Moving up north on the coast of James bay via winter ice road

My wife and I are moving for work indefinitely to one of the northern first nations communities called Fort Albany on the coast of James Bay this upcoming January. Below is my travel plan, truck details, gear and emergency stuff. These are just summaries of the plans I have made to complete this journey safely. I will be carrying much more then what is listed but these are the details that pertain to driving.

Please share any experience, insights and/or useful links.

Travel plan:
I will be putting my truck on the Train with Ontario Northland Railway for the stretch between Cochrane and Moosonee. The winter road between Cochrane and Moosonee (Wetum Road) did not open last year due to covid and the decision is not made yet for this year. Plus it was only $180 for what would be a 6 hour drive anyways. I'll get some cool shots of my truck on a train too.

Once in Moosonee, I will take the winter road to Fort Albany(~155km). 50km/h speed limit here so approximately 3hr drive. I will likely drive to Fort Albany in the dark as it was recommended to me because oncoming traffic is more visible then.

Our employer is allowing us to mail 1000lbs of our stuff. To increase what we can bring up I will be filling the truck as much as possible with things I don't necessarily want to send by mail like hunting, fishing and camping stuff.

The truck : 2021 TRD OR DCSB with 15,000km

• 265/75r16 KO2
• Block heater
• TRD skid plate + AL trans skid plate
• Rock sliders
• ARB front tow point
• Leer cap
• Roof rack on cab and cap

Gear:

• Straps
• Hi-lift jack + lift-mate wheel strap
• Shovels
• Silky Katana Boy saw
• Axe
• VIAIR 400PA
• Tire patch kit
• 80L extra gas
• Spare wiper blades
• Methyl Hydrate in case it gets absurdly cold

Emergency:

• Garmin GPSMAP 66I satellite communicator
• NOCO Boost Plus GB40
  
• Eskimo insulated ice fishing shelter + Big Buddy heater
• First aid kit
• Fire extinguisher

What kinds of Tacoma specific tools/parts/extras would you recommend for this?
I will be doing my service 2 with Toyota just before leaving. I probably will not be putting a ton of kilometers on it there except for in winter to resupply/visit down south.

 

You seem very prepared for a 3 hour drive! Is the road gravel? If so, I've had good use out of clear packing tape for emergency windscreen repair (thankfully not on this truck yet).

 

wow, sounds like a dream job. good luck!

also, from the ice road documentaries it was recommended to drive at night because the road would freeze. during the day the sun can melt the road and make it impossible to drive.

 

Well it's a 3 hour drive in one of the most remote places I'll have ever been in temps ranging from -15 to -40. I think you may have misread, it's a winter only ice road so no gravel.

 

Full size spare, being that remote. Id be having 2.

Having a tire blow out and not being able to fix/patch/repair it, that 2nd full size spare would be like gold.

 

I getcha, am up in the northwest territories for work and some parts gravel, some parts as you say are only driveable when its completely frozen.

 

Dude! I live on the Quebec side! Moved up here about 8 years ago and love it. Live in the Cree Nation of Mistissini. Outdoorsman's paradise - hunting, fishing, off-roading, the works!

You should be fine, as far as your trip up goes. Although the roads are isolated and there aren't a lot of people up (t)here, the roads that do exist are pretty well travelled, in my experience. If you break down someone should come along, eventually. That said, you just don't want to freeze to death while you're waiting for that to happen. Make sure you have extra clothes, blankets, etc. and a couple 1lb propane tanks with a burner would be advised, as well. A boil-up can bring the heat back into you really quickly.

Drop me a line if you have any questions about the region, or the people or whatever.

Be safe!

 

Awesome man! I'll send you a PM shortly.

 

I drove up to Attawapiskat in March 2019. From Smooth Rock Falls to Attawapiskat via the Wetum Rd was about 12 hours. Both roads were awesome to drive and both were completely different. The James Bay Rd allows heavy trucks where as the Wetum does not. Both roads get a fair amount of traffic. There was never any issue with seeing on coming traffic during the day. I did drive the Wetum Rd at night because it was closed during the day to weather, too warm. Your gear list looks complete.

