The Dempster Highway is the only road in the Yukon that goes north over the Arctic Circle and out to Inuvik, a 470 mile journey on a gravel road. We hoped to do part of it and spend the summer solstice along the way but after talking to a guy who had just returned after getting 4 flat tires and a broken leaf spring, we rethought the wisdom of beating our vans up.
The first 45 to 60 miles were reported to be OK so we headed up to Tombstone Territorial Park and stayed at the Tombstone Mtn. CG for a couple nights. The first night, a fire caused by lightning spread across the road 284 km. to the north which closed the road and any further discussion for a change of mind. Photos posted are of an evening walk (8 - 9 pm) on the solstice to a mini glacier and the sunrise colors at 3:45 a.m. the next morning. If we were on one of the mountains, we could have seen the sun just touch the horizon and come back up again.
Dues have been paid to the Dempster on the way out with one flat tire on S & E’s van. Another visit to Dawson City for a replacement and ferry ride across the Klondike River just as we were getting hit with a pretty bad thunderstorm with lots of hail. Just around the corner, home for the night was at the Klondike River CG. Luckily no cracked solar panels but several trees came down in the campground. Tomorrow we head to Top of the World and the Taylor Hwy across the border to Alaska.
