Dempster Highway, Yukon and Northwest Territories

As well as visiting interesting towns we have had a scenic journey.

We camped here with the Glacier in the background before visiting the disused copper mine at Kennicott, below.

Kennicott Mine, McCarthy Road, north of Valdez, Alaska.

A pretty coffee stop on the Nabesna Road, a scenic dirt road to another old mine off the Tok cut-off road..

A friendly camper, Bart, took me out on the lake for an evening paddle at the Kendesnii campground.

Onto a place called Chicken, Alaska, where we spent a very quirky 4th July, (American independence day)!

This is the Post Office in Chicken. The plane comes to collect the mail twice a week!

This plant is called Fireweed and is theYukon's territorial flower. It is seen in abundance in areas cleared by forest fire of which there are many, mainly started by lightening.

The stunning views of theTop of the World highway, just after the Alaskan/Canadian border.

I like the scenic views! Here's another!

This highway led us to Dawson City, an old gold mining town that sits on the mightyYukon River.

Dawson City

Buildings just about standing after their 100+ years!

Today, Dawson City is a small town, nothing like the goldrush days but still we overheard people in cafes, talking of their current gold mining. You can buy all the necessary kit in Dawson Trading Post.
We stocked up with food in Dawson City for another long dirt drive up to and beyond the Arctic Circle. 456 miles of Dempster Highway to Inuvik in the Northwest Territories!

 

Moose and friends! Then it started to rain....

After a lot of rain we stopped at Eagle Plains roadhouse only to find we could go no further as the road had been washed away and both ferries were out of use too. After four days of good company with other truckers and travellers, the road and weather improved and we carried on north.

Cottongrass growing in the marsh

The long and winding road!

Beautiful weather at The Arctic Circle, Yukon, Canada, this time.

This is the Arctic!

With fluctuating river levels the two ferries we had to use have to constantly adjust their loading area.

Finally we reach Inuvik, NorthwestTerritories.

The Catholic church, tiled on the inside of the dome with flattened coke cans.

Bright housing for a very cold place in winter.

Native arts displayed in the Great Northern Art exhibition.

The successful community greenhouse, the idea of the Mayor and other townfolk to use an old building. It was full of produce. Despite the arctic weather, I believe they have a growing season of May to September.

Back on the road south again,

 We spot this crossing the road in the distance.

A lynx (unless anyone wants to tell us differently). I was very excited to see it.

This attractive grass is Foxtail Barley, seen often along the roadside. Unfortunately, it has barbs and gets into the eyes, nose, gums and throats of animals causing harm.

Endless trees and lakes!

Siberian huskies!

We stayed here overnight, in the middle of nowhere, with nobody, near the Richardson Mountains and climbed the top of this hill in the morning.

We returned south and spent many days in Dawson City enjoying their music festival and gold mining history which Stephen will write about in detail.

Klondike Highway, Yukon River

Last night, along the Klondike Highway, we ended up at a beautiful campsite overlooking Lake Laberge. We somehow managed to get one of the best sites with this view.

 

 

 Arctic Fox.

We saw these animals in the Yukon wildlife reserve.

 A Lynx kitten, one of four kittens.

 There are always arctic ground squirrels!

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Man overlooking the Yukon River at the Dome in Dawson City.

We are now in Whitehorse, Yukon. 

Next on the list, Yellowknife.

Dawson City to Inuvik

Another awesome Glacier in Alaska and into the Yukon, Canada

We are back in Canada now and spending the night in Dawson City (an old Gold Mining town) on our way up to Inuvik, North West Territories. Inuvik is beyond the Arctic circle again, at the end of 450 miles approx. of dirt road. We are hoping to enjoy the Great Northern Arts Festival while up there and then return to Dawson City for the Music Festival. In the right place at the right time for a change, roads and weather permitting!
We have seen so many wonderful things lately I cannot keep up, but Stephen has detailed a few places on his site.
Internet continues to be hard to find so just of few photos this time of a favourite moment!

Worthington Glacier near Valdez on the Richardson Highway, Alaska.

 This Glacier is very accessible. You can leave the official path and find your way up the gravel moraine, crossing the run-off onto the actual ice.....

 Right into the spray of the melting ice.

The view as you head back to car park! Very special!

Off to stock up for our next dirt road adventure, now.