A trip to the Arctic Circle, is a bucket list trip for many people, but regardless of planning, prep and vehicle, is always a challenge. You can reach the Arctic Circle in North America, Asia and Europe, but here in North America the routes are limited. In Alaska, the Dalton Highway crosses into the Arctic Circle, but it does not reach the Ocean. The Dempster Highway in Canada, starting just south of Dawson City Yukon, runs northbound 1000 km through the Northwest Territories and ends in Tuktoyaktuk, the northern most town in Canada accessible by vehicle. Tuktoyaktuk is the very end of the road, and is situated right on the shoreline of the glorious Arctic Ocean.
When planning for this trip, we were told about all of the challenges, the risks and the remoteness, but nobody told us about the beauty. From start to finish, the Dempster Highway is an unbelievable experience. Having travelled 54 countries, I have a deep desire to travel abroad, soak in the views of foreign lands and foreign culture. I am so fortunate to be able to travel extensively my home country, but the desire to travel abroad is one that I cannot seem to shake, until encountering the Dempster. This Highway filled every bit of travel void for me. Km after km, the views of the Yukon and Northwest Territories hit me like those of a foreign land. Emi and I sat in silence most of the travel days, absorbing the views and letting the road do the talking. I am so very thankful for the opportunity I have to travel and work the way that I do, but like anything else, it is something one becomes accustomed to. The Dempster Highway on the other hand, was a trip I couldn't possibly have prepared myself for.
Amazing views aside, if you're planning a trip to the Canadian Arctic, it is incredibly important to prepare, because if you run into trouble, help is not on the way. The entire Dempster Highway is unpaved and poorly maintained, with only three fuel stops and only one mechanic shop. The road is built largely with broken shale, which can be very hard on tires. With a plug kit, a compressor and some basic tools, the trip to the top should be no problem. All in all, we had an unbelievable drive to the top, and I am so excited to be chasing stories in Tuktoyaktuk.
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