Tuesday 27 February 2018

The Dempster Highway


    In 2003 Karen and I travelled with our sons Gavin and Adam to the Yukon. It was the final holiday we had with them after 20 years of wonderful road trips. We knew then that gave the Yukon exceptional status as a destination and that some day we would return.

      Despite the associated Gold Rush lore it was the Dempster Highway that stuck in my mind. We ventured out on it in ’03 but only for a day trip and we only managed about 80 kilometres north of the junction to the Tombstone Mountains. We didn’t have time to get to the Northwest Territories.

      Initially a 740 kilometre bucket list gravel road journey from Dawson City to Inuvik, the Dempster Highway has now been extended (as of November 2017) an additional 140 kilometres providing year-round access to Tuktoyaktuk via the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway.

      Tuktoyaktuk is the farthest point north one can drive in Canada on an uninterrupted permanent road. Therefore, I want to drive there because I can. In a lot of ways that is the essence of a great road trip – because it’s there!

      The photo I took in 2003 highlights the loneliness and wilderness. After the joy and serenity we found on the Trans-Labrador Highway last year we’re all set to undertake the journey to Tuktoyaktuk at the end of August this year. Nearly 1800 kilometres of gravel road; here we go again – but this time in a rental.

for more information go to www.thatroadtripbook.com



 

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