News from Hay River, Northwest Territories

I haven't blogged in a while.
I am in Hay River, by Great Slave Lake.

Anyway. Here are some photos taken on the road from Dawson to Hay River (Via the Klondike Highway, The Alaska Highway, the Liard Trail and then the MacKenzie Highway.

One of the places where I camped, a wonderfully peaceful place.

On the way to Carcross

One of many buffalos on the Alaska Highway

Totems in front of the Teslin Tlingit Heritage Center. You'll notice how very Haid-like they are.

I guess it doesn't show but it was meant to be a shot for the geologists in the crowd as it is Folded Mountain and indeed it sows nice folds in real life.

Just cool, naturally occurring detail on a rock. The geologists in the crowd should appreciate this one.

I went hiking by Summit Lake. What a wonderful spot that is. I recommend stopping and hiking around.

Fireweed by the side of the road

Chipmunk eating dandelion head

Young moose

Dusty Liard Trail...though not any dustier that any other gravel roads in the area

Another buffalo, from another herd, this one on the Liard Trail

Saskatoon berries in Fort Liard

The MacKenzie Highway

Double rainbow and sunset at 11:30pm. The second one is faint in photo but it was really nice, especially with the sunset.

River at Sambaa Deh Falls

A fun detail in a log.

Sandhill crane crossing the road near Entreprise

Canada Day 2013 in Dawson City

On July 1st, Canada Day, I was in Dawson City. I went to the parade and all together it was a lot of fun. It was a small town going all out to enjoy the national holiday.

The parade started with the RCMP in their reds

 ..then the show girls ...also in their reds

 ....the ambulance sounding it sirens

 ... the old fire engine from the museum

Old cars, for no particular reason...anybody who wanted could join the parade and just parade around. There was kids on bikes, people pushing babies in push chairs ...everything really.

The there was hymn singing and flat raising

...posing in the shade for photos. I think the RCMPs were really good sports about it. So many people wanted their photo taken with them, they are such a Canadian thing.

Loads of people came and enjoy, the free cake and all kind of different fun.

I am not showing it but there was also gold-panning competition, gold melting demonstration, car wash, talks, bird walk etc etc etc. DAwson came across as a very dynamic little town. My hat to them.

The Dempster Highway

The Demspter Highway is the gravel road that goes to Inuvik, and ends in Inuvuk ....so far, they are planning to extend it to Tuktayaktuk on the shores of the Arctic Ocean.
It is a fantastic road with great views but also with a well deserved reputation for chewing up tires, though I had no problems. I did end up rescuing some people.
Here are some of the views from the drive in no particular order:



Near Inuvik, in the delta where it is flat

If you click on the photo below it should become large enough to see the road in the distance.

even at this size you can sort of see the road in this one...maybe only because I know where it is

View of the Tombstone Mountains from the road.

I love the immensity of the landscape.

Fort McPherson

On the way to Inuvik the Highway goes right by Fort McPherson, the home of Fort McPherson Tent and Canvas. I went to visit the factory and when I asked where I could get myself a cup of coffee in town because they couldn't think of any they just gave me a cup. That's northern hospitality for you.

I will add that if you drive the Dempster this is a good place to buy fairly priced fuel.

That photo speaks for itself:

Just a small northern town

The Arctic Circle

Unfortunately on the day of the Solstice the sky turned grey and the midnight sun could not be seen.

I have to say that the midnight sun in Inuvik was a great experience. Because Inuvik is at 68.3617° N and the land is flat to the north of it the midnight sun is easily visible, especially when I was there just around Summer Solstice time. It was great to see the sun go round and round in the sky and never setting.

Inuvik, the Photos

I promised photos, so here they are. I have long left Inuvik though. I ended up leaving Inuvik 2 days before the Solstice, even though I had originally meant to be in Inuvik for it. Instead I spent the Solstice at the marker for the Arctic Circle.
Anyway, here are the photos:
Just the main street... a bit of a grey day. I arrived on a grey day.

the famous "Igloo church"

Because of the permafrost, which should not be disturbed otherwise things "shift" all plumbing is above ground. All water going to houses (as is the case here) and all sewage going out too.

Typical of the north is brightly coloured houses. I am sure during the long dark bleak winters it must be nice.

More above ground "plumbing"

Inuvik is ofcourse on the edge of the Mac Kenzie River delta. Here is a view from the docks.