Day 9 - Aug 12: The Arctic Circle

Today the AC'12 convoy made it to the Arctic Circle in the Yukon Territory. Mike said it was very cold up there. Everyone had lots of chances to take pictures, and they photographed each and every vehicle.

Near the Arctic Circle, west of Dempster Highway

The terrain around there is rather interesting looking at it with SPOT satellite imagery. The rivers are very squiggly. The bright orange appears to be a recent fire. Along the top, the medium orange and gray is probably rock outcroppings. In the center, is an interesting rock outcropping that is nearly circular. It appears to be near the top of a mountain (perhaps an old volcano??). My photo interp skills are pretty rusty, though, so don't bank on this info. The Dempster Highway is Highway 5 on the right side.

After visiting the Arctic Circle, the convoy turned around and headed back down the Dempster Highway to Tombstone Territorial Park. This is about 45 miles north of the junction of the Dempster Highway with the Klondike Highway.

AC'12 Day travel route

Tomorrow the convoy will travel to Dawson City. Mike and crew headed down there today as they needed to get a tire repaired. They are looking forward to a fun couple of rest days in Dawson City, up on the Yukon River.

- Ellen

Day 8 - Aug 11: Up the Dempster Hwy

Today the convoy heads north (no, not to Alaska! Alaska is west at this point).  They are traveling on the Dempster Highway. This road was constructed from 1959 to 1978 to connect to towns in the Northwest Territories. It ends at Inuvik. The Dempster is a year-round highway, with northerly portions being ice roads.

The convoy will not get up into the Northwest Territories, but will make it to the Arctic Circle tomorrow. Today's destination is Eagle Plains, Yukon Territory (population 8).

AC'12 Day 8 travel route

Some of the support vehicles have chosen not to travel on the Dempster Highway to the Arctic Circle. They headed to Dawson City a couple of days early.