Driving the Dempster Part II

What's got two thumbs and drove the Dempster Highway to Inuvik and back? THIS GUY!

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I got that sticker in Inuvik it says,

"We drove the Dempster Highway to Inuvik, NWT, and back"

I have officially completed driving the Dempster Highway! It's a neat feeling to have accomplished something not very many people have attempted to do, and even more so cause I did the trek solo. I chatted with a guy in Eagle Plains two nights ago, and he said the Dempster is a solo kinda highway. I would agree, but at the same time I think it's a good one to do with a partner. I can't wait to take Kathy and the brood up the road so they can experience all the Arctic has to offer. But now it's time to go home. I'm happy to be that much closer.

I am currently in Dawson City … at the Library to be exact … in case you saw my previous Facebook post, I have decided to camp for the night. I weighed the options but in the end the cheapest hotel that I could find was $129 and the campground is only $12. The library is free and I found a nice campsite right along the river, across from the public shelter. So I figured I can cook there if it rains and I can hang out here at the library until 6:30pm … not a bad option.

So yesterday I traveled from Eagle Plains to Tombstone. It took several hours longer than I expected for two reasons. The first was I got 100km down the road and I got flagged over by a couple guys who's truck had broken down. They were wondering if I could give them a ride back to Eagle Plains. I said sure … if I were in there position I would want the same … I drove them back and they even paid me $200 for my time! I paid $42 in gas and $20 for lunch so I made $132! Not a bad profit for two hours of my time. My next stop was at Windy Pass, where on the way up I saw a hill I wanted to climb … well the hill turned into a mountain. I made it to the very top! It was my personal Everest! Then I noticed that the peak connected to another peak so I hiked that and then back down. The hike took me about 2.5 hours to complete. It wasn't a bad climb, it was really windy at the top … oddly enough! It's at km 152 of the Dempster, so if you ever go that's a good place to stop for a hike.

Me at the top of my mountain!

Me and my mountain in the background

I made it to tombstone, where I reconnected with Mary, and I arrived just in time to have super. She had been fishing earlier, and offered me some of her catch! It was yummy! I chatted with her and some German travelers for a bit before heading to my campsite for the night. It was a kind of a soggy night, it started raining around 10pm and rained for most of the night, it was sorta drizzling when I got up so I didn't linger to long. Just long enough to make coffee and oatmeal. I ended up full and warm for the rest of the trip down the road.

Today I also took a tour of Dredge #4. The Dredges were used at the end of the Gold Rush. This particular Dredge was used until the late 50's! At the time it was the largest on in the world! Click here for a pic. Click here for a description. The tour was really interesting and the short film at the end was neat. They have footage of the the Dredge in action. After that I was cold and hungry so I went back to Sourdough Joe's for a bowl of chowder and a plate of poutine. Warm and full I left Joe's and headed to the campground. I parked the van then took the short walk back to the ferry so I could come back to the library. On the way I met two guys who are trying to get to Alaska, I offered to take them to Whitehorse if they wanted to go that way instead of through Chicken. If they show up when I'm ready to leave tomorrow I would welcome the company for the drive to Whitehorse. I've wanted to pick up some hitch hikers along the way, but I just haven't met any till now. I'll let you know how that works out.

But for now I'm gonna hang here, I think in I bit I might go find some coffee then head back across the river for the evening. Hopefully it's not raining so I can build a fire and enjoy the evening reading my book.

~ Until next time