Road to Tuktoyaktuk!

Heads up - that our Premier was looking at an inter-provincial travel ban here in BC.

Not sure where he landed on it or for how long it would last, but it made the news over here. Something to consider.

 

It makes sense, things gonna get worse before they get better. People are not following super simple rules.

This week they closed the snowmobile trails in the north bay area.
All people had to do is to enjoy their freedom in the outdoors and follow the rules. You know what they did? They gathered in groups of more than 5 people and did not keep a distance of 2 meters between each other.

Now everyone pays for the irresponsible actions of a few.

You had one job.
Unbelievable

 

Interestingly, despite it being a 26-hour drive from Toronto and in a different time zone, Windigo Lake isn't as northerly as downtown Edmonton, never mind Fort Mac...

 

On the flip-side - you have situations like we're dealing with over here in BC - particularly with the ferries.

For most of last year, Transport Canada lifted a safety regulation so that you could stay inside your vehicle while on the ferry to prevent close contact with other passengers.

Then they turned around and said "nah, you're good to go back up onto the passenger decks" when we were dealing with a significant number of cases.

I will say though, BC Ferries has been doing a pretty good job with keeping their ships clean and sanitized.

 

Least they could do given the cost of ferry fare! ($108 one-way)

 

lesson = you want to be able to drive further north in Ontario... find oil

 

damn i wish that road had been completed when i was up there in 2014!! i had to pay to fly up to tuk!

 

Nice!! if interprovincial travel is banned this is the destination...... Pickle lk ppl gonna be mad! or maybe happy, who knows these days.....

 

In the days before the plague, it would have been faster to fly to Winnipeg and rent a car from there to reach Windigo Lake...

Once in a while I get reminded that Ontario is one and half times the size of Texas.

 

haha yes it is a massive province!

There area many side trips to be had without a car along this adventure route

 

Watching, eagerly watching.

How AT are you thinking - stock SL or minimum AT3/KO2s? I've never done those roads before, but have seen a lot of them. I think stock SL in good shape would be fine but if they're worn then it could get hairy at times.

To add: If I go/am allowed to go to Canada/can get the time off work etc, I have a ham license too. Only tech, and won't have a large scale mobile rig but it's something.

I would also recommend the ontario root or the Michigan UP route, the ferry across the lake is doable but for a large group would be cumbersome. But I would also add, given the current travel scenarios, I would plan on the ontario route and remain in Canada the whole time.

I hope (a) this happens and (b) I can make it happen in my life, because this looks bitchin', and I was planning to do the trek from Austin, TX after we move there - only up to AK but, I can be convinced.

Is your 2 week timetable round trip or one way? I just did 6500mi in July, about 10,500KM, 10 days or there abouts was a decent time but was mostly only driving. Looking at the map - that could be done in 2 weeks round trip. If I partake, the return trip I might split off toward the dakotas and then head south of the great lakes through PA home to RI.

unfortunately if I do make this happen, I wouldn't bring the dog too many variables. I'll keep my eye out and talk to my boss about future plans and vacation times this year.

 

I brought my dog...a 50 lbs Alaskan Husky that we were mushing. You have to have near-perfect recall because there is lots of wildlife that'll mess up a dog. We did the Dempster in February and all the truckers and locals say it is easier in winter on tires because the hardpack snow and ice levels the rough rock surface. There are parts of the highway that were purposely surfaced with stones the size of American footballs. The air spaces make it difficult for the road to retain heat and thus it protects the perma-frost underneath. All the locals say extra tires on rims are a must in summer as the road chews tires up. Durability of tire is probable more important than tread on the route..especially if you have winch or "come-along" recovery gear.

 

I have a catahoula, she is loyal to a fault to me. But, I would have to deal with bringing her across the border. I'll consider it, but given the rest of the complexity of this trip vs. a normal highway princess road trip, it's a strong maybe.

Running stock goodyears right now, 21k on them and chances are by this trip they'd be closer to 35k if I get my way and have more time on them sounds like SL/C tires would be fine. I'd plan on having 2 spares, that's my intention for my setup anyway.

Either way - I'll keep my eyes on this thread and travel restrictions etc etc. If y'all do end up doing the MI/UP route, let me know, because I do also want to do a road trip up around UP and down the west coast of the lake, for me from RI that's about a 3-4 day trip, maybe 5, so that's nothing. But I could tag along for a short stretch of the big boy trip

 

A thicker heavier tire is your friend when doing extended drives on rough unpaved roads. Just get a quality LT rated tire and they will ride great and the difference in fuel consumption will be minimal and well worth the added reduction in an avoidable sliced tire

 

I tend toward SL/C rated 6 ply/equivalent. I'll use the 10ply/E if I was crawling, but my philosophy is: Where I would be able to take a 6 ply confidently is where I would want to be able to take my truck. If I would need a 10 ply to do something, I wouldn't want to put my truck down that trail.

KO2s come in E in stock size for the tacoma. Was leaning to Falken ATs when my stock GYs wear out.

 

Whatever you think you will be happiest with. The whole 6 ply vs 10 ply is grandpa talk, not a reality with current new tire construction. If you want a tire that is less likely to get cut get the LT. If you can live with sliced tires 400 miles up the Dempster hwy then go thin!

 

yeah it’s all 6 or 10 equivalent most are all 2 ply equivalencies.

 

That's a good point,
On another hand, I remember for the guys that would do Africa expeditions, they would use the military tire Michelin XZL, when you go out for months , and you wont be able to buy a tire anywhere or fix it, you better have the best/toughest tire you can possibly have.


In the end is what makes sense for each person, what makes them comfortable

 

that doesn't work for me, I will almost always want to "go down that trail"

 

Yeah I'll just get some KO2s first time around when I need new tires, that said it's potentially unlikely I'd be able to make this trek this time around so, we'll see. I know they make KO2 E in stock size, and Falken Wildpeaks C in stock size, so pretty much whichever one I get now, Id get the other one next time. I'll know better when I get toward May ish timeframe (a) if I'll need new tires before this trip and (b) if I can even make the trip for work and (c) if travel bans would even allow it anyway.

My truck is still my DD so it still has to get me to work on Monday. I take it out, but I need to hold back sometimes and recognize my abilities on the trails