Choosing a route through the Wilderness: The first issue to be dealt with in building the ALCAN was the choice of where to carve the road through the dense wilderness. Three routes were mainly considered. Route A was proposed and supported by the American government. It followed a route from Prince George, through Whitehorse, and to Fairbanks. This would link Seattle and Fairbanks, providing access to the two major northwest American cities, and be beneficial militarily and economically. The only problem was that this route failed to follow the airbases of the Northwest Staging Route and was also dangerously close to the coast. Route B was favored by the Canadian government. Beginning at Prince George, the route would instead follow the Rocky Mountains up to Dawson Creek, meet the Richardson Highway, and provide access to Fairbanks. Though this route was protected due to its being situated far inland, it too failed to follow the airfields. Furthermore, the major town of Whitehorse was bypassed. Finally, Route C was chosen. It was proposed by the US Army Corps of Engineers. An inland route, this plan began at Dawson Creek and met the Richardson Highway at Delta Junction, Alaska approximately 1400 miles later. It covered more level terrain and no pass was over 4250 feet. Importantly, the route followed the Northwest Staging Route. This was important because the highway could couple as a supply line for airborne missions and vica versa. The ALCAN's route was further developed and aided with the knowledge of native guides such as Charlie MacDonald and the pre – existence of Indian and animal trails. (Picture from Coates and Morrison)

Permafrost: Hoge recalled permafrost as "the worst thing we had to contend with" in building the ALCAN. Though Vilhjalmur Stefanson had warned Major Somervell of this permanently frozen ground, the Army forged ahead in ignorance. Initially, the Army faced extreme hazards with permafrost when their bulldozers scraped away the layer of vegetation above the frozen earth. Exposing it, the soil and ice partially melted to form a cold "muck". The solution that was developed by the engineers was to cut the vegetation but then leave it where the trail was to be built. More logs and branches were stacked on the road in an organized manner. Next, loads and loads of gravel and soil were dumped onto the vegetation and the road was built elevated. In this way, the permafrost was insulated and remained frozen. (Permafrost picture from Twichell)

Muskeg: According to Jon Krakuer, muskeg is "the expanse of spongy, poorly drained, peat like organic matter overlaying a permanently frozen bog". A cousin of permafrost, muskeg raised havoc on jeep and other vehicles working on and scouting the route. To avoid the loss of vehicles due to sinking, the engineers developed the use of "corduroy". Thousands of logs were scoured from nearby forests and placed crosswise. The highway was built atop the logs. Thus the weight of heavy vehicles was distributed evenly and the problem of sinking into the bogs was solved. (Picture from Twichell)

Washouts and Ice floes: This photograph shows the ice floes threatening the Peace River Bridge in November 1942. The bridges were in constant, year round danger as in the spring the intense melting would lead to rapidly rising river heights and washouts. In the fall and winter the ice (seen here) would threaten the bridges, which at first were constructed out of wood. Later more sturdy and adaptable bridges were constructed. (Picture from Twichell)

Mud: The "Battle of the Swamp" seen here, pitted the 35th Engineers against their arch enemy, mud, in June of 1942. After the spring thaw, mud caused terrible problems to the heavy trucks and equipment. Discussed above, the crisis of mud spurred on creative solutions, one being corduroy, the laying of logs on top of muskeg and then building the road atop the timbers. (Picture from Twichell)

Dawson Creek Fire: Anti - American sentiments developed in the town of Dawson Creek following the incident of February 13, 1943. Glen Barnhardt, an employee of a firm working on CANOL, parked his truck, which contained sixty cases of dynamite, in a town stable. While he was eating, a fire began in the stable and spread to where the jeep was. The result was a spectacular white fireball that destroyed the heart of Dawson Creek. The Army was able to rebuild the town quickly, but the townspeople complained that the town would never be quite the same. Five people died and 164 suffered various injuries. (Picture from Twichell)