|
In
August of 2009, I attempted a long hard
bicycle trip to promote the
preservation of the Three Rivers Region of the
northern Yukon and to bring appreciation to this
beautiful landscape and the need for protection;
however, Mother Nature had different ideas. Forest
fires were burning throughout the Yukon and Alaska
making breathing difficult. I had to change my
plans after three days in. It now looks like 2014
before I will get back to finish this trip.
For more information, please see my blog
or newsletters.
The
Dempster Highway is one long tough road. It is a
670 km stretch of gravel that runs between Dawson
City in the Yukon Territory and Inuvik in the
Northwest Territory. As far as remote hard bike
touring in Canada, it would be difficult to top
the Dempster.
This
is not a ride in the park - especially on a
bicycle. The
Dempster Highway starts about 30 km from Dawson
City. The road follows the north channel of the
Klondike River heading up to an elevation of 4200
feet. The road travels along the Blackstone River
and Ogilvie River for a while. Both of these
rivers are on the Mackenzie watershed. The road
then follows the Ogilvie River before turning
north. It is over the Continental Divide and onto
the Eagle Plains. It travels across the plains and
over the Eagle River, in the Yukon River
watershed, and up and over the Continental Divide
for the third time and into the Northwest
Territories. Vertical
climbs of 1000s feet. Unpredictable weather . . .
summer could be anything from dry hot to sleet to
a ride in the snow. No pavement. Strong winds with
little protection. Sounds like a good challenge.
The
road crosses the continental divide 3 times so
there are a whole lot of uphill! There is a
hotel/gas station after 350 km of travel, villages
of Fort McPherson on the Peel River and
Tsiigehtchit on the Mackenzie River.
I
also ride in support of a number of ventures and
two specific charities. Please see the links and
become involved through registration and financial
support.
|
