- Continue to the junction of the Dempster Highway
- Check the tank and tires again
- Elk family crosses the street
- Visit to the Tombstone Visitors Center
- Continue through the Ogilvie Mountains towards Eagle Plains
740 km of unpaved gravel road, four petrol stations, three villages, five campgrounds: Canada's northernmost road leads through one of the last true wilds on our planet up to Inuvik. Since I was able to experience the first 100 km of the Dempster Highway up to the Tombstone Territorial Park 5 years ago, this road has been one of my dream destinations. Especially since the intense autumn colors give the tundra its special charm at this time of year.
So I drive on as quickly as possible to the Dempster junction. After a good hour I reached it and now have to fill up the tank again, finally the next gas station only follows at the Eagle Plains Hotel, 370 km away. Food, water and of course the spare tire are ready. It takes a moment to figure out how this unmanned gas station works. Then I can get started. Always slowly, instead of the allowed 90 with 60 km / h, I have more time to avoid the potholes and sharp stones and apart from that I have more time to enjoy the fantastic landscape. It starts out promisingly, no sooner has a cow moose crossed the road with two almost fully grown young animals. After just a few kilometers, I am sure that the decision to come up here again was the right one. The tundra is in full autumn colors. The leaves of the deciduous trees are bright yellow, those of the bushes are intense red, a unique spectacle.
Soon I will reach Tombstone Park. The road is gaining height and in the treeless expanses the landscape is simply magnificent to look at. I make a short stop at the Visitors Center and inquire about the weather, animals and hiking trails. Since clouds are slowly but surely gathering up and it looks better further north, I decide to go on straight away. I stop again and again to enjoy the landscape and have a picnic stop. The extremely varied route continues after Tombstone Park over the North Fork Pass through the Ogilvie Mountains. Here I reach Engineer Creek Campground. I read something and decide to cook my dinner here. The weather is now so nice again that I decide to continue the journey in the evening light. The Dempster Highway now leads along the Ogilvie River and suddenly up to the Eagle Plains. From up here you have a magnificent view of the deserted land and the river valleys of the Peel and Ogilvie Rivers. I find a wonderfully located place to camp wild. I get into conversation with my neighbor, a German pensioner and a real fanatic of the Far North. We exchange experiences and tips. I make myself another tea and look at the pictures taken today before going to bed.
