Dempster Highway Research Project

DempsterResearch · Feb 10, 2014

Phase 2.

Update: The Dempster Highway Adventure Motorcycle Survey is live until August 1, 2014. To fill out the survey, follow this link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Dempster

More information below (post #18)

Phase 1.
The Government of Northwest Territories' Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment is jointly undertaking a Dempster Highway Adventure Motorcycle research project with the Yukon Government. The aim of this research project is to better understand Dempster Highway adventure motorcycle riders and the services, products and infrastructural improvements that are needed to enhance or support this experience.

As most of you are aware the Government of Northwest Territories is committed to the design, development, construction and maintenance of a highway extending the Mackenzie Highway from Wrigley to the Dempster Highway, and extending the Dempster Highway from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk. When these two roads are completed, the Alaska, Campbell, Dempster, Mackenzie and Liard Highways would become an amazing gravel loop.

The first phase of our study involves a telephone interview with people who recently done the Dempster. The interview should take between 30 to 60 minutes to complete and it is confidential and no personal data will be used or shared with anyone outside the research team. A $100 VISA Gift Card will be provided as an honorarium to interview participants. The interview questions are related to all activities involved in organizing and completing a Dempster Highway motorcycle trip.

The second phase of the study will be an online survey. I will provide details of the survey later.

At this point, I would like to talk to inmates who recently rode the Dempster. Please send me a PM with the following information, if you are interested in being part of this project:

Date of travel:
Where are you from (city/province/country)

All our communication is strictly confidential and will not be shared with anyone outside the research team. If you have any questions about this research project or either territorial government, please visit our websites or contact me.

Government of Northwest Territories Tourism and Parks:
http://www.iti.gov.nt.ca/sectors/tourism

Yukon Government Department of Tourism and Culture:
http://www.tc.gov.yk.ca/tourism

Thank you for your time.

Andras Lukacs
Research Analyst
Tourism and Parks
Government of the Northwest Territories
P.O. Box 1320
Yellowknife, NT X1A 2L9
T: (867) 920-3245
E: andras_lukacs@gov.nt.ca

DempsterResearch · Feb 10, 2014

reserved

keith in alaska · Feb 11, 2014

private email sent.

Good luck with this project.

Keith Hull, owner
Alaska Motorcycle Adventures
www.rentalaska.com

Cal · Feb 11, 2014

Andras
I rode the Dempster in June 2012 and arranged a Spanish rider from Malaga to rent a bike here and ride it with me. It ended up 3 of us, 1 american, Canadian and Spaniard. We spent 10 days in the Yukon and NWT's.
I was so impressed I went back to the NWT's in June of 2013 this time up from Alberta and rode to all the cities in the south. I also bought a fishing licence and fished every day for 3 weeks. Went part way up to Wrigley from Ft. Simpson and did a Nahanni flight seeing with Simpson Air.
I will definitely go back to ride the new road to Tuk if it opens and if the road loops to the Dempster from Wrigley.

As it stands now the south of the NWT's is off the adventure riders radar as I only saw 1 other bike in 3 weeks in June.
By the way the fishing is the best I have ever seen, I caught and released fish every single day!!
Cal

gunnerbuck · Feb 11, 2014

Hi Andras,
Could you post up a map of the loop roads you are proposing and how they fit in with the existing network...

It is nice to see the Yukon government taking a pro motorcycle stance by recognizing the tourism value and actually asking for input from the riders themselves ... I wish more regions in Canada would follow suit...

Tropic-Of-Canada · Feb 11, 2014

I'd go north again in a heartbeat! I'd take some time to hike out into the scenery off of the Dempster, something I never really had time for when I was there... I'll never forget it, that's for sure!

revitup · Feb 13, 2014

Interested, PM sent.

DempsterResearch · Feb 13, 2014

Hi Folks,

Thank you for the interest. I'm working through your emails and messages right now and will contact you soon.

You can find more information about the MacKenzie Valley Highway here:

http://www.dot.gov.nt.ca/_live/pages/wpPages/MVH_Overview.aspx

And a pdf file of the map:

http://www.dot.gov.nt.ca/_live/documents/content/MVH Overview Map.pdf

Cheers.

Andras

OneEffinName · Feb 14, 2014

Well this looks very interesting...

So where exactly does the pavement end? Can I guy ride all the way to Tuk? Is there anything between Wrigley and Tuk? (Food, gas, shelter)

Since I hate riding on the pavement, I could see myself trucking it up to the "end of the road" then take the 690 out on the gravel and see if I could cuddle up with some *real* bears.

DempsterResearch · Feb 14, 2014

OneEffinName said: ↑

So where exactly does the pavement end? Can I guy ride all the way to Tuk? Is there anything between Wrigley and Tuk? (Food, gas, shelter)
Click to expand...

I believe 90% of the loop is gravel (everything but the Alaska Highway). There are communities between Wrigley and Inuvik: Tulita, Norman Wells and Fort Good Hope. The stretch between Good Hope and Inuvik appears to be the longest and may require extra fuel.

01001010 01000011 · Feb 14, 2014

Are the communities currently connected by any type of limited use road?
Is the plan to improve a path that exists or cut a new road, its tough to tell
with the current map link.

DempsterResearch · Feb 14, 2014

They are currently connected via ice-roads.

http://www.dot.gov.nt.ca/_live/pages/wpPages/roadConditions.aspx

I have no further information about the proposed all-weather road.

