Day 15 – Clear Skies and Expansive Vistas!

 Oh, what a difference clear skies and sunshine make! Our return trip south on the Dempster demonstrated that to no end. When we headed north, the second day traveling up through the Arctic Circle, Wright Pass, and the border between the Yukon and the Northwest Territories we drove through rain and fog. In contrast, our trip south had mostly blue skies and sunshine. 


The fog kept us from seeing some of the most expansive views either of us have seen. Much of the Dempster at this point travels up and through the Eagle Plain escarpment. Without fog we could see the vast rolling valleys between the Richardson Mountains to the West and the Selwyn and Mackenzie Ranges to the east.

The fog also made the drive eerie. When you cannot see what is over the rise or barely beyond the side of the road, you wonder if there are drop offs, or other hazards that you cannot see. Oncoming vehicles were definitely a worry when we couldn’t see.  






The temperature too had a marked difference. The first time over Wright Pass (elevation 3,000 ft) the temperature was in the upper 30’s whereas the second time over the pass, as we headed south, the temperature was in the 70’s!
Same people and smiles, just heading north we had to bundle up and hopped out for quick photo stops. Brrrr, the truck felt good when we hopped back in. Can you tell which photo was taken on which direction?

Although rain is an important part of the Earth’s elements, I do believe I prefer to travel under clear skies, especially when there is such spectacular scenery to behold!


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