Friday, February 08, 2008

The Dempster Highway in Winter

This article in Pedal Magazine about some guys riding from Dawson City, Yukon to Tuktoyaktuk, NWT in the winter makes me almost happy there will be hordes of mozzies when I'm there in July. I'll take bugs over -40 deg C any day.

1 comment:

runawayscreaming said...

That trip was done in March '99 and was only from from Dawson City so not nearly as manly as riding all the way to Calgary.

I'm glad to see those guys did not cause a flood of winter cycletourists to head to Tuktoyaktuk. The possibility of getting caught in a March windstorm (as they almost did) would certainly put a damper on vacation fun (if ya even survive it).

I don't think they were properly prepared for winter cycling (mechanically or otherwise). It's lucky they did not get into more trouble. Bivvy sacks and Thermarests at that latitude in March - ya gotta be kidding. They were also risking dehydration with the terrible water set-up they had.

I think if I were try that route in winter I would do it rando-style (with no bloody trailer) if for no other reason than to make sure I got through in a good weather window.