Arctic Circle & Ocean - Oct 2007

[SafariPacific]

Hi all! I've browsed around for a few days now, so I guess its time I start postin'. :wavey:

I'm planning a trip in October 2007 to the Arctic Circle. The plan is to drive up though Prince George, Whitehorse to Anchorage. Play around a bit then head up the Dalton Highway. Only problem is the highway is mostly paved and there is no access to the Arctic Ocean. That takes part of the fun out. I've read about the Tuktoyaktuk route and ice driving, which would be fun or insane! :Wow1: I don't know if there is stable ice, if any, in October.

Any suggestions? :confused:

More info at: http://www.maoriexpeditions.com/expeditions.php?x=2007_arctic_circle

[BajaTaco]

Welcome to ExPo :wavey:

Scott Brady and I are doing an arctic expedition this winter. As you mentioned, driving to Tuk is a good way to drive to the ocean itself, and the ice road actually goes out onto the frozen sea for the final approach to the village. We are waiting until they certify the ice-roads before we depart so there is no chance of us losing time waiting (or missing the chance altogether) of getting out on the rivers. The roads are typically open end of Jan/beginning of Feb. and might go for a couple of months. The seasons are starting later and becoming shorter these days. There are supposedly fines if you are caught driving on the roads before they are open. October will be 'out of season' and Inuvik will likely be about as far as you can make it. I think Prudhoe Bay might be the better option for that time of year.

Will you be traveling alone?

Beautiful website!



Hi all! I've browsed around for a few days now, so I guess its time I start postin'. :wavey:

I'm planning a trip in October 2007 to the Arctic Circle. The plan is to drive up though Prince George, Whitehorse to Anchorage. Play around a bit then head up the Dalton Highway. Only problem is the highway is mostly paved and there is no access to the Arctic Ocean. That takes part of the fun out. I've read about the Tuktoyaktuk route and ice driving, which would be fun or insane! :Wow1: I don't know if there is stable ice, if any, in October.

Any suggestions? :confused:

More info at: http://www.maoriexpeditions.com/expeditions.php?x=2007_arctic_circle

[SafariPacific]

Your's and Scott's trip sounds like a load of fun. Thanks for the input. I would of never thought of a certified road, but it makes sence.

One of my good buddies is riding up with me. I would like to find a few other people to go on the trip though.

Thanks for the feed back! You've got a great website as well. Tons of good info!


Welcome to ExPo :wavey:

Scott Brady and I are doing an arctic expedition this winter. As you mentioned, driving to Tuk is a good way to drive to the ocean itself, and the ice road actually goes out onto the frozen sea for the final approach to the village. We are waiting until they certify the ice-roads before we depart so there is no chance of us losing time waiting (or missing the chance altogether) of getting out on the rivers. The roads are typically open end of Jan/beginning of Feb. and might go for a couple of months. The seasons are starting later and becoming shorter these days. There are supposedly fines if you are caught driving on the roads before they are open. October will be 'out of season' and Inuvik will likely be about as far as you can make it. I think Prudhoe Bay might be the better option for that time of year.

Will you be traveling alone?

Beautiful website!

[paulj]

As you note there are two routes north of the Arctic Circle. I've done the Dempster (in a 1988 S10), but not the Dalton. Both will involve a good chunk of gravel, enough to risk both windshield and tires. The Dempster is about 500 miles. I'm not sure about the gravel portion of the Dalton.

From what I've read, you can take a tour bus for the last bit from the end of public road to the Ocean, and get your toes wet. With the Dempster you have to fly in a small plane the last leg from Inuvik to Tuk, unless you go in the winter when the ice road is open.

A potential problem with driving the Dempster in the late fall is that there is a gap between when they pull the river ferries out of the water and when the ice is strong enough to take traffic. There should be information on the NWT road web site about the typical times. During that gap you can't drive all the way to Inuvik. However, the best views along the Dempster are before the river crossings. After the crossings, the road crosses river lowlands, and isn't as scenic.

There are other roads in the Yukon that could be interesting at this time of the year, and may provide you with a challenging mix of snow and gravel driving.

In your planning don't neglect British Columbia. For example, the Casiar (#37) is regarded by most as more scenic than the Alaska Hwy. In addition there are several places where you can drive to the Pacific Coast.

So there is a question of priorities. Is the primary goal to be able to say you have driven all the way to the Arctic Ocean? Or do you want the thrill (?) of driving on ice? or of long distances on gravel and snow roads? or are you in it for the sights and adventure?

http://www.hwy.dot.gov.nt.ca/highways/
The current bulletins will give you an idea of what you will encounter on the Dempster. They've closed the highway briefly a couple of times this fall due to snow and slush, and project taking the ferries out of the water the 20th. The ice bridges open about a month later.

http://www.gov.yk.ca/roadreport/
The Top of the World Hwy from Dawson City to Tok Alaska is mostly gravel, however it is also seasonal, with a ferry crossing of the Yukon River at Dawson. http://www.gov.yk.ca/roadreport/george_black_ferry_launch_and_pu.html



paulj