Quote:
Originally Posted by birrig20
One of the other drivers in another forum suggested that I ask you this question.I am military and will be driving from Colorado to Fairbanks and wondered about the canadian portion of the drive. I understand some of the roads are unpaved and wondered how much of that there is and what route you would recommend thru Canada. Thank you
I run the complete route from Edmonton to Whitehorse as a regular route.
As Bob stated the best way is to come up through Montana & then up to Edmonton, where you would get on the Anthony Henday Drive straight to Highway 16.
You then take that West to highway 43. Depending on what you are hauling I wouldn't recommend driving through the city of Grande Prairie...drivers there are NUTS!
Best way to go if you are just hauling a 5 axle is to take the (damn can't recall the highway #) LOL you come to the top of the Big Smoky & there's the town of Bezanson, the road you want is to Teepee Creek, follow the signs... there's a 10 mile jog to the north then west again through Tepee Creek & you will be on Highway 59, that takes you to just east of the Alberta/BC border where you then go back onto Highway 43. You go through Pouce Coupe & Dawson Creek & you are on the Alaska Highway in BC. Just remember if you are hauling HazMat you MUST take the by-pass around Dawson. It's actually a better way to go anyway, you miss all the lights (take a left at the second light & follow the signs).
Once you get back on Hwy 97 (Alaska Highway), that's the ONLY road there is.
You'll need to make ABSOLUTELY sure you fuel completely before you leave Edmonton, as there's not alot along the way.
REMEMBER...there are NO, ZERO, NADA truck Stops. If you have big fuel tanks (150 gallon each) you can make Watson Lake before you fuel. Fuel in BC is INCREDIBLY expensive...wacko liberal gov't & their taxes!
Another thing...MAKE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN YOU STOP AT EACH AND EVERY POSTED BRAKE CHECK IN BC! There are MASSIVE fines if you get caught blowing one. And believe me if it's not noted in your log book...ANOTHER fine. BC means BRING CASH! Remember you are in the MOUNTAINS...most of the grades are from 6-10% and BC is FAMOUS for a 30-50 mph corner at the bottom of a long grade!
Also remember our signs are in KPH..so 100 kph is roughly 62 mph. And when you see a curve that is posted at 30 kph DO THE SPEED LIMIT!
There are a few good spots to stop to eat, Buckinghorse River is one. It's 1/2 way between Fort St. John & Fort Nelson. Another one is Rancheria, YT, it's at km 1100 between Watson Lake & Whitehorse. You can also get showers, etc at both places for 4$. There are 2 Flying J's in Edmonton, but neither is worth squat.
Most of our fuel stations for trucks are cardlock, so you will likely only be able to fuel in daytime if you don't have a cardlock card.
Once you get past Fort Nelson, about 6 hours from Dawson Creek & would recommend you stay there for the night. Night driving for the next six hours is not for those who have never been on that part before. Once you get past Steamboat you will be on the old part of the highway, the road is VERY narrow & winding, there are no shoulders & if you screw up the ditches are mighty deep or you'll end up whacking the mirrors of the guy approaching you! There are a couple of curves at Muncho Lake where two truck CANNOT pass each other, just take your time & don't pay any attention to the guys who "fly" along there...they know the road.
It will take you roughly 6 or so hours to get to Watson Lake, YT from there. GET FUEL!
When you get to Watson there is a POE scale, it's open 24/7, where you can get your permits...the people who run the scales in Alberta, YT & NWT are NOT like your DOT...they are UBER nice! BC is staffed by Nazi's...so watch your butt!
Also, DON'T forget our HOS are different from yours...you can drive 13 hours here, where you can take 2 of your 10 in 30 minute increments, but the 8 should..you can split, but it's complicated...be consecutive. The biggest thing they get US drivers on is the reset...ours is
36 hours...not 34. Also it's better to use that 2 hours off for breaks along the way...our DOT do NOT like to see you driving 13 hours straight. We have some "rules" about a 15 minute break after 4 hours of driving and a 1/2 hour after 6. They aren't stupid, they KNOW it's dangerous to drive non-stop. You have 16 hours to complete your shift instead of 14. And once you cross the Yukon border you have 15 hours you can drive instead of 13, but I wouldn't recommend that..YOUR DOT would FREAK if they saw THAT on your logbook!
Then from there you are 5-6 hours..depending on what spring storm has hit from Whitehorse.
There's another scale at Whitehorse that's 24/7..signs are well marked for Alaska.
From Edmonton it will take you two days to get to Whitehorse.
Have a safe trip!