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=== Safety ===
As was stated, the Dalton Highway is essentially a wilderness highway, half of which is within the Arctic Circle, so some precautions must be taken that might otherwise not be considered. First and foremost '''do not attempt to hitchhike the Dalton in the winter'''... this may seem obvious to most people, but it should be laid out clearly. Temperatures easily drop to -40 (F and C, since that's the point on the scale that their they're exactly equal), and this is compounded by snow, extreme windchill, and little to no sun-light. In fact, hitchhiking should only be attempted on the Dalton from mid-May to mid-Sept (with late May, early June, and Mid August probably being the best and most comfortable times)... keep in mind, it literally never gets dark for most of the summer on most of the highway.
Encounters with dangerous wildlife, particularly bears (Brown and Grizzly, and Polar near the Arctic Ocean) and the ever erratic moose are very possible. Because of this, you should come equipped with pepper-spray or a firearm. Keep in mind the sensitivities of your potential drivers, and only keep your animal deterrents handy when necessary (i.e., while camping down for the night, or while hiking through dense brush). Also keep in mind that gun toting is very common in Alaska, so don't be surprised if your driver is packing. Also, you should never camp near Prudhoe Bay, or most of the "North Slope" (the far north Tundra area) due to the potential risk of Polar Bears.