Arctic Road Trip Across Canada"> Arctic Ice Roads 2012

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The Ice Road to Tuktoyaktuk

Norwest Territories, Canada, North of the Arctic Circle

Crossing Canada filming winter weather including the Arctic Circle and a trip on the world's longest ice road onto the Arctic Ocean.

What an adventure. Mark Robinson and I went on what can only be described as the "ultimate Canadian winter road trip". We were filming several new episodes of the "Stormhunters" TV series for The Weather Network, and this was the most ambitious of them all.
 
We drove from Toronto, all the way across Canada, to the Pacific Ocean, then turned north and continued past the Arctic Circle, onto the ice roads and onto the frozen Arctic Ocean. The entire journey took 35 days in total (9 days just to get back home) and we covered over 17,000km. Plus, we did this in the middle of winter!
 
It was epic!

Road Trip Route

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The Dempster Highway in winter.

Another stunning view of the Dempster. It was so windy that all the snow had been blown off the road.

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Ptarmigan on the Dempster Highway.

More stunning mountain views in the northern Yukon.

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Myself and Mark standing at the Arctic Circle. 5 minutes after this photo was taken, we were turned back because the road was shut down and completely impassable due to blowing snow.

Here's what the Dempster Highway looked like, and this was the GOOD portion. It's no surprise that it was closed.

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The skies cleared at Eagle Plains, the halfway point on the Dempster and the northern lights began to put on a really great show.

Great colors in the sky - Eagle Plains, Yukon.

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Northern lights through the trees - Eagle Plains.

More aurora madness - Eagle Plains.

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Day 2, waiting for the highway to re-open.

A gorgeous Arctic Circle sunrise at Eagle Plains along the Dempster Highway.

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Back at the Arctic Circle. This time the weather didn't stop us.

An abandoned car on the Dempster Highway. This is what happens when you ignore the travel warnings.

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The amazing landscape from the road, just south of the Northwest Territories border.

Arctic sunset.

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One of my favorites. The colors were out of this world. What a sunset!

We finally reach the Northwest Territories!

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The ice road between Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk. Part of it is on the Mackenzie River and part is on the Arctic Ocean.

Driving on the Beaufort Sea, part of the frozen Arctic Ocean, en route to Tuktoyaktuk.

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Mark on the roof, getting the shot of the ice road.

Driving on the longest ice road in the world. The GPS says I'm driving on the Arctic Ocean... It is correct!

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Arctic landscape between Inuvik & Tuk.

Tuktoyaktuk at sunset. I used the window tint on the car to filter the sunlight.

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Mark on the sea ice at sunset in Tuk.

A light pillar above the setting sun at Tuk.

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A pingo outside of Tuk. They are mounds of earth-covered ice found in the arctic.

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Northern Lights - Tuktoyaktuk.

Aurora borealis reflected in the hood of my truck - Tuktoyaktuk.

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More amazing northern lights.

Northern lights above the cemetery in Tuk.

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Incredible reds and greens in the aurora borealis.

The sky, lit up like a Christmas tree.

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Ever wonder what it's like to look straight up into an amazing display of the aurora borealis? Wonder no more.

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Looking down at one of the many cracks in the ice road - Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories.

Mark, the ice road speed bump.

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On the ice road near Tuk.

Yes, it was cold in Tuk.

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Mark Robinson, mushing the pack. Dog sledding north of the Arctic Circle in Inuvik, NWT.

Awesome sundogs in the sky caused by sunlight refracting through hexagonal ice crystals in the air. The temperature was about -18C.

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An extraordinarily bright sundog shines on a cabin outside Inuvik.

Yukon mountains on a nice, clear day.