Equipment Editor Jim Park shares photos from Valdez, Alaska, where he joined Mack Trucks' video crew filming an episode for season 2 of the Road Life series. The series is about Mack customers and their trucks, and this episode features a Mack Granite snowplow specially built for the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.
Meet a Mack Snowplow Built for Tough Alaskan Winter [Photos]
Mack also just delivered its first Anthem tractor to the state of Alaska. It’s a tri-drive with a 505-hp MP8 engine and an MDrive transmission. It’s now on the lot at CMI in Anchorage.
Photo by Jim Park
These devices are GPS satellite receivers. The system, from MTS Systems, helps plow drivers "see" the road in white-out blizzard conditions. A display in the cab shows the vehicle's position relative to the edge of the road, mapped guard rails, etc., with 2-centimeter accuracy.
Photo by Jim Park
We're in Alaska for the filming of season 2 of Mack's Road Life series, about Mack customers and their trucks.
Photo by Jim Park
Fully loaded with sand and brine and all the plowing gear, the Mack Granite snowplow weighs a little more than 70,000 pounds GVW.
Photo by Jim Park
This lovely lady had her own spot along side the roadway, about 10 minutes from the DOT shed. She seemed to be enjoying the sunshine despite the bitterly cold temperatures.
Photo by Jim Park
Imagine plowing snow a couple of feet deep up a 7-mile, 7% grade.
Photo by Jim Park
The film crew from Mack Trucks' Road Life series prepares to film an interview.
Photo by Jim Park
The film crew includes six specialists, from camera and audio technicians to drone pilots and marketing experts and coordinators. There's probably 500 pounds of gear between them.
Photo by Jim Park
The Granite is an 6x6 with an MP8 505/1860 engine and an 6-speed Allison transmission.
Photo by Jim Park
The weather turned sunny and mild for the week of the shoot; not much snowplowing to be done, but great for taking photos.
Photo by Jim Park
This photo was taken at 7 p.m. local time, about 40 minutes after sunset. We were about 10 miles east of Thompson Pass, where we would spend the next four days filming.
Photo by Jim Park
That pale purple color of the sky is real. I’ve never seen anything like it.
Photo by Jim Park
The view from a highway rest stop traveling from Anchorage to Valdez.
Photo by Jim Park
Wednesday morning we were up before sunrise to get some good shots of the snowplow. It was 18 below zero with winds gusting to 40 mph and higher.
Photo by Jim Park