dawson creek (Mile 0) is about an hour from Fort St John, (My Town)and then about 4 hours to Fort Nelson, now this is in a modern vehicle doing about 100 km/h (80 mp/h) or faster. I would expect a full day to travel with our convoy. If need be I could find contacts for further north and get things organized, I know that this is "if" the route is planned.

I do hope that the route is chosen as I hope to have my CMP ready for the trip and I know a few other vehicles that could join in as well.

If you can give me some proposed dates I can get the legions organized with lunches, as for mapsit is a very simple route here the alcan highway is the only road north but I could do something if needed.

And that is exactly what it's going to take to get this convoy off the ground...people like you who are willing to take responsibility for a section of the highway and to be a point of contact for police, service organizations, locating fuel stops and all the myriad of other necessities for this event. I'll be talking to Dennis Boots again real soon and I'll see what more he has learned and who else we should contact within the MVPA. Derek.

[sapper740]

Originally Posted by gary_bath_jr

Hey Derek

I would really appreciate you posting any info as I live at Mile 52 of the Alaska Highway and can arrange events at the Legion, ie: Lunch, refreshments, etc. I know our Legion would be more than happy to have everyone stop in and visit.

I take it you live near French Creek, no?

[DavidA]

Just logging on for the first time to your fine forum. There is a group of fellows on G503.com who are looking to do a Alcan trip. Some of us were on the TC Convoy and there are others. Please feel free to yack it up with the MVPA folk because I heard that they don't seem to be up on any official plan as yet.

I think Terri and Mr. Boots should start the ball rolling if they plan to involve the MVPA or plan to have such a trip. Otherwise, like I said, there is a few of us Calif and Oregon folks that are interested.

2012 is perfect! Let's go! I will be monitoring your comments.

[gary_bath_jr]

Hey Derek

Nope sorry, I am no-where near french creek, I am in Fort St John, BC, it is located at mile 52 on the Alcan highway so everyone will have to pass through here on the trip.

David A, Derek and I have kind of decided that if the MVPA does not decide to do the run that we will try to organize something ourselves.

I have discovered that I have contacts all the way up to Watson Lake so I should be able to plan everything from dawson to watson with no problems, further North will be a little harder but I am willing to give it a try as I really want this to happen.

I have been making lots of plans for this trip, ie: A name for the event, food lodgings, fuel, etc. in my opinion I am going to try to get everything donated. If anyone has any other thoughts let me know.

Gary

[malcolm erik bogaert]

forgive my ignorance but will the trip be from Dawson to Fairbanks....if I can swing it could anybody there use 2 ex military types !one trained in winter/artic warfare the other has luck would have a desert type...best regards malcolm

[sapper740]

Originally Posted by malcolm erik bogaert

forgive my ignorance but will the trip be from Dawson to Fairbanks....if I can swing it could anybody there use 2 ex military types !one trained in winter/artic warfare the other has luck would have a desert type...best regards malcolm

Malcolm, I'm sure if and when the Alcan Highway convoy proceeds, there is sure to be room for passengers on some of the vehicles. In fact, I recommend that whoever organizes this event develop a registry to match spare seating with visitors who wish to participate but don't have a vehicle in the convoy. And I assume the convoy will go from Dawson Creek, B.C. to Fairbanks, AK, since Fairbanks is a short run from the official end of the Alcan Highway at Delta Junction. Now, I hope y'all noticed that I said "if and when" the convoy proceeds. I hope everyone understands that this isn't a done deal yet by any stretch of the imagination...at least on the scale of the recent Trans-Continental Convoy. I understand and appreciate the enthusiasm for this event but please understand that to this point a convoy along the Alcan Highway, as far as the MVPA is concerned, has simply been a short discussion among three people. I hope to and think we can convince the MVPA to underwrite this event as it will be expensive. I saw how much the MVPA spent for the Trans-Continental convoy to provide support and logistics along the way. On my end, I am vigorously promoting this event and will be approaching contacts I have in the C.M.E. world who might view this as a training exercise to lend us support, as well as my old Minister of Parliament who I helped get elected twice to see if he can pull some strings. In the meantime, it would be helpful if everyone would email or write the directors of the MVPA and tell them you would support an Alcan Highway convoy. Stand-by for further news. Chimo! Derek.

[malcolm erik bogaert]

Derek even if the proposed trip dosnt go ahead Im determined to get over at have a look see...hopefully with my regimental association cards and of course my old Royal British Legion card Il be able to get into your own Legion posts for warmth and succor(well strong drink anyway) best regards malcolm