Map Source: Trail Canada (www.trailcanada.com)
Red star denotes Tuktoyaktuk
on the Arctic Ocean

Researched Information

Inuvik 1
Located  68°21'N  & 133°43'W,
on the east channel of the Mackenzie River
Tuktoyaktuk 2
Located 69°27'N  & 133°02'W,
on the shore of the Arctic Ocean (Beaufort Sea), at the discharge of the Mackenzie Delta
Arctic Circle 3
Located 66°33'N
Meterological 4 Conditions on Day of Trip
TEMP: minus 30 ° C / minus 22 ° F
SKY: Clear at times with a foggy haze near the Mackenzie Delta
DAYLIGHT: 14 hrs approx.
Approx. Ice 4
Road Length
175 kilometers / 109 miles

Inuvik to Tuk by iceroad
by Michael Brown

One of the best times to travel the ice road from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk ice road is mid March, since the days are long and prevailing cold conditions are reassuring when considering ice integrity and strength.

It was late March and I found myself if Inuvik, with business to do in Tuktoyaktuk (abbr. Tuk). A biologist and nature gazer, I consulted with the traffic authourities in Inuvik who confirmed that the ice road was safe to travel, also that weather conditions were good between the two communities.

Rather than take the scheduled flight to Tuk, I opted to rent a Ford pick-up truck, and travel the 175 kilometer long ice road connecting the 2 communities.

In this part of the Northwest Territories, the ice road is maintained during the coldest winter months, late January to mid March, when the frozen Mackenzie River is transformed into a two-lane highway that meanders north, branches off in the Mackenzie Delta, and extends to the remote villages of Aklavik, NWT, 50 kilometers to the north-west and Tuktoyaktuk, NWT, located 125 kilometres to the north-east on the coastline of the Arctic Ocean.

I understand that the first traffic on the ice are snowmobilers, who are also the last group to use the trails during spring thaw. Often entire families will travel on the ice, with snow machines pulling sleds with children, elders and supplies, venturing to winter cabins further south.

With the progression of spring thaw, the ice surface melts and thins, creating pools of melt water that close the river trails to all but the more ardent and risk-taking snowmobilers. Daredevil riders have been known to zip out onto open water and ride the surface like a jet ski. *

* Locally, I’ve heard that some men have been able to cross the river by jetting between ice flows. I recall one death where a rider drowned when his snow machine engine failed and then sank.

References:

Town of Inuvik
www.inuvik.ca
Traditional Knowledge and local word of mouth

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