First Trip To The Northwest Territories

When you come across a road sign that reads, "No Gas For 328 Miles", you know that road only leads to one place...adventure.  My first trip into the Northwest Territories was just one of many road trips I experienced living in the north.

After studying that sign many times, I knew I had to go for it.  I had not been to the Northwest Territories before at this point and knew I had to make that opportunity happen while I was living so close in the Yukon.

So, in a split second, it was all decided.  I would boldly go into the unknown, alone.

At the time I was living in the north, I drove a 1976 Chevy 3/4 ton truck.  Originally used as a wood truck on the reserve, I bought the truck for $500.00, basically paying for the rebuilt transmission.  The body of the truck was pretty done in by the time I found it.  Rust was everywhere and there were some other minor problems, but to me, it didn't matter a bit.  I loved this truck.  I loved the huge old steering wheel and the fact that I needed to sit on a cushion to see over the dash.  I installed a cranky old tape player so I could listen to my old tapes of Tom Petty, Neil Young, Michelle Shocked and many more.

I was addicted to my weekend adventures in that old truck.  To me, there was no better sense of freedom than I experienced in that beat up old bush truck.

I packed up all the necessary gear I would need and bided my time through the work week until that magic hour on Friday afternoons, when I would collect my dogs and head out.

On the way out of town, I stopped at the truck stop to gas up my truck, which was equipped with two large gas tanks.  I also filled up some gerry cans, which i threw in the box.

With Tom Petty blaring, I headed "into the great wide open".

I was driving up the Nahanni Range Road, which leads to the mining town of Tungsten.  Located there is the Cantung Mine, which holds about 55% of the world's reserve of Tungsten

There was nothing more thrilling than heading into the Mackenzie Mountain Range and  the Northwest Territories for the the first time in my life.

The Mackenzie Mountain Range, named after Canada's second Prime Minister, Alexander Mackenzie, it forms part of the Yukon/NWT boundary, between the Liard and Peel Rivers.

The Liard River is ancient and it's rugged beauty flows through the Yukon, British Columbia and NWT's.  It drains approximately 277, 100 square km of boreal forest and muskeg into the Mackenzie River at Fort Simpson, NWT and still remains the most incredible river I have ever seen or heard in my lifetime.  A force to be reckoned with, in spring, the massive chunks of ice that form over the winter, move in a slow and powerful dance that is inspring and belittling! It is also considered one of British Columbia's top natural wonders.

After hours of driving and exploring, I found an empty cabin just outside the Cantung Mine where I decided to camp for the night. 

I went in and started a fire inside the woodstove, as it was still cold and damp from the long winter and then went outside to start a fire by the small creek so I could cook up the tarmagon I had shot for supper for the dog's and myself. 

After eating a delicious supper, I settled in for the night in front of the woodstove and drifted off to sleep.  The next day I would check out the mine.