Dempster Highway

Now there is an experience. 460 miles of dirt of varying degrees of drive-ability, One gas stop at the approximate middle. This is OK for 150 gallon diesel capacity, but could tax some passenger tow cars ability to make the fuel stop without extra fuel.

The condition varies from typical Canadian maintained 50 mph gravel, to 60 mph dirt, to 35 mph rocky gravel similar to the road between Chicken and the US/Ca. border and Chicken to Eagle.

Has some awesome Top of the World views also, and some beautiful purple mountains.

Drive-ability deteriorates before Eagle Plains, and does not improve significantly until the Arctic Circle is reached.

Inuvik is anti-climatic, a real town, not touristy, but has a very nice tourist center. It does have one hi-lite: Mosquitoes that are vicious. Nothing deters them, they fly and attack even in a windy rain. Unheard of! Some people that think the average Canadian mosquito is bad have not seen the Inuvik mosquito.

I left my MH at Eagle Plains and drove the towed the rest of the way. Saves a little money, especially if you tent camp at Inuvik. Just stake the tent down, not for the wind, but for the mosquitoes! Leaving the MH at Eagle Plains alleviates one other worry issue - the two ferries that are north of Eagle Plains. These can always be tricky, because the ramp are not keep level. After seeing them, I was glad I left the MH, as I have a long and low rear overhang that does not like ferry ramps.

Especially the 3-way ferry, goes to three locations. Some persons going from A to B have to back off the ferry. Not good, with a tow!

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Campbell Highway

In order to avoid traveling previously tread terrain, and to avoid that awful streak of the Alaskan Highway from before - Destruction Bay to Beaver Creek, I took the all-dirt Campbell Highway. This was a very long stretch (360 miles) of the dustiest highway that I have ever seen. My toad is chocked up with dirt, inside and out. The inside of the MH looks like it has been setting for 3 weeks with all windows open. It took $30.00 of toonies to get the grime off the outside of the MH and Jeep with a pressure washer.

The view is OK. The drive-ability of the road is OK, if you can tolerate the dust. I think the next time I would take the Alaskan Highway instead, but then I have been there, done that (the Campbell). Perhaps you haven't. I am sure that the dust on the Dempster would have been as bad, except there were some showers to temper the dust.

I am going to leave Yellowknife as the dusty part of the next trip to Ca., along with Prudhoe Bay.

I have budgeted one whole day, maybe two, at Fort Nelson just to get things back in clean order again.

In summary, there is no reason to not take the Campbell, and if you can digest dust, you will save some money on meals.
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Tok - Chicken - Eagle - Dawson

Roads are easily traveled by large RV. The gravel portion from Chicken to the Canadian border is slow but OK. Narrow and windy in some places, some washboard, but few pot holes.

Do not recommend RV travel to Eagle, however, unless it is a small RV or pickup camper.

NOTE: There is a ferry at Dawson. Be wary of the conditions of the graded ramp. The hitch on my RV hung up on loading. I finally ad to remove the toad, then they could move the ferry out toward the river to allow the ramp to drop and un-catch the hitch.

This done, I loaded the toad separately. There is a dozer at each ramp to keep it in condition, level with the river level. They can make the ramp almost completely level, but they don't. They apparently like to play with the nerves of persons owning expensive RVs. Do not forget that there is a sign right on the ramp that disclaims any responsibility for damage. No skin off their rump, err... ramp.

Worst road so far was the Cassiar.
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Cassiar Highway, Hwy 37

The Cassiar Highway is not recommended for large heavy rigs. The first 1/3 of it appears good, as is the side road 37A to Hyder.

However, as one proceeds into the middle third, it becomes a "dashed" road to match the map. There are strips of gravel interspersed with strips of pavement, 200 - 500 Km long, typically. Very annoying to drive on. There are several miles of rough unpaved construction also, but that alone should not deter one from using highway 37.

The final 1/3 is the deceiving part. It seems OK, but north of Jade City, the width becomes less and lass, until it is almost too narrow for two large vehicles to meet without coming to a near stop. It has many "invisible" heaves that make it difficult to control a large vehicle. Also, The shoulders look very nice, but they are soft. BEWARE, do not get a rear wheel on a shoulder at speed, or you may be "sucked" off the highway. This almost happened to me.

Unless you are a most experienced, diehard kind of driver, I would not recommend the Cassiar for any large Class A or Class C, especially of the widebody variety. It is simply too tedious a drive to make the effort worthwhile.

You will be too busy keeping the rig on the road to notice any wildlife or enjoy any scenery.

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PH1, PH97, PH16 (Yellowhead Highway)

This series of highways, which take you from Hope to Prince Rupert, via Prince George, are all very good highways, suitable fo any size or type RV. There is an abundance of rest areas and pullouts for relaxation. Although on te interior routes, rest areas are posted "no overnight stay", apparently it is a common practice to ignore the signs.

One thing I noticed, though, is that on some lesser roads, such as PH16, grades can exceed the usual maximum of 7% experienced in ost of the US. The other downside is that the grade is not specified on the signs, so be wary, as one can find himself pushing the limits on brake fade. USE EXHAUST BRAKES!
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