| Author | Message | ||
     Jeff Mclaird (Granitedisco) New Member Username: Granitedisco Post Number: 18 Registered: 08-2003 |
Has anyone been up towards Nunavut in Canada ? I'm planning on taking a trip up that way after I've finished the truck off. I have the usual sources of information from the tourist board etc. But I could do with some practical information (there isn't much in the way of towns up that far North) thanks Jeff | ||
| Victor Biro (Vabiro) New Member Username: Vabiro Post Number: 30 Registered: 10-2003 |
Jeff, I have recently been researching a trek to Tuktoyaktuk in the NWT, and have noticed a distinct lack of info on "trails" especially in Nunavut. I think that began with a distinct lack of roads. The members of the Border-to-Border Expedition Society (http://www.bordertoborder.com) did a expedition to James Bay and they had to use a flat-bed train to get their vehicles over some areas. This appears to be the case in northern Manitoba too. One of the members of my LR club lived in the Yukon and NWT, and the impression I get is that frozen rivers were the route of choice when choosing to drive. The problem with this is with fuel: you need to carry your supply. In short, from what I can see, "stay west young man" seems to be the order of the day. The Dempster Highway is pretty rugged on a bad day, but it is well maintained (thank the petroleum industry for one thing). In the winter the MacKenzie river is used like an expressway by trucks supplying the encampments for the Petrochemical industry. There's a firm in Vancouver that does arctic expeditions their site might be of interest:http://www.offroadacademy.com/arc1.php Let me know if Tuktoyaktuk in 2005 is interesting to you. Victor | ||
| Jeff Mclaird (Granitedisco) New Member Username: Granitedisco Post Number: 20 Registered: 08-2003 |
I hadn't really thought of going out to the NWT but I'd definitely be interested - I'm still in the process of kitting my disco out at the moment - since I'm in the wilds of NH it's going to be quite a trip - but well worth it. 2005 is definitely doable. Jeff | ||
| Jeff Mclaird (Granitedisco) Member Username: Granitedisco Post Number: 85 Registered: 08-2003 |
What about once you get to Tuktoyaktuk ? any thoughts of going further up North ? I'm waiting for a call back at the moment about Baffin Island Jeff | ||
| John Kruger (Johnnyk) Senior Member Username: Johnnyk Post Number: 270 Registered: 02-2002 |
The short answer is, NO. You could ship a vehicle into the area, but would need tundra tires and permission from the Inuit. If there is a specific area you are looking to go into, contact the local community and see what they say. I was planning an attempt to drive into Churchill, lets just say I could have followed the Railroad tracks, but I would have been trespassing. Plus gas was over $7 a gallon. There are tons of great unimproved roads and logging roads, but you must be careful where you go. If you are serious about doing something like this, email me directly. Good luck John | ||
| Grant Lawson (Grant) Member Username: Grant Post Number: 88 Registered: 01-2003 |
to the best of my knowledge there is no rail or road link into Nunavet. NWT is possible and some areas are definitly acessable in winter, but you should be extremely experienced in outdoor skills!! Jeff, where are you planning on leaving from? have you looked at a map? Baffin Island? in the summer the tundra and muskeg is almost un navigatable by vehicle. you can drive up to a cree town in crutch of the east side of james bay and hudsons, then traverse east but you can't make a proper loop without travelling by ferry.... i believe you have to back track a considerable distance too. sounds like fun!! me? i want BAJA!!! My dollar will go farther and i can swim in the ocean!! | ||
| Jeff Mclaird (Granitedisco) Member Username: Granitedisco Post Number: 101 Registered: 08-2003 |
Thanks Guys - we are planning on Tuktoyaktuk in the NWT along with Victor - but had thought that once we got that far is it feasible to go any further North. I have 3 months of accumulated time off  You can swim in the Beaufort sea - as long as you're a Polar bear Jeff | ||
| Victor (Vabiro) Member Username: Vabiro Post Number: 115 Registered: 10-2003 |
Jeff, Good to hear that you're still interested. Things are progressing well on my end. If you're looking for more things on that region take a look at http://www.northbyrover.com. Alan, his wife and two kids drove from Texas to Prudhoe Bay Alaska and Inuvik in a three month odyssey. However this was done in the summer months. He as done a great job documenting just about every part of the trip, including his preparations. As I mentioned, we are looking at some time in the first three months of '05. This allows ice road access to Tuk, but could restrict other elements of where you could go in that region. It is still pretty cold up there (-30C+). Todays high in Dawson was -28C, low was -32. Another interesting article is by the guy that did the prep work for a Land Rover sponsored drive from London to New York. The long way, across the Bering Strait. It can be found at http://www.maxadventure.co.uk/exped_lrge1.htm I think Grant is right, You need to be extremely knowledgeable in outdoor skills to do any side trips in the winter. Regarding getting around in NWT, you might be interested in the Ice Road information site at: http://www.nwttravel.nt.ca/04_activities/SnowSeason/IceRoads.html Victor |
