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Thread: The perils of only having one road!

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Northern Canada
    Posts
    5,530

    The perils of only having one road!

    The Alaska Highway, aka the only way into or out of the Yukon by road, has been closed since Friday afternoon due to several massive washouts.

    This is what our grocery store shelves looked like about an hour ago!

    There isn't a bit of fresh produce anywhere in town, unless you want bok choy! Very little meat, no eggs and the dairy case was empty. The paper products aisle was pretty bare too! Some supplies were airlifted in yesterday but they are long gone! There's supposed to be another plane tonight.

    Fortunately I was looking for facial moisturizer, not food! There was plenty of that kind of stuff. I think most people are overreacting, but I have a well stocked freezer/pantry. The critters have a stash of food that would last at least two weeks. I might be more worried without that stash! I did fill my van up today. The gas stations are running low too!

    The highway might reopen tomorrow...partially. It will take months to fix, but the Highways Department says they are constructing one lane bypasses in the affected areas and pilot trucks will guide people through. Commerical vehicles will be let through first. I do feel badly for all the Alaska bound tourists trapped in their RVs. The roads into Alaska were closed over the weekend too, but at least one is open now; not in great shape, but it never is! You just can't get to the open highways right now unless you were already past the washed out zones!
    If you are lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you must find the courage to live it.
    --John Irving

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2000
    Location
    Windham, Vermont, USA
    Posts
    40,839
    Yikes! Glad you are well-stocked! Seems silly to have just one road to such a big area ... are there plans afoot for another? Sometimes redundancy can be a good thing!
    I've Been Frosted

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Killearn, Scotland
    Posts
    10,746
    I'm glad you keep well stocked!
    Hope the supplies start coming through soon.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Litter Box, Greenville, SC
    Posts
    5,307
    Glad you are well stocked. Hope they can open some road soon or airlift more in.
    Anne
    Meowmie to Lucy Lou and Barney, and Aunt to Timmy (RIP)

    Former kitties now in foster care: Nellie aka Eleanor van Fluffytail (at a Cat Cafe), Lady Jane Grey, Bob the Bobtail, and Callie. Kimi has been adopted into another family that understands Siamese. HRH Oliver Woodrow von Katz is in a Sanctuary.

    I'm Homeless, but with resources, and learning to live again.


    RIP Timmy (nephew kitty) May 17, 2018, Mr. Spunky (May 10, 2017), Samwise (Dec 2, 2014), Emily (Oct 8, 2013), Rose (Sept 24, 2001), Maggie (Fall 2003)

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    2,424
    You are a smart woman Tamara!! Thanks for the update.

    Some friends of ours have planned a motorcycle trip up to Alaska and were leaving tomorrow. At the moment they are trying to figure out an alternative route however, it sounds like no matter which way they go there will be a bottleneck. I pasted a part of your post onto their FB page because I don't think they considered food and gas shortages in the plan ... a very vital component in this situation.

    Very happy to hear you are well stocked . Give all those furkids a hug too please.
    Yours in Whiskers

    I'm not young enough to know everything.

    "The Best Mirror is an Old Friend"

    “The secret of what is small is the secret of clear-sightedness; the guarding of what is soft and tender is the secret of strength.”

    • Lao Tzu

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Northern Canada
    Posts
    5,530
    Karen, no there are no plans for a second road. There is no way it could be maintained or services provided. The current highway has been in perpetual state of construction since it was built in WW2. Many of the highway lodges have closed in the last few years and the ones left are seasonal. Short closures aren't unusual in the winter. This is pretty unusual!

    Bengalz...I'd strongly suggest your friends not ride bikes up the highway! The food and fuel issues will be solved in a few days, but that road won't be safe for bikes for much longer! At best it will be gravel, but its just being hacked out of the forest right now! It wont be pretty! Personally I think the section between Haines Junction & Destruction Bay is never safe for bikes! Its barely safe for trucks! I've driven better roads in third world countries!!! I know people who are taking the vehicle ferry from Seattle and then touring around Alaska, taking the ferry home again.
    If you are lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you must find the courage to live it.
    --John Irving

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    2,424
    Thank you for that info Tamara and my friends thank you for the update. They have been getting some pretty reliable information from various sources, however, you know how conflicting that can be.

    A few moments ago they confirmed that the PlanB is they will ride up to Prince Rupert and take the ferry to Haines. They are experienced riders and are taking their BMWs (not the Harleys) - BMWs are more fuel efficient. I will certainly pass along your good advice.
    Yours in Whiskers

    I'm not young enough to know everything.

    "The Best Mirror is an Old Friend"

    “The secret of what is small is the secret of clear-sightedness; the guarding of what is soft and tender is the secret of strength.”

    • Lao Tzu

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