THE OGDEN (UTAH) STANDARD EXAMINER SUNDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 27, 1949 Ogdenite Makes Dream Journey to Alaska via Famed Alcan Route Almost everyone has dreamed of vacationing in Alaska, that fabulous land of abundant fish and game, gold strikes and days several months long. That dream can easily come true for anyone with the spirit of adventure, a good car, a modest sum of money and about three weeks of spare time, according to Ruth Erickson, Ogden. Ruth and her friend, Mrs. Betty Sharp, of Eugene, Ore., made the long journey so Betty could join her husband in Fairbanks. Ruth said it required 19 days to make the round trip from Ogden. 2,393 Miles of Roadway From where you cross the border at the custom place, Coutts, Alberta, Canada, there are 2,393 miles of roadway through some of the most scenic terrain in the world, Ruth related. Of this distance 1,523 miles is along the famed Alcan highway. The first 870 miles from the border is a superb black top roadway. Prices along this stretch are somewhat comparable to those in the U, S. Gasoline probably averages a little higher, but prices of meals are so low you can hardly believe it, she continued. When the motorist reaches the Alcan highway at Dawson Creek, things start getting a little rough, both as regards the surface of the highway and the prices of essentials. The highway from here to within 50 miles from Fairbanks is gravel although it is wide and well engineered. Ruth and her friend ruined three tires and broke two springs, however, Ruth explained that they hit this stretch at the worst possible time during the rainy season. Earlier when the highway is dry it is kept well graded and isnt a bit bad, and later after heavy snows fill in the holes it becomes like a boulevard and speeds up to 70 miles an hour are possible, she asserted. Road Well Patrolled The Canadians are constantly maintaining and patrolling the Alcan stretch, which was built during the war by U. S. army engineers as a means of communication with Alaska. As soon as rains stop their graders are out smoothing the washboards, Ruth said. They patrol with low flying air planes watching for wrecks or motorists in trouble. One of the most enjoyable parts of the journey, she continued, is the hospitality of Canadians and the friendly attitude of other motorists. The code of the highway to help anyone in trouble seems to imbue every wayfarer along the Alcan highway. I never saw anyone pass up a stalled motorist, Ruth explained. They know they may be in the same fix themselves before their journey is over. The Canadians try to forestall financial trouble by requiring that every person in a car destined for Alaska must have 250. However, if you break down, the places of lodging allow you to work for board and keep until the trouble is repaired, she added. After leaving Dawson Creek for the long stretch across the Yukon territory to Alaska, the price of everything suddenly shoots upward. Gasoline, except for one or two places is from 65 to 75 cents per gallon. Meals and lodging, though considerably higher than in the lower part of Canada, are not conspicuously higher than in the U. S. until Alaska is reached. An example of prices in Fairbanks is the 70 cents charged for an ordinary hamburger sandwich. Seven dollars a day is considered a reasonable charge for a hotel room. Milk is 69 cents a quart. Some grocery staples, though, are reasonable. Although there are Only two towns of any size along the 1,523 mile Alcan highway, there are plenty of places where gasoline, oil, lodging, meals and auto repairs are available. The longest stretch between such facilities is about 100 miles. For persons who like to moisten their whistle with something besides water, 12 per cent beer is sold almost everywhere, but there are few places where hard liquor is on sale, Ruth related. In Fairbanks, however, saloons are everywhere. Good Camping Spots For those who like to camp out and cook their own meals, camping spots including summer kitchens are located along the highway at convenient intervals. Fishermen and hunters will find the area along the Alcan highway a veritable paradise, and the fee for a non-resident hunting or fishing license is only 5.00 and 2.00 respectively, except for big game, which is 75.00. Ruth said the highway is an engineering masterpiece. Some of the difficulties overcome by the army are demonstrated by the fact that the old roadway dipped and twisted for 2,400 miles in reaching the same destination as the Alcan in 1,523 miles. Ruth saw construction features she had never seen before, such as curved bridges. The highway is so well marked with signs, that anyone who observes them will never have any difficulty due to unexpected curves, hills, etc. Sparkling lakes, tumbling rivers and jagged mountains are commonplace, she added. Temperature Dipping When Ruth left Fairbanks in October the temperature was dipping to 10 and 15 below zero, but she said the intensity of the cold wasnt as apparent as here. In the summer, however, the climate is balmy, due to the fact the sun is in the sky virtually all the time. She said vegetables are grown around Fairbanks that would make Californians envious. She advised Alaska-bound motorists to have good tires, plenty of spares, chains and a shovel. Just before Ruth left Fairbanks a lively controversy was on between prospectors as to whether the Fishwheel gold strike was authentic. In newspaper articles there was talk of salting, and near fist fights at the booming tent towns along the banks of the Yukon. Tempers ran high as ill equipped gold seekers, some of which had spent their life earnings to seek the yellow metal, suspected they had been bamboozled. The gold fever subsequently petered out after no promising strikes were made. As a souvenior of her motoring trip to Alaska via the famed Alcan highway, Ruth Erickson, Ogden, brought back a Fairbanks newspaper. Big news in above issue was the Fishwheel gold strike which touched off a stampede of prospecting.