Bill 310 · Feb 15, 2014

OneEffinName said: ↑

Well this looks very interesting...

So where exactly does the pavement end? Can I guy ride all the way to Tuk? Is there anything between Wrigley and Tuk? (Food, gas, shelter)
Click to expand...

The pavement ends at Klondike River Crossing and the internet remains your friend

OneEffinName said: ↑

Since I hate riding on the pavement, I could see myself trucking it up to the "end of the road" then take the 690 out on the gravel and see if I could cuddle up with some *real* bears.
Click to expand...

The real risk on riding in the far north is lost on most people.

First of all there is very limited help on the road. The Dalton is a virtual Interstate in comparison to the Dempster and the new road to Tuk will be even more remote.

Seeing the Emergency landing strips is sobering. Riding through the miles of heavy construction conditions brings the thought of one's mortality into clear focus on any motorcycle. Every rider has a different experience because the road changes constantly

If you get into "real trouble" it is very likely that you are now putting others at risk trying to provide help.

There is no doubt you will meet animals. I am delighted that this project is happening and riding the Dempster remains one of our greatest rides ever and I want more riders to experience it but it is far more than most riders can manage when things go wrong.

To share the beauty of the North I have started YT NWT photo thread here http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=954990

Cal · Feb 15, 2014

Calgary Herald had a 1/2 page ad this morning from the GNWT looking for civil engineers and a construction manager to help build the 140km Inuvik to Tuk road.

Durden · Feb 18, 2014

This is great news, I found it a bit anti-climactic to travel all that distance and not quite make it to the Ocean. I ended up taking a flight up to Tuk.

I'd love to go back up north, especially if they build this road.

What the Dempster needs is a few more self regulated camping locations.

DempsterResearch · Feb 19, 2014

Hi Folks,

Currently all of the interview spots are filled. However, we will have a second phase of this study, sometimes in March-April and I will send anyone an invitation who didn't get in during phase 1.

Thank you for the interest and visiting our Territories.

Regards,

Andras

Grinnin · Feb 23, 2014

I sent a PM before I looked at page 2; I was so enthusiastic that I didn't see the first phase is full.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Dempster and some of the other roads in the area. I hope the survey participants provide useful information.

DempsterResearch · Jun 13, 2014

Hi Folks,

I have some updates. It took a while to launch Phase 2, but it's finally live:

"The Dempster Highway Adventure Motorcycle Survey is being conducted by the Government of Northwest Territories and the Government of Yukon. The goal of this research project is to better understand Dempster Highway adventure motorcycle riders and the services, products and infrastructure that are needed to enhance or support this experience.

The survey is open to motorcyclists who have ridden the Dempster Highway or those who are still planning their northern adventure. The survey should only take about 8-10 minutes of your time. Your answers will remain completely anonymous. However, at the end of survey you will have the opportunity to enter your contact information to enter a draw for camping equipment packages valued at $500 each."

To fill out the survey, please follow this link: (be advised that you can only complete the survey once):

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Dempster

Please let me know if you have any questions.

DrydenRider · Jun 20, 2014

Rode the Dempster in 2012. Incredible scenery and ride of a lifetime. Survey is filled out. Would love to return once the road to Tuktoyuktuk is completed.

40MileDesertRat · Jun 23, 2014

DempsterResearch said: ↑

Phase 2.

Update: The Dempster Highway Adventure Motorcycle Survey is live until August 1, 2014. To fill out the survey, follow this link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Dempster

More information below (post #18)

Phase 1.
The Government of Northwest Territories' Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment is jointly undertaking a Dempster Highway Adventure Motorcycle research project with the Yukon Government. The aim of this research project is to better understand Dempster Highway adventure motorcycle riders and the services, products and infrastructural improvements that are needed to enhance or support this experience.

As most of you are aware the Government of Northwest Territories is committed to the design, development, construction and maintenance of a highway extending the Mackenzie Highway from Wrigley to the Dempster Highway, and extending the Dempster Highway from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk. When these two roads are completed, the Alaska, Campbell, Dempster, Mackenzie and Liard Highways would become an amazing gravel loop.

The first phase of our study involves a telephone interview with people who recently done the Dempster. The interview should take between 30 to 60 minutes to complete and it is confidential and no personal data will be used or shared with anyone outside the research team. A $100 VISA Gift Card will be provided as an honorarium to interview participants. The interview questions are related to all activities involved in organizing and completing a Dempster Highway motorcycle trip.

The second phase of the study will be an online survey. I will provide details of the survey later.

At this point, I would like to talk to inmates who recently rode the Dempster. Please send me a PM with the following information, if you are interested in being part of this project:

Date of travel:
Where are you from (city/province/country)

All our communication is strictly confidential and will not be shared with anyone outside the research team. If you have any questions about this research project or either territorial government, please visit our websites or contact me.

Government of Northwest Territories Tourism and Parks:
http://www.iti.gov.nt.ca/sectors/tourism

Yukon Government Department of Tourism and Culture:
http://www.tc.gov.yk.ca/tourism

Thank you for your time.

Andras Lukacs
Research Analyst
Tourism and Parks
Government of the Northwest Territories
P.O. Box 1320
Yellowknife, NT X1A 2L9
T: (867) 920-3245
E: andras_lukacs@gov.nt.ca
Click to expand...

I hate surveys, but I did this one for Canada! Great Country, great people. Please do not pave the Dempster, I coming back next year.

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