For those that live outside the North and who have never been up here before – yes we have roads. Some. Sometimes. Traveling by road in the North is not uncommon – especially in the North & South Slave regions where the largest percentage of the population resides.

It is not unusual to see a small compact car or a gleaming luxury Cadillac, Corvette or Mustang soaring around the streets. In the past year or so Fort Smith received completely new walkways, bike paths and pavement – a several million dollar development well received by my own compact car and its lackluster off-roading abilities. When it does come to off-roading we take a jeep or a truck to get where we are going.

The highway 5 that leads into Fort Smith is partially paved and as a result one acquires an infamous “northern windshield’ within short time of going up and down it. Highway 2 is mostly paved, if you do not count the ferry river before Fort Providence on the road to Yellowknife. The unfinished Deh Cho bridge idles nearby.

Often I have found myself in trouble on the roads – breaking down in -40, or colder with the wind chill. Sliding off the road and getting sucked into the ditch is no fun and being stuck out there is even worse.

These days I take along a Spot Tracking Device and a cell phone – just in case. What is really unusual is whenever I do not have it I run into the most trouble and whenever I do have it I never encounter it.

Murphy’s Law..

(To read what happens next click here)

I’m a contributing writer at Let’s Be Wild.com – a website dedicated to unadulterated adventure travel stories and photography. Check it out!