Belt up, stick some Springsteen on the sound system and get prepared
for the ride of your life. The 500-mile trawl up the Dalton Highway from
Fairbanks to the Arctic Ocean won’t be the smoothest ride you’ll ever
take, but it could well be one of the most legendary. What the infamous
‘haul road’ lacks in asphalt, it makes up for with a succession of surreal
ecosystems, from the boreal forests of the interior to the bleak tundra of
the North Slope. Arctic Ocean, here we come!
Alaska’s rugged Dalton Highway grew in fame and notoriety with the History Channel’s hit show, Ice Road Truckers. The show referred to the highway as “a road where hell has frozen over.” It’s America’s northernmost highway and perhaps the most infamous.
The desolate road beckons bold explorers from around the world to test their vehicles, overlanding skills, and determination. The Dalton Highway is 414 miles of two-lane gravel road stretching from just north of Fairbanks to Deadhorse on the shores of the Arctic Ocean. Travelers will encounter steep icy inclines, muddy curves that disappear in the thick fog, potholes that could swallow a VW Bug, and flying rocks kicked up by big rigs.
If you’re looking for a leisurely Sunday drive–you won’t find it here. Those who have a sense for adventure will be rewarded with remote Alaskan wilderness on their drive to the top of the continent.
No comments:
Post a Comment