Life in Inuvik, Northwest Territories

Every summer, Inuvik’s Sir Alexander Mackenzie primary school boards its windows to protect against vandalism.

It’s a pretty dramatic move, but vandalism rates are high in Inuvik. (As you can imagine, glass is also expensive to replace.)

Walking by a garage today, this dog seemed to say “don’t try anything funny.”

This Yukon mountain resembles a rhinoceros. If it’s not already called Rhinocerous mountain, someone needs to change it immediately.

Why build a bridge when the Mackenzie river is frozen six months a year? During the summer months, people can use the Louis Cardinal Ferry, which is free.

It takes people across to Tsiigehthic.

Here’s a photo taken by Sarah Earley, on the Yukon side of the border. I think it gives you an idea of the Dempster Highway scenery size!

I’m swatting mosquitoes in an ocean of moss.

The 12-hour drive from Inuvik to Dawson City is beautiful.

There is only one building the whole way(Eagle Plains gas station and bar), and the rest is all natural valleys and mountains.

On July 20, there were a few brave cyclists attempting this route, with packs and water bottles.

This hawk was riding the air currents outside Tsiigehthic on July 20.

Interesting to think that birds have better vision than humans. What does their world look like? Do they see every individual pebble, tree leaf and blade of grass, even at a great height?

Dawson City — home of the music festival which happened July 20-23 — is a really picturesque town. Everything seems to have the Gold Rush, Klondike feeling you’d expect. There are Stern Wheeler boats shored on the river, and bars are called “Saloons.”

I hear the town council (or Parks Canada, not sure) is involved in keeping the town looking ‘authentic,’ by regulating architecture.

The town only has 800 residents in the winter, but thousands of people visit every summer and the shops come to life.

(Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to grab a banjo, some bacon, a sturdy donkey, a coffee pot, some beans and go panning for gold in the mountains.)

Here’s a blurry but interesting shot, from last weekend’s trip to Dawson City. (He moved quickly, as you can imagine.)

This fox is very, very thin!

Hey, it’s band practice — Peter is just goofing around with an old snowshoe.