A Spanking…Two Shout-outs…and Criminal Acts…

In my last post, I mentioned that I love driving the ALCAN, in part due to the challenges that it can present.  In spite of many improvements that have cut down on curves and steep grades, it is a road that can spank you in a hurry.  The night before last, we were spanked.  Or at least swatted.

This segment of the trip had gone very well for the most part–much like prior segments, we had a great time at Liard Hot Springs, spent the night at Muncho Lake, and had traveled through numerous passes–including the infamous Steamboat Mtn (a place that everyone who ventures here has at least one story about, even me–although that was from a trip long ago) without incident.  After a fuel stop in Ft Nelson (where we, in retrospect, should have called it a day) we decided to stay at Pink Mountain Campground, which made sense with time of day and distances involved between where we were and the southern terminus of the ALCAN at Dawson Creek.  Sometimes sensible later proves not so sensible.  We proceeded onward.

All was well until about the last couple of kilometers to the destination, which sits atop a hill.  And, approaching from the north, a rather steep hill.  8% maybe 9…..and a long climb.  We had checked the forecasts and current conditions…but one thing I know from years and years up here is that forecasts are just good guesses.  So naturally, we found this slope getting some light snow.  Nothing of great significance, but just you minor snowfall.  Snowfall that did a nice job of concealing the ice under it.  Ice that had NOT been sanded.  Damn.

Four wheel drive is a great aid and so are good fresh snow tires.  But on an 8% grade with 10,000 pounds of travel trailer, it is not much of an aid.  Almost to the top we lost traction.  While still making some headway, we were sliding and a little squirrely in our path.  At this point Elizabeth radioed our traveling companion, Sue, who was behind us and recommended she pass us.  I did not like the idea since we were using a lot of road and didn’t want to hit her as she went by.  Before I knew for certain if she had gotten the revised message or not, I stopped because I thought she was going by.  This allowed us to slide backwards about 10 feet.  Scary stuff.  Sue was going around us and she also lost traction at that spot so we bumped as she stopped and we slid back.  Spanked.  But at least we were not moving.  Unfortunately we also could not release all the main brakes and get out to get straps, sand, or anything else that one brings on such a trip since doing so would have allowed the rigs to slide.  Manually holding a brake for a long time is no fun for the leg muscles.

Some stopped and carefully went around us.  Others did not stop.  And others went by at sixty like they were drunk and headed someplace.  Like a ditch.

Luckily one stopped with a chained up truck that could help.  He pulled us up and into the lodge parking area.  Then he went back for our friend.  But not before a semi went speeding through and side swiped her RV.  He kept going.  No one was hurt and she got towed up to the top as well.  A shout-out to him!  I hope he bought himself a nice dinner and some good beer with the remaining cash I insisted he take.  Eventually the semi driver came back, had a few words with both Sue and the good Samaritan and left…..left before he had exchanged information with her……not nice to leave like that.  …and probably not legal either.

So, we got set up to get into the campground and figured we would settle in and get down to assessing damage and such the next day.  The campground clerk gave us a map and directed us to the sites.  We did not get there.  Both rigs promptly became mired in frozen mud and ice inside of the campground.  A comedy of errors I suppose.  A lesson here–although the camp person should know their place, don’t trust them….walk the route to the site first, especially if it is dark and you are uncertain of path condition.

At least they were very accommodating.  Our camping was free.  As was some help from their awesome maintenance staff who ran cords to us for power and also towed us out the next morning.  Very nice people.  And a nice looking campsite.  In spite of the headaches I do think they are worthy of a visit next time we come through.  A shout-out to them!

The next morning we looked over Sue’s RV that had been bumped by our trailer and sideswiped by the semi.  The damage was minor, really.  A broken window and torn up awning frame.  And, from her towing inside the campground, a damaged plastic bumper cover.  We removed what could not be temporarily fixed and stowed it in the trailer that she is pulling.  You must always be able to improvise and use what you have on hand.

This is where the “criminal” comes in.  There are many things that RV manufacturers can do to make their products better and more practical.  They, however, often do not follow common sense.  She has a great looking RV on a great chassis but she has complained of a lot of faults in the coach.  …powered jacks that don’t work, a refrigerator that only runs on AC, fittings that aren’t secure, and the cabover coming loose to name a few.  Stuff that should not happen in such a spendy item.  From this experience I also added a couple of items.  The windows–they are not in a frame, but are sheets of glass that are on the outside and seal against a gasket when closed.  The glass is therefore not flush or recessed.  Stylish I suppose, but on a vehicle it is just plain dumb.  This leaves it vulnerable to damage.  In addition to the window damaged in our mishap, she had already broken another one by a rock–a rock kicked up from her own wheel!  But perhaps most criminal of all.  The most egregious act of automotive stupidity committed by a coach builder:  The discovery lurking beneath plastic front bumper shroud screwed and glued over the factory bumper.

The F550 chassis that her coach is built on has these massive tow hooks on the front.  Ford makes them this way at the factory.  My F250 based Excursion has them as well.  They are handy.  Especially in these situations as they enable prompt aid to another or from another.  Her RV coach builder, however, did not include them.  The front bumper decorative cover did not have the holes for them to stick out through.  Worse yet, when we removed this cover (it was cracked and I figured it would come apart further if left on) we discovered that the hooks WERE there………at least from Ford.  ….but the coachmaker who builds onto the chassis had removed them–WITH A CUTTING TORCH!!  Who the fuck does that!!??????  This is so fucking stupid that it is worthy of internet shaming.  Fuck you Four Winds.  Fuck you.

Fortunately after all this we traversed the remaining 143 miles to Dawson Creek, MP 0 of the highway without incident, stayed the night at Northern Lights RV park, which is one of the nicest and cleanest you will ever find anywhere.  We will catch up on a few chores, see what possibilities exist on this fine Canadian Thanksgiving holiday, and get ready to continue south.