Great White North

[oonimog]

Just completed a tour from Vancouver, BC to Norman Wells, NWT and back. Since we didn't make it all the way to Norman Wells via the Canol Road last summer, we decided to drive up the winter and ice roads to check out the town. Truly beautiful country.



Along the winter road in NWT


Roadside stream


Ferry on shore, ice road across the river


Entrance to the ice crossing


Further north, the road can only be driven in the winter, when frozen, despite being on land. It's closed in the summer because the ground is too soft so the only way to Norman Wells in warmer weather is by air or barge.




Clear and sunny, but -20C


Long day of driving, averaged ~ 1000km per day

[oonimog]

Norman Wells and Canol Road museum. Small but worth a visit.




While at the airport, we found out that these buffalo aren't just for TV, they actually exist...




Beautiful old bird


C-46 taking off


Flying buffalo


The sound of those radials was sweet

[oonimog]

The people in the small towns up north are soooo nice, they even let us onto the roof of the terminal to photograph the planes. This is the control tower.


The flying buffalo were interesting but the real reason for going to the airport was to visit a chopper pilot we met while on the Canol Road


Forward looking radar on one of their two Hueys


UH-2 dash


Our ride was this slick Eurocopter. Very nice but lacking that unique Huey sound and .50cal on the door...


Off we go to check out Dodo Canyon on the Canol


1000ft above the Canol Road

[oonimog]

Visited this old Catholic church farther north in Fort Good Hope


Interesting interior


Back on the road and heading home


Back out on the ice


The sun remains pretty low this time of the year




This crossing was bare ice. There was no traffic so we had fun drifting and spinning.

[oonimog]

Along the Icefield Parkway between Jasper and Banff NPs












This guy had no fear until we were about 10ft from him

[oonimog]

Columbia Icefield

[Scenic WonderRunner]

One of the best ever.....and All Time Epic trip reports on ExPo......Ever!

Thank You!


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[KEENO]

Awesome.... Very inspirational! I didn't even know this was out there, it's on the list.

KEENO

[Redline]

Thanks for sharing.

Not that I don't want to visit the south, Mexico and beyond, but I'm increasingly convinced there is much to see in the North. Maybe the roads are even a bit less traveled?

[barnold]

Beautiful! When the day comes that I am able to begin my first long-range expeditions the North is my first goal! Thanks for posting this!