NWT-Mat-2

When Mat delivered a load of fuel to the Colamac mine, it meant passing abandoned gold mines from the 1950's/60's.

The head frames look as though they are waiting to be opened again.

With the mountains in the distance along the valley road and just above the mouth of the black water river you can see where it joins the Mackenzie heading south

(Lower Right Photo).

This is the Mackenzie Valley Road where Mat was hauling Bailey bridge sections for constructing water crossings. They were using Super "B" trains but had to break them up in the village of Wrigley, and then haul one trailer at a time into the site. The hills were too steep for traction, and had to chain-up all the way in and back out. He had to make 2 trips in, and piggy-back out.

Photos below show where Matt heads south from Wriggley Rock with pup trailer piggy-backed for about 20 or so km back to the village of Wriggly

Heading home on the high grade road and then crossing on the Laird River Ice Road to the ferry dock on the south shore.

(Left & Right Photos)

Mat spent 2 winters driving a water truck for Carters Ind.

He was working in the oil fields on the South side of the Cameron Hills working the Ice Roads and oil leases.

(4 Photos, above & Right)

Another water truck had the misfortune to crash through the ice into the muskeg while building an (oil) lease road.

A 5c Cat came to the rescue and pulled him out. A common occurrence, and all in a days work.

This is ZERO HILL, and is located on the Northwest Territories, and Alberta border. The line is about half way up.

The trucks cannot make it on their own and have to be pulled up with the assistance of a cat.

The old 1970 Kenworth (Right Photo) is still plugging away and not ready for retirement yet.

(Left Photo)

Burn off, on a service (oil) rig at dusk, which at this time of year was at 4:00 pm.

(Right Photo)

As well as road building, an air strip was constructed for the oil company to fly service rig guys in and out.

(Left Photo)

Snow Cat barely squeezing across Bailey Bridge.

Mat operating his 5c Cat along with the Snow Cat building a road.

No service stations in this part of the country.


	Working the bush roads are not always clear, sunny and perfect, the weather can and does change at a moments notice demanding a drivers full attention.

(Top Left Photo) Approaching Diavic Diamond Mine from the Ice Road, a grader crashed through the ice during the road construction. Rather than remove it at the time, it was left until the seasonal road closing. Being so close to the ice road, removal would mean destroying the present route.

(Right Photo) Misery radio check-in, to keep track of the hundreds of trucks rolling by. You have to check in with Misery, and again in Yellowknife, making sure all are accounted for and none lost. Not checking in could possibly send out a search party.

Once the Ice Road has melted away, work carries on through the summer season on different projects.

(Left Photo) Hauling a backhoe & a jeep on a tri-axle float for Carter Ind. waiting for the Mackenzie River Ferry, on the north side of the river.

(Right Photo) Hauling gravel for Carter Ind. construction site.

One thing about the Canadian North Country, there is no time for boredom, as there is always a new adventure waiting just around the next bend, such as this sample below. --- Matthew Patterson.

(Top Row Photos) This truck rolled over on a sharp icy corner just as he was coming into Enterprise, NWT. in a 50 km speed zone. You can see the town lights just ahead of the rolled over rig. Doubles are not the easiest rig to control on icy surfaces.

(Left Photo) Mat's 2 year old grandson Landon is already in training to be the next generation trucker. He is currently learning from one of the best.

Trucking is not always a glory job. There are hidden dangers everywhere, whether it be in traffic, wild terrain, dangerous loads such as, oversize loads, hazardous materials, or any combination of deadly situations.

The trucker is usually always underrated in his profession. He brings the supplies of life even to the remotest locations no matter what nature throws at him/her. I honestly believe that without the trucker and his dedication to his occupation, the world would definitely come to a standstill.