Breaking the Cycle Yukon
Apr 02
#13: Aklavik-Inuvik Iceroad
Published at 18:24
As Claudio is due to fly out from Inuvik on the 6th March, we decided,
rather than doing more of the same on the return journey, to drive back
to Aklavik and then we?d have five days to create part three of the
expedition.
Yesterday I cycled 90km in light snow on an ice road from Aklavik to its
junction with the famous Inuvik - Tuktoyaktuk ice road. Our aim now is
to finish this expedition by travelling from Inuvik to Tuk (as it is
commonly called), a distance of almost 200km, visiting Reindeer Station
on the way.
It?s a different type of challenge, cycling on ice roads. The surfaces
are as hard as asphalt, but the biggest worry is slipping; either when
it becomes glare ice or when snow drifts accumulate across the road
(loose surface over slippery surface). Using a fat bike with extra wide
tyres isn?t a very efficient set up for hard roads, but the extra
surface area from the tyres add some stability. Yesterday, with snow
settling on the road, I kept the all-wheel drive system on to reduce the
chance of slipping.
The distance between Aklavik and Inuvik, as the crow flies, is 55km, but
ice roads are built in winter over the waterways which here meander
across the Mackenzie River Delta, so the distance between the two towns
is 110km. The terrain was deadpan flat following the channels, only the
wind changed the level of resistance. Crossing the main channel of the
Mackenzie River, itself several kilometres wide, it was interesting to
see barges and boats docked and frozen in for the winter.
It was a long grinding day cycling across the delta. When I arrived at
the junction at about 9pm I had had enough and there was little daylight
left. Claudio took a photo to celebrate the day?s achievement and we
headed for Inuvik, about 20km to the south. We had an address for
accommodation just to the south of the town, but we had difficulty
finding it, eventually arriving at 11.15pm. Bob and Theresa had driven
160km from Aklavik to Fort McPherson to pick up the bus and truck (pick-
up) and then drive almost 200km along the Dempster Highway to Inuvik.
They arrived at about 1.30pm. Eventually the owner returned from a day
off and she provided the last available room for the night - it was a
late one with no supper!
+68202471-1334141+10
rather than doing more of the same on the return journey, to drive back
to Aklavik and then we?d have five days to create part three of the
expedition.
Yesterday I cycled 90km in light snow on an ice road from Aklavik to its
junction with the famous Inuvik - Tuktoyaktuk ice road. Our aim now is
to finish this expedition by travelling from Inuvik to Tuk (as it is
commonly called), a distance of almost 200km, visiting Reindeer Station
on the way.
It?s a different type of challenge, cycling on ice roads. The surfaces
are as hard as asphalt, but the biggest worry is slipping; either when
it becomes glare ice or when snow drifts accumulate across the road
(loose surface over slippery surface). Using a fat bike with extra wide
tyres isn?t a very efficient set up for hard roads, but the extra
surface area from the tyres add some stability. Yesterday, with snow
settling on the road, I kept the all-wheel drive system on to reduce the
chance of slipping.
The distance between Aklavik and Inuvik, as the crow flies, is 55km, but
ice roads are built in winter over the waterways which here meander
across the Mackenzie River Delta, so the distance between the two towns
is 110km. The terrain was deadpan flat following the channels, only the
wind changed the level of resistance. Crossing the main channel of the
Mackenzie River, itself several kilometres wide, it was interesting to
see barges and boats docked and frozen in for the winter.
It was a long grinding day cycling across the delta. When I arrived at
the junction at about 9pm I had had enough and there was little daylight
left. Claudio took a photo to celebrate the day?s achievement and we
headed for Inuvik, about 20km to the south. We had an address for
accommodation just to the south of the town, but we had difficulty
finding it, eventually arriving at 11.15pm. Bob and Theresa had driven
160km from Aklavik to Fort McPherson to pick up the bus and truck (pick-
up) and then drive almost 200km along the Dempster Highway to Inuvik.
They arrived at about 1.30pm. Eventually the owner returned from a day
off and she provided the last available room for the night - it was a
late one with no supper!
+68202471-1334141+10
Arriving at the junction of the Aklavik and Inuvik to Tuk iceroads.
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