Day 31 Mileage 6,557.6 kms. We travelled 340.5 kms today from Fort Providence to Yellowknife. After touring Fort Providence we headed out across 200 kms of burnt out forest, and forest in an ever-changing variety of trees. We ran into several wood bison herds on the way and all had young by their sides. We also spotted a black bear just outside the Fort. We took our time travelling, checking out spots we could boondock on our way back. About 100 kms from Yellowknife the landscape changed drastically from sandy forest land to rock and the closer to Yellowknife the larger the rock size and amount of rock. Yes we are in the Precambrian Shield of Canada where they build cities on a rock. We got in later and the truck and camper were totally covered in mud from gravel roads and construction so after several frustrating attempts we finally found a carwash, $22 later it was near clean. We then fueled up $1.79/litre and checked in at the Fred Henne Territorial Park at $33.50. The park has showers, swimming area, and boat launch and washroom facilities. Being as it is on the outskirts of Yellowknife the nearby airport and highway make it a bit noisy. We had requested a non-electrical site and were told they were all electrical. Later finding out there must have been a communication breakdown as we found a number of un-serviced sites. See what tomorrow brings.
Day 32 Mileage 6,656 kms travelled only 98.3 kms today from Yellowknife to the end of the road then back to Reid Territorial Park campground. We picked up some supplies at Co-op in Yellowknife and found grocery prices quite comparable with those in Saskatoon some items a little more some a little less but pretty much on par. We then headed to the end of the road down Highway 4. The end of the road is at Tibbet Lake where in the winter the ice road starts so semis can haul supplies to the diamond mines further north. A beautiful drive and a really nice stopover area at the roads end. The water is clear and the air totally unpolluted fresh. The drive takes you up and down a curvy road through rough rock landscape of the Canadian Shield. On the way back we stopped at Reid Lake campground. The campground offers dry camping only but has showers, potable water and sani dump. This is possibly one of the nicest campgrounds we have stayed at on our trip and there have been some really nice ones. The tent camping facilities up in the rocks are fantastic and the RV sites are large, well maintained and not a bad one on the loops. Our mid-week rate was $11.81 and the weekend rate (Fri. to Mon. $23.63 taxes in). Firewood not included but available at $10/bundle. Reid Lake is great for canoeing, fishing and the start of a canoe route that finishes in Yellowknife. We were not planning on staying but booked 2 nights which was all that was available to us. Unfortunately, as with all parks that offer online booking reservations weekends and prime time the sites are all booked but not always utilized. We loved the Yukon no reservation first come first served policy worked in the past for campgrounds and works just fine now for the Yukon Parks and tourists.
Day 33 No mileage today as we did not move we enjoyed Reid Lake campground it was quiet this morning a slow start. We talked ourselves into inflating the Sea Eagle and going for a paddle to see the rapids and totally enjoyed a morning on the water. We managed to dock on the rocks and hike overland to see the rapids and the effort was worth it. A day of hiking, showers, camper maintenance, I also managed to get some writing done on my blog as we will be leaving for Yellowknife tomorrow and cell coverage. I took time out of my writing when a fellow I had been talking to from Ontario asked me to fillet and debone a couple of Jack he had caught with his grandson. So after a two fish deboning class I decided never to tell anyone I knew how to debone Jack again. An evening of sitting around the fire and a short hike, it’s getting busy and nosier now as the weekend locals are arriving. We’ll be on the move again tomorrow it was nice and a great campsite. We had threatened some friends we met while in Hythe on our way to Dawson City we would visit them in Yellowknife sometime. Well as we were departing their daughter said ‘see you in Yellowknife’ at the time considered a bit of a joke between us as we were not planning to head to Yellowknife on this trip. Well as you know our plans changed, we enjoyed their company in Hythe and tomorrow we would end up on their driveway, we did phone to warn them, and lesson learned be careful who you invite they may show up.
Thanks again for following along and hope you enjoy the photographs we really enjoyed the Northwest Territories and the vast wilderness. In my next blog we will share some experiences and photographs of a very unique northern city Yellowknife NWT.
We are now back home at the cabin in Saskatchewan and slowly catching up on sharing our travels to the Yukon and NWT returning through northern Alberta and Saskatchewan and you’r invited along….hope to see you down the road!
Gerry and Charlottee
Beautiful pictures! Thanks for sharing!
Glad you enjoyed thanks
How were the bugs? I have been camping across Canada but not to NWT yet. That was in the seventies through to the mid nineties. Now I prefere a room with indoor plumbing. Enjoyed your journey. Thanks
I lived in YK for ten years before a move to the Eastern Arctic. My son and family currently live in YK. I have lived across Canada and YK is one of my favourites. I recommend people travel up to the NWT and the Yukon. They are beautiful areas of our country