Day 6: Journey to Tuktoyaktuk

🇨🇦 Day 6:**
A restful night sleep and the Viewpoint campsite, waking to the watchful eye of a majestic hawk. Who gave us a little show before we left our perch above the treeline. Connecting back to the legendary Dempster Highway, we braced ourselves for an epic 507 miles journey. This gravel road, immaculately maintained, snakes through the Ogilvie and Richardson mountain ranges, crossing the continental divide three times, and boldly traverses the Arctic Circle, echoing the old dog team routes all the way to Inuvik.
The farther north we went, the more breathtaking the scenery became. Wildflowers flourished in vibrant patches: Arctic lupine, yellow arnica, white avens, and the ever-present dandelion painted the landscape. Fields of tawny cotton grass, resembling snow, tempted us to stop and feel their fur-like softness.
The road rolled with the land's natural rhythm, ascending and descending, crossing countless small bridges and fast-flowing streams. Our first stop, Eagle Plains, greeted us with the most expensive fuel of the trip at $2.482 a liter, but also offered a chance for photos and a hot lunch. Pressing on, we celebrated reaching the Arctic Circle, a stark and beautiful milestone. The solitude was profound, punctuated only by distant bird calls and the honking of geese and tundra swans. Ground squirrels and rabbits darted across our path, while butterburr and lupine splashed the roadside with color. From a hilltop, we glimpsed the Peel River, marking our first ferry crossing.
The Peel River Ferry, known as the CF Abraham Francis, a cable ferry accommodating four vehicles or one semi at a time, was thankfully not busy, and we smoothly proceeded to Fort McPherson. Another 40 miles brought us to the Mackenzie River crossing. Here, the MV Louis Cardinal, a larger motorized ferry, shuttled us across while the picturesque Gwichya Gwich’in community of Tsiigehtchic loomed on a hill, accessible by ferry on demand.
Rolling into Inuvik around 10 PM, we filled up with fuel, the second most expensive at $2.482 a liter. With the town shuttered for the night, we pressed on to find our camp. After 389 miles and 13 hours and 41 minutes of driving, we finally reached what we dubbed the Skidoo garage at 1 AM. Exhausted, we collapsed into sleep, forgoing dinner. Tomorrow, our epic journey north to Tuktoyaktuk will be achieved.
🇨🇦🫎🐻🦫
#canada #yukon #Arctic #Dempsterhighway #cableferry #fwc #Lutzadventure #eagleplains #fourwheelcampers #arcticocean #powerwagon #gonorth #Auntie2Hands #Arcticcircle
#fourwheelcampershawk
Music: Feeling Fine
Musician: Uncleboris
URL: icons8.com/music/

[@KristiLutzenberger]

Such a voyage! Loved that we've joined that rare tribe of travelers that have made the journey. Thank you fir your kind words

[@TaleOfTwoIdiots]

We did that trip last summer! Loved every minute of it.