Inuvik.

[Cat Driver]

Has anyone here ever driven the Demster highway to Inuvik?

Do you still need an off road vehicle to drive it or could I drive my motor home there and back and still have something that will be driveable?

[Bruce Gorle]

Hi ..
A friend of mine drove the Dempster last year in a Rav 4 towing her T@B trailer. She had no trouble at all not even fuel and said the trip was great. I think it would be awesome to do. My Dad flew it in the late 80's in one of the 172's and always talked about it. Hope this helps.
Bruce

[jet a1]

hey cat. i've been down the dempster a few times and have seen everything from running shoes to transport trucks used for the trip. all you have to do is prepare for everything...extra gas, SPARE TIRES!!!!, camping gear, camera....etc. you just never know. one time we left inuvik and by the time we hit the ferry at tsiigehtchic (arctic red river) we had 2 flat tires, and other times no troubles at all. i highly recommend taking the trip, and would also advise you to take your time and enjoy everything the drive has to offer. i think to many people are so focused on just getting to inuvik that they don't really enjoy the drive. also when ya get done pressure washing the back of your RV stop by the airport there's a couple of us avcanada people out there.
later.
jet.

[SRV]

Beware of changing road conditions. It could be clear west of the divide and heavy snow or rain at higher elevations.

In wet conditions the road can have deep water-filled potholes and lot's of washboard sections.

You gotta go slow!

[Carrier]

Agree you should carry extra spare tyres and maybe an inner tube and tyre levers. The road is very hard on tyres. Also have a couple of those pressurised tyre repair canisters. I am not sure of their correct name but they contain gas and a repair fluid - just apply one to the valve of a flat and it will pump it up and seal it for long enough to get to a reasonable repair place. If you get caught out and have to have a flat repaired at Eagle Plains be prepared to find out the meaning of PAY. Watch out for aircraft when you drive along the Eagle Plains (CAJ2) runway.
Enjoy the trip!

[ScudRunner]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJQzHH22xBs

[Commonwealth]

God I love AC/DC. Bah, bahn na na, bahn na na na na nana

[ahramin]

Too bad they can't spell paid. Perfect airplane for flying the dempster though.

[meflypretty]

Worked out of Eagle plains, halfway up the dempster in late fall. Tour buses come through (though it sacred one bus driver so bad she quit on the spot and had to fly a replacement) so it is doable. Just lots of tires and take it slow. Say hi to Stan in Eagle Plains.

[albertdesalvo]

Just lots of tires and take it slow.

Tires aren't exactly cheap. What kind of tires does it take to survive a trip? Surely there's something that's up to the job.

[Human Factor]

Car and Driver magazine drove a Corvette up the Dempster last year. They carried extra fuel and 2 spare tires... I think they only needed to use one of them.

[ScudRunner]

Too bad they can't spell paid. Perfect airplane for flying the dempster though.

Both spelling are acceptable payed paid, I made that vid in like 10 minutes while bored.

But ya having driven it and landed at all the airstrips along the way, you will more than likely blow a tire near eagle plains conveniently located near the only gas station. The shot of the tire blown on my plane was from a nice little strip called Rusty springs 100NM west of Eagle Plains. The jeep came from from there as well the boys at Summit in the SkyVan flew it out, it was left there when the last people looked for minerals in the 80's where it sat until someone got it going again.

[SRV]

Back in the early 90's I lived in YEV and it was standard procedure in the summer months for half the town to take off friday afternoon, drive to the campsite at Engineer Creek wake up in the morning head for the YDA campground for 3 days & 2 nights, go crazy gambling, creating havoc and pickling our livers then head back up the Dempster Monday to be back on the line at 6am Tuesday.

In 3 years I made the trip 6 times and never got a flat once.

[north son]

Re best Tires:
Best northern tires I ever had looked like they came from the
dump. Bald as a baby's bumb...shale or gravel had no tread or
grooves to lodge into!

[Rudder Bug]

When are you planning to go Cat? I might be in Dawson City with Crosswind Craig in a little while. You can find us, or at least him at the airport.

[SkyWolfe]

I hear its good to bring two spare tires

CAT! Are you coming through Haines Junction??? If you are you better come see me!!

[randallg]

I drove the Dempster three times in the 1980's in a Plymouth Valiant with bias ply tires and a VW van with radials. Didn't lose a tire on the Dempster (but did elsewhere). There were lots of RV's on the highway then, I would expect the road to be in no worse shape today. The worst section was from Ft McPherson to Arctic Red River - the gravel was loose and fairly deep. Take it as slow as necessary and you'll be fine.

[old metal]

Anyone drive the Yukon part of the Canol Trail? I might like to check that out in the fall.