After driving through ice fog
Category Archives: Trucking
Rest in Peace Jack McCahan
Jack and I were so sad to hear about the passing of Jack McCahan. Jack “Cactus Jack” McCahan was a hard-working trucker with a great sense of humor. Jack says he told fantastic stories and would always win in a battle to keep a straight face. He told the best jokes. He was simply a joy to be around. Everybody loved Jack. Everybody loves Jack. It doesn’t change just because he is gone. He will be in our thoughts and so…still on the road…with us…
Even though it is a sad day for all the drivers on the Dalton, and everyone else who loved and knew Jack, enjoy your Thanksgiving especially if you get to spend it with your loved ones. And to all the truckers who are on the road instead of being home with their families, thank you for towing the line.
Our deepest sympathies to Jack McCahan’s family.
Head-on Collision on the Dalton
As some of you have heard, there was a terrible accident on the Dalton Highway recently. Two trucks were in a head-on collision about 75 miles from Prudhoe Bay back in October. Jack arrived on the scene about an hour after it happened so he was able to document it for his bosses. We’re sharing the photos with you but please keep Jack McCahan in your thoughts as he is in serious condition still even after over a month.
Apparently Jack McCahan was able to crawl out of the burning wreck only a short time before it was engulfed in flames. Photos below show the burnt truck. It doesn’t even look like a truck anymore. Very scary.
(Click on one and scroll.)
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- Jack approached from the Prudhoe side of the accident
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- This is the top of the sleeper that was ripped off and burnt
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- What’s left of the truck
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- This is the wreckage from the other side
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- Trucks are finally going through
Have a great Thanksgiving everyone and please always drive safely, whether you are a trucker or not.
Denali on a clear day
Jack caught a view of Denali from his truck on a clear day, kind of a miracle!
The Donjek River Bridge, Canada
Some memories are dictated much by the weather. Storms, wind, rain, and very often, sun. Sometimes the sun falls just right, and the breeze is peaceful, and you’re in a good place. It might so happen that it’s 40 below, but some things can’t be helped.
This is my single favorite photo of Jack. It is November 2006. His face is a little stiff from the cold but the afternoon setting sun shows how much he enjoys this crazy job of taking big things to faraway places.
In this case he gets to bring bridge beams to the Donjek River in Yukon Territory, Canada.
The old bridge is behind Jack.
Jack actually helped haul the bridge beams in the summer and is now (November 2006) back in the winter to pick them up again and bring them down to the crane on the ice.
There are two cranes used to pick up the bridge beam. The yellow piece that is at the right in the photo above is hanging from the other crane which is behind the person taking the photo (Jack).
The trucks are awaiting another bridge beam to load.
This is the dolly used to haul the bridge beams.
Jack is wearing a face mask, but no gloves! No figure.
The arrow is pointing to the bridge beams already placed where they will forever stay.
Below is a Google Earth image of the Donjek River. You can see the new bridge and the old road leading up to the river but the old bridge has been dismantled and removed.
Have a great day!
Probably the best trucking song of all time!
Photos from a past hauling job
Here are some miscellaneous photos that Jack took a couple of years back at a marine dock in Valdez. He was there in May of 2012, hauling items for the railroad bridge that’s now finished (although there aren’t tracks leading to or away from it).
The above piece is part of the hammer used to drive pilings into the ground. For bridge foundations in this case.
This is used to put pipe on so it can roll while being welded together.
These are miscellaneous items used on the bridge job.
Another pipe roller.
Jack says this stands on end and the large circular piece drives down into the hole and onto a piling.
This is the hammer that pounds a piling, Jack thinks it’s for 24 inch pipe.
The large circular device in back should be for the large pipe in the far background.
24 inch pipe in back of some other items.
Sheet piling (which gets pounded into the ground to create an embankment) and miscellaneous steel items.
Six foot diameter pipe that most people can walk though without bending over.
More six foot diameter pipe with shipping containers in the background.
I must say this marine yard is a tad more attractive than most, surrounded by beautiful mountains and all!
Have a wonderful day and thanks to those of you who follow this blog and make comments. 🙂
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Jack’s driving the motor home this time…
This year Jack took me and the motor home out for a quick weekend hunt. (It was really camping, not hunting, although Jack would have taken a shot if he came across one in an accessible area.) We really wish we had been able to get out a little more over the summer!
There is always next year…
Jack, taking a look
Sport, taking a look
A Western Star truck driving the Dalton Highway with the Trans-Alaska Pipeline in the background. Jack knew who the driver was, of course.
Jack’s wife, Judy (me), and our dog Sport.
Any idea what these are?
Jack on a pipeline access road.
Finally the sun starts to come out!
And we get to see the pipeline in the evening sun.
The beautiful Dalton Highway road sign at 1 mile.
Jack taking a look at the big trucks, but he’s driving a motor home this time…
Here are a few more photos if you are interested.
Have a wonderful autumn everyone!
Valdez Avalanche Photos
A major avalanche happened very recently along the Richardson Highway, about 20 or so miles from Valdez. Below are photos Jack was able to acquire from a friend – taken by Alyeska (and we hope no copyright has been violated by posting them here).
You can see here where the snow has covered the highway and the river that runs alongside it:
Here is the same thing but farther away.
And the rest are from another angle, showing the pooling of river water that is covering a long stretch of the highway.
So needless to say the Richardson Highway is closed and people who live in Valdez can only get out of the town by water or air. Jack says the snow will be removed by loaders but that sure seems like a dangerous job…!
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Atigun Pass, after an avalanche
Merry Christmas everyone!
The below two videos show Jack driving over Atigun Pass through an area of road the state has cleared a tunnel through after an avalanche.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MYzo645ffY
(You might have to click on the 2nd video if it doesn’t come up like the first one.)
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The Jack Jessee Blog 