Finding the Way

Hoge planned to follow an existing wagon road between Dawson Creek and Fort St. John, British Columbia, and between Whitehorse and Kluane Lake, Yukon, but he still needed to find a course for the areas in between. For this, Hoge relied on the knowledge, skills, and guidance of local guides and First Nations. Included among these individuals was Knox McCusker, Les Cook, Charlie MacDonald, Archie Gairdner, Johnny and Garnet Harrold, George Behn, Pete Peterson, Cliff Carlson, Tom Mould, Lorne Haroldson, the Callison brothers, Bert and Alex Testawich, and many others. Many creeks and rivers crossed by the Alaska Highway are named for these local guides.

By June 1942, the final route for the Alaska Highway had been determined. Construction, however,  was so fast that much of the road had already been built before the final route had even been selected.