 

I spoke to my contact up in Moosonee and he said that yeah during the day is fine when it's perfect weather but he says more often than not it's closed due to weather. apparently just a little bit of snow falling could effect visibility.

Thanks, yeah I feel pretty prepared I think. Spoke to a James Bay Rd worker and they said I'll be fine. I do plan to go back and forth a decent amount once I'm there. Just want to make sure I'm good for my first time.

 

How are those tires for an ice road?

Since you’re driving at night, what’s yours lighting setup? Driving through remote Alaska for the last several years taught me quickly that too much is never enough.

Are the shovels you have in your gear list full size metal blade shovels? Packed show can be very hard to move and that’s what you can expect if you or someone else slides off of the road.

Do you have a jump start battery pack?

 

Mixes reviews on the tires. I don't find them great at highway speeds in in wet/snow/ice but they've still stopped me well. I've played with them down some dirt roads with packed snow from 10-60km/h and found them great. I was heavily loaded in the bed and tire pressure down to 25psi. Controlled well on turns even if I accelerated through them and stopped way better then expected at emergency braking.

I do want to upgrade my lighting situation. At least some better fog lights. I'm hoping to get Baja Designs Squardron Sport Fogs before I go.

I have a one steel mid sized snow rescue type shovel I find great for getting underneath. I also have a D handle spade shovel I'm bringing for heavier duty stuff.

I have the NOCO Boost Plus GB40.

 

What does the ‘Service 2’ involve? Does it exclude anything that might be sensible to service early?

Post up some pics!

Good luck to you and the Mrs. Wishing you all the best

 

When I went in early March the JB road was really icy in most places. You could still travel at a decent pace. I had dedicated winter tires when I went. If you're going to be there a while you might want to invest in studded winter tires.

 

Used to wear studs on an old truck I had when I first moved up North. Loved driving them down South to the in-laws for Christmas and chewing up their driveway!

 

Travel plan:
I will be putting my truck on the Train with Ontario Northland Railway for the stretch between Cochrane and Moosonee. The winter road between Cochrane and Moosonee (Wetum Road) did not open last year due to covid and the decision is not made yet for this year. Plus it was only $180 for what would be a 6 hour drive anyways. I'll get some cool shots of my truck on a train too.

Once in Moosonee, I will take the winter road to Fort Albany(~155km). 50km/h speed limit here so approximately 3hr drive. I will likely drive to Fort Albany in the dark as it was recommended to me because oncoming traffic is more visible then.

Our employer is allowing us to mail 1000lbs of our stuff. To increase what we can bring up I will be filling the truck as much as possible with things I don't necessarily want to send by mail like hunting, fishing and camping stuff.

The truck : 2021 TRD OR DCSB with 15,000km

• 265/75r16 KO2
• Block heater
• TRD skid plate + AL trans skid plate
• Rock sliders
• ARB front tow point
• Leer cap
• Roof rack on cab and cap

Gear:

• Straps
• Hi-lift jack + lift-mate wheel strap
• Shovels
• Silky Katana Boy saw
• Axe
• VIAIR 400PA
• Tire patch kit
• 80L extra gas
• Spare wiper blades
• Methyl Hydrate in case it gets absurdly cold

Emergency:

• Garmin GPSMAP 66I satellite communicator
• NOCO Boost Plus GB40
  
• Eskimo insulated ice fishing shelter + Big Buddy heater
• First aid kit
• Fire extinguisher

What kinds of Tacoma specific tools/parts/extras would you recommend for this?
I will be doing my service 2 with Toyota just before leaving. I probably will not be putting a ton of kilometers on it there except for in winter to resupply/visit down south.[/QUOTE]


Bridgestone Blizzaks are exceptional without studs. We drove to Tuktoyaktuk in Feb 2018 on the McKenzie River in -50°. We had 5x20l jerry cans because if the engine stops for too long without having block heater on it won't start 'til spring. Max Trax and winch for self-recovery. If it gets colder than -40° then battery heating wrap, block heater, and oil pan heater are a must-have for overnight parking.