We made it to Whitehorse, the capital of the Yukon. We had a great trip - some new friends, some rain, some sun. A bit slower than we had expected.

When we rode into Whitehorse we saw the first traffic light of the trip. We've been almost 800 miles without seeing a traffic light! Where can you do that?

Today our friend Rob Ungless is flying in from Vancouver and we're going to ride down to the sea and visit southeast Alaska. I don't expect to be able to post anything more for a few days, but hopefully we can get you some pictures of the wonderful Klondike and Yukon area.

Since we did the Dempster from Inuvik to Dawson City this summer (2006) I thought I'd write some notes about the trip for other cyclists. If you have additional notes, please add your comments to this page.

• Resources
  • The Milepost is essential. Copy or rip out the section about the Dempster and you'll know where every pullout and campground is.
  • Alys and Pete's book Alaska Bicycle Touring Guide is getting mighty old, but it's the only place you can find out where water is available. That's something that matters to a cyclist and not to most other travelers.
  • Journals from other riders who did the Dempster: Jeff Kruys (2006), Murray Snyder (2006), Mike Vermuelen (1996)
• Things you'll need
  • Mosquito headnet (or full body suit) and repellent. Mostly we liked the headnet instead of repellent.
  • Bear Cache/Cannister (or see our note on using garbage cans as a cache)
  • Eye protection - lots of dust and things flying.

We would like to introduce Carol Norwegian and her mom, Teri. We meet Carol walking 125km from Tsiigehtchic to Inuvik in order to raise money for cancer. Terry, a survivor, creates incredible tradition needle work and beading on footwear made from local hides which is shown in this foot. Carol gave us all her unused granola bars and bug spray which we needed to get over the many hills on the dempster. Thanks Carol and Terry. You are wonderful folks we treasure meeting.

This is a shot of the village church which we camped in back of because it was cooler and had less mesquitos. What a view.

Look there is downhill on Wright pass. Yey.

This is what the tundra looks close to the Artic Circle.

Several places we found these signs. The road is widened and made into an air strip landing.

This sign has a new meaning of share the road.

Here is we are camping in back of the church at Tsiigehtchic which over looks the great Mckenzie River. Little Anthony, one of the kids in the village joins us for several meals. The Gw'chin, the local aboriginal people, have lived here for as long as anyone can remember, came here to hunt and fish and then moved on with the season. Now it is a village of perhaps 200 people who live here year round.

Anthony dad, Russel, helps run the ferry which you can see in the far distance. This one just one of the three ferry crossing we have used so far. A bridge can not be built here because of the freezing and thawing of the river is too mighty it has knocked down bridges that have been built before.