For this adventure Max and Zoe will be traveling 200 miles above the Arctic Circle to Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada. It should take about 30 to 40 days to cover the estimated 8,000 miles. The dogs and I will have a boring drive up Interstate 5 through California, Oregon and Washington, but once into Canada we will slow down and enjoy the road and scenery.<>
The plan is to cross the border at Sumas, Washington and follow Hwy 1 through Cache Creek, BC. Then continue on Hwy 97 through Prince George to Dawson Creek, BC. This is what The Milepost calls the west access route to the Alaska Highway. From Dawson Creek, we will follow the Alaska Highway through Fort Nelson to Watson Lake, YT. Turning north at Watson Lake following the Campbell Highway (Yukon 4) through Ross River, YT to where the road meets the Klondike Highway (Yukon 2) just north of Casmacks, YT. We will take one side trip off the Klondike Highway to follow the Silver Trail to Keno, YT. Once back on the Klondike Highway, we continuing north to the Dempster Highway (Yukon 5 & Northwest Territories 8), which leads to Inuvik.
From Inuvik, we retrace the road back to the Klondike Highway and turn east to Dawson City, YT. Going through Dawson City, we take the Top Of The World Highway to Eagle, Alaska. After Eagle, we continue back south on the Taylor Highway, to the Alaska Highway, turning southeast to Whitehorse, YT.
Deb will fly up to join us at Whitehorse, Yukon Territory and travel to Prince George, British Columbia. We will take the Cassiar and Yellowhead Highways with a side trip along Telegraph Creek to Glenora, BC, and another side trip to Steward, BC/Hyder, AK. Deb will then fly home from Prince George.
From Prince George the dogs and I back track to Seattle, Washington and meet up with our son Curtis. From Seattle we will all take a side trip around the Olympic Peninsula for a few days of camping. After the Olympic Peninsula, the dogs and I will most likely follow the Oregon and northern California coast back home.
We made it to Dawson City, Yukon. It rained most of today, but the weather should be sunny Monday. We can’t get to Inuvik until the ice to breaks up, then so the ferry will start running. There is a ferry at the Peel River and Mackenzie River. I was told that it would start on Wednesday.
Today we had a short day, only going 130 miles. We are camped at Tatchun Creek Campground. The dogs and I are getting into the rhythm of camping and the road. Tomorrow we will go on the Silver Trail to Keno.
Today we passed through the Northern Rocky Mountian Park. Muncho Lake was still frozen. The area was full of wildlife. We say elk, black bear, bison and big horn sheep. Tomorrow we start the Campbell Highway which is 364 miles of gravel.
Max has shown that he is still the tennis ball champ. Deep in the woods of northern British Columbia, Max finds a tennis ball to add to his collection. We also had our second wildlife experience by see our first black bear walking along the side of the road. Tonight we are camping at the Tetsa River Lodge & Campground – great cinnamon buns. Gas at $4.70 a gallon. One final note, while listening to the radio a comedian observed that a Canadian is just an unarmed American with health care.
We did not take this camp site.
