In 1964, from June through September I worked on the Penalty Ranch across the Peace River from Fort St. John . I went back a few times in subsequent years. The man who owned the ranch, René Dhenin had come to the country from Southern Alberta in the 1920s and was a packer, guide, freighter, horse trainer and cattlemen in the area well into the 1990s. This year, 2017, is the 75 th anniversary of the beginning of construction of the Alaska Highway . Although he had already been a guide for several years René was not involved in the initial trail blazing and the following rhyme explains why. The concept of a land route from the “lower 48” states to Alaska had been around for several years. There where three routes in strong contention. Where the Mackenzie Highway is today was one choice, from Peace River town up through Hay River in the North West Territories then west through the Yukon . A much better idea was where the Alcan actually is, from Dawson Creek , BC , nort...

Here are a few pictures I've come across over the years of the way things looked when the Alaska Highway was built. After the first rough trail was opened, a trail that took several days and often several weeks to negotiate, freight was hauled as was required. Sometimes to the various army camps, most of which where US Army but there where also civilian camps for those who followed the first trail and in later years Canadian Army camps. Once there was a pioneer road that would (almost, or sometimes) hold up a truck there where civilian trucks hauling for commercial enterprises, trading posts and the army. Both the US Army and the several civilian contractors who followed them used similar equipment so the Cat in this picture could be from either source. However, since there doesn't appear to be very many stumps in the trail I suspect this one is civilian. Mechanics from the 93rd Engineers, 1942 341st Engineers on a structure they undoubtedly built and ... .....