Page 97 - Vacation Country Travel Guide

Dempster Highway
photo by:
VC Travel Guide
Tombstone Mtns., Dempster Highway
photo by:
VC Travel Guide
Dempster Highway
The last true remaining “Adventure Highway’’of
the Canadian North, the Dempster Highway stretches
440 miles from its junction with the North Klondike
Highway #2 in Yukon to Inuvik in the NWT. This
scenic road passes through renowned Tombstone
Territorial Park on its way to the Northwest Territory
Gwitch’in communities of Fort McPherson and Arctic
Red River, where the traveler will encounter ferry
crossings of the Peel and Arctic Red Rivers on their
journey to road’s end at Inuvik. Only one highway
lodge will be encountered at km 369, located at Eagle
Plains, Yukon.
Built over a 19-year period from 1959 to 1978,
the Dempster Highway was named to honor Royal
Canadian Mounted Police Sgt. WJD (Jack) Dempster,
a 37-year veteran of the RCMP in the Yukon.
Dempster was renowned for leading the search for
the famed “Lost Patrol” in 1911, when four of his
RNWMP colleagues became lost on their patrol from
Fort McPherson to Dawson City—a distance of 765
km. Assisted by Gwitch’in guide Charlie Stewart,
they were able to track the lost party in record time,
but found that all the men had perished.
This well maintained year round gravel road
passes through five spectacular natural regions or
“ecozones”. These regions are referred to as the
Northern Arctic, Southern Arctic, Taiga Plains, Taiga
Cordillera and Boreal Cordillera.
Mountains, valleys, plains, plateaus and arctic
tundra are all to be found on this enchanting journey.
Previous travelers on this highway have described its
scenery as spectacular, beyond imagining, unique and
phenomenal—truly appropriate words of praise.
The Dempster Highway is sparsely populated,
with services far apart. Travelers on this road are well
advised to travel prepared with extra fluids, spare
belts, basic tools, flares, tow rope, axe, knife, matches,
warm clothing, good boots, hats, gloves and insect
repellant. Ensure that your vehicle is well maintained,
that your tires have ample tread and that you carry at
least one full size spare in good condition.
To minimize rock damage to windshields from
oncoming traffic, especially large trucks, it is advised
that you slow down and pull over when meeting
vehicles. Your headlights should be protected
with plastic or wire mesh covers. Summer driving
conditions can be dusty—keep your windows closed,
with your fan set to defrost and the heat off.
Sliding or skidding on loose gravel can be avoided
by eliminating sudden steering or braking maneuvers.
Be sure to carefully observe all highway control signs,
and since it is both practical for safety—and the law
in the Yukon and NWT—drive with your headlights
on at all times.
Henderson’s Corner
Henderson’s Corner was once called “Hay Ranch
on The Klondike” because it was one of several spots
where hay was grown for the horses traveling the
Dawson trail. The farm is now subdivided and has
about 35 houses.
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