Date:         Tue, 2 May 2006 10:05:09 -0800
Reply-To:     Mark Tuovinen <mst@AK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mark Tuovinen <mst@AK.NET>
Subject:      Re: High fuel costs threaten Alaska trip NOT!
Comments: To: Geordie Birch <geordie@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <c84848d00605011620x6cb29858sef136df19ac9efa6@mail.gmail.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

"I like how on the Dempster every so often a wind sock appears and the road widens and straightens so you can land your plane in an emergency."


Thats not just for use in an emergency, "highways" in Alaska are really just runways connected by curves.  If its long enough for a plane to take off its fair game.  This practice is not so prevalent these days but it still is acceptable as Alaska would be part of the "Third World" without aviation.

Mark in AK

----- Original Message -----
From: Geordie Birch <geordie@GMAIL.COM>
Date: Monday, May 1, 2006 3:26 pm
Subject: Re: High fuel costs threaten Alaska trip NOT!
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM

> > On 5/1/06, Mark Tuovinen <mst@ak.net> wrote:
> > John you have to use the term Highway very loosely when speaking
> of the Dempster,
> > Dalton, and several other "highways" in Alaska.  It is really a
> one to two lane dirt/gravel road
> > through the back country.  Services are nonexsistent and some
> days you can travel it
> > without seeing another vehicle.
>
>  I like how on the Dempster every so often a wind sock appears and
> the road widens and straightens so you can land your plane in an
> emergency.
>
>  In the winter time the road continues from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk
> -
> on top of the frozen Mackenzie River and the Arctic Ocean.  It'll be
> interesting to see if global warming makes this history.  I really
> want to see big rigs driving on the ocean..
>
>  Geordie.
>