Kiskatinaw Bridge

Kiskatinaw Bridge

We are camped tonight, the first of what will be many nights of camping on our trip, at Kiskatinaw River Bridge campgrounds.  At mile 20 of the original Alaska Highway, it is an interesting bridge, for it is built on a curve.  The bridge is almost entirely made of creosote treated Douglas fir, including all the decking.  There is a noticeable nine degree bank to the curve, enough of a slope that Enid felt uncomfortable walking on the down side, at an elevation of 30 metres over the river.  The river is very low, though there are a few spots where the water appeared to be deep enough to allow people to swim.  Much of the river below our campsite is very shallow, and people have built rock dams in the water to increase the depth.

The drive from Edmonton was uneventful, but seemingly long.  It is a very good highway, four lanes, often with an extra lane at the approach of other roads, or on long sloping hills.  It seemed to me to be the best, most deserted, road I have ever driven on.  Actually though, where the road went to two lanes, it is obvious that there is quite a bit of traffic, especially large trucks on the road.  Though it is no farther than the distance from Prince Albert to Edmonton, I found it to seem to be a long drive.

The country around Grande Prairie is very flat, and seems to be very prosperous farming.  As you get closer to Dawson Creek the country reminds me much of Prince Albert, though it is more hilly.

We stopped along the road a few times for a very brief stretch, including a stop in Dawson Creek.  We walked the block and a half form the tourist information booth to the mile zero marker for the Alaska Highway.