Mile1.1, Mile 14.8, Mile 17.2, Mile 29, Mile 35, Mile 41.5 - in Alaska it is where you're at.

The following are photos from the 60 mile dirt/rock road from Chitina to McCarthy - there are lots of photos and a little bit of a history lesson. This is an excerpt about the McCarthy Road -


"The McCarthy Road follows an old railroad bed from Chitina for about 60 miles east almost to McCarthy. The Copper River and Northwestern, or C.R. and N.W., Railway was built between 1909 and 1912 to serve the Kennicott copper mining area. Despite early claims that C.R. & N.W. stood for "Can't Run and Never Will," the railroad operated successfully until it was abandoned when large scale mining ended in 1938. Ice flows and spring floods destroyed the Copper River Bridge only a few years after maintenance of the rail line ceased. Most of the rails were salvaged for scrap iron. The route was little used from 1938 until 1971 when it was modified into an automobile route by construction of a new bridge over the Copper River and road surface work along the way."


Mile 1.1  Some people believe the fish wheels (in the following photos) were invented by the Chinese. They are licensed to Alaskan citizens - one type of license per household. Upstream of the Chitina-McCarthy bridge allows a Glennallen Subdistrict Permit which allows a fish wheel OR dip netting, not both.This catch may be bartered or traded but not sold. Downsteam of the river allows a Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use Permit for fish caught for personal use only. They were fascinating to watch. When the salmon are running a fish wheel can catch about 200 fish a day. More about fish wheel rules in Alaska 

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=PersonalUsebyAreaInteriorChitina.regs

Some interesting panoramic photos of this area of Alaska including close-ups of fish wheels http://www.360cities.net/image/copper-river-fish-wheel-66-chitina-alaska-usa#133.90,-5.30,30.0

Mile 14.8 - The Strelna Airstrip - this is not a joke. It was recently mowed - don't know what that portends. Funny, though, I couldn't find anything on Google. The last airstrip photo shows a good section of The McCarthy Road.

Mile 17.2 The Kuskulana Bridge. The original bridge was built in 1910, 525 feet long and 238 feet above the Kuskulana River. Before 1988 vehicles had to pass over open gaps in the decking with 18" safety rails! Now there is a lovely, safe, steel bridge with a state maintained outhouse on one side! (Outhouses are a big deal on a 60 mile span with a 30 mile speed limit - on a good day). I rode across it out the sunroof - Jeff said he just looked ahead - my guy is not a fan of heights. It is the only structure on The McCarthy Highway that was originally built as a railroad bridge and is now an automobile bridge.

Mile 29 - the Gilahina Trestle -  crossing the Gilahina River -  was once an impressive structure. Built in 1911 as part of the Copper River and Northwestern Railway (nicknamed “Can’t Run and Never Will”), the Gilahina Trestle was not quite 900′ long, and nearly 100′ high. Rumors says that it took less than 8 days to build, and the first train ran across its length on January 28, 1911. It is so spooky to see in fog. 

                     
                       In case you're in need of a restroom - Mile 35

and Mile 41.5 - obviously someone(s) have put a lot of effort into this rock garden - much better in person than the photos - and such a lovely surprise.