Gone Fishin’: enduring life on the road
this was bath time... (view more details)
Working on the Alaska Highway was not easy. Construction workers had to contend with long work details and little leave, poorly supplied camps, second rate equipment, and inadequate winter clothing. Mother Nature tested their stamina with extreme cold in the winter, swarms of bugs in the summer, and muddy conditions during spring rains. To top it off, the workers experienced isolation and boredom , with little organized entertainment outside of the small Yukon communities.
It is no wonder the troops and civilian workers needed to let off some steam while working on the highway. The following examples show the extremes which people endured and some of the aspects of life which helped them survive their "tour of duty".
A soldier holding a fishing rod stands next to his catch... (view more details)
A common theme of Alaska Highway humour was the large, voracious, and ever-present mosquito. (view more details)
This shower on Kluane Lake was built with timber and 50 gallon barrels on top to hold the water. 1942. (view more details)
... this was especially difficult during the winter months. ca. 1942. ... (view more details)