Mile 0, Alaska Highway, Dawson Creek, B.C.

The Alaska Highway was built in 1942 in less than one year.  The American and Canadian governments needed a secure supply route to haul military goods and materials from the lower states to Alaska.  This is a quote from the recruitment poster.

"Men hired for this job will be required to work and live under the most extreme conditions imaginable.  Temperatures will range from 90 degrees above zero to 70 degrees below zero.  Men will have to fight swamps, rivers, ice and cold.  Mosquitoes, flies and gnats will not only be annoying but will cause bodily harm.  If you are not prepared to work under these conditions, do not apply."

1,523 miles/2,450 km from Dawson Creek to Fairbanks
11,000 U.S. troops
16,000 American and Canadian civilians
133 bridges constructed
8,000 culverts installed
8 months, 12 days to construct

Tomorrow we start our journey on the Alaska Highway.  We are not going quite as far as Fairbanks,
but we are going to Delta Junction which is on the signpost (which is in miles).