What an adventure!

Here is the GPS track of the trip. Only leg it didn’t capture (I forgot to turn it on) was the Top of the World drive outside Dawson City. A big thank you to Peter Anderson at SFU for loaning the InReach device to me.

9,470 km later I’m home. Slept in 17 different places, ate way too much fried food, went through three cases of bottled water and almost 4 litres of windshield washer fluid and a large package of hand wipes. Saw black bears, moose, deer, elk, coyotes, bison, bald eagles, way too many ravens and a few mountain sheep. Sadly, no grizzly or caribou.

Drove through British Columbia, Alaska (briefly), Yukon Territory and Northwest Territory. Over 2,000 of gravel, dirt, shale, bud and snow driving. Didn’t get stuck or go over the soft shoulder in to the muskeg.

I packed two spare tires, a tire repair kit and compressor, new larger tire iron, gloves for changing a tire in the mud, extra gas, satellite phone and a GPS tracker with emergency help button. Did lots of research on what to expect in terms of road hazards. Watched Youtube videos on using the Toyota jack and spare tire. All for naught. Still, better to be prepared.

Would I do the same trip again? In a heartbeat. Three things I would change: bring Dena along with me, go two weeks earlier to see more of the fall colours and less snow, and do it in somebody else’s truck.

Nothing left to do now but catch up with Dena, deep clean the SUV, catch up on laundry, charge the camera batteries and take the cameras and lenses in for a long overdue cleaning. Oh, and have a lakeside bonfire with s'mores, drinks and cigars tonight. It's wonderful to be home!