Tour Arctic - FAQ
On Tour Arctic, cyclists travel from the Pacific Ocean to the Arctic. Tour Arctic is a challenging tour - the information on this page has been prepared to answer Frequently Asked Questions about the Tour. For full details on the event please go to the event information page: Tour Arctic
The following are answers to Frequently asked Questions about Tour Arctic and about travelling by bike on roads in wilderness areas of Canada.
Type of Bicycle: Tour Arctic cyclists are on paved roads in British Columbia and in the Yukon to Dawson. The Dempster Highway segment from Dawson to Inuvik is mostly unpaved.
On Cycle Canada's other expedition trips, we recommend a touring bike. For those trips and for the paved road segments of Tour Arctic, tire widths of 25 to 32 mm are fine. Tire choice depends on personal preference. For Tour Arctic a touring bike may do the job but there is a qualification.
For the Dempster Highway segment. The Dempster Highway is unpaved but it is regularly and continually maintained with ongoing grading and maintenance thoughout the year. For this section of Tour Arctic riders will need tires with a minimum width of 32 mm and tire widths in the range of 35-40 would be better. Choice of tire width depends in part of the weight of the rider. In looking at tire fit on a bike, keep in mind that wider ties likely will have a higher profile, so more clearance will be needed to accommodate mudguards.
Some touring bikes would fit that bill. A mountain bike would as well but it is a less attractive choice for the paved road segments of the trip. If you used a mountain bike, you would want one that can lock the suspension for more efficient riding on road. And you would want slicks (not knobby tires) for the paved road segments. A cyclocross bike is a design that can work for the paved road portion with skinnier tires and with wider, tougher tires for the Dempster section. There has been a resurgence in cyclocross in recent years and several manufacturers have cyclocross models
Camping Facilities: On Tour Arctic we camp at three different types of facilities.
In more populous areas we find full-service campgrounds with running water, showers and electricity. In remote areas, we use campgrounds with limited services — pump water, pit toilets and no electricity. In some remote locations we make special arrangements to have services but they will be limited.
In really remote sections it is wilderness camping with no designated campground, no running or pump water, no toilets and no electricity. Where we have wilderness conditions we'll have portable wilderness toilets and showers. Be prepared, though, to rough it some nights.
Vehicle and Mechanical Support: We have a van with detachable trailer to support Tour Arctic. The support vehicle carries the galley kitchen, food, participants' gear and other equipment to support the tour.
Cycle Canada staff prepare meals on riding days, this includes a daily hot breakfast and dinners, plus a basic make-your-own lunch in the morning. There will be fruit and snacks available in camp and on the major ferry trips.
There is a full tool kit on board. As most bicycles now have components that are unique designs the result is there are few standard parts that fit all bikes. The common issue is a wheel problem, usually a broken spoke, and you should have the tool to remove a cog set if that is necessary to replace a spoke on the rear wheel, cog side. You should carry spare spokes that fit your bike. Please contact us or talk to someone at your local bike shop about what parts you might need.
There is space in the support vehicle to carry participants who are unable to ride due to health or bike issues. However, passenger space is limited.
Toe and Tire Dipping: Tour Arctic ends at Inuvik, which is the end of the summer road going north. At Tuktoyaktuk you can dip a tire or toe in the Arctic Ocean. In winter a temporary ice road provides for motorized vehicle traffic to Tuk, which is 194 km north on the ice road. Access at other times is by plane or boat.
Arctic Circle: The Arctic Circle is 66 degrees, 33 minutes, 39 seconds north latitude. It is the southern boundary of polar day, the period when the sun is visible around the clock during summer. On Tour Arctic, we cross the Arctic Circle on day 21 of the ride.
Weather: Inuvik is north of the Arctic Circle and has 56 days of continuous sunlight, beginning in late June. Winter has 30 days without sunlight, starting at the end of the first week of December. The longer summer period is due to a twilight effect when the sun is slightly below the horizon.
In the Yukon, daytime highs in high summer are typically between the mid-teens and low 20s (Celsius). Overnight lows are regularly below 10. It's rare for the temperature to drop below freezing in high summer. Because Inuvik is much further north, typical daytime highs when we are there are in the mid-teens.
August is the rainy month in the north but there is a lot less rain in the north compared with southern Canada. Snow is very rare in Whitehorse and Dawson during the high summer period from late June to early August. But it is possible to get snow flurries in summer at the mountain passes and at Inuvik in late August. However, it is unlikely that there would be deep accumulations of snow.
Mountain Passes: Tour Arctic goes through four mountain passes.
White Pass, in the Coast Mountains, is just over 1,000 metres.
On the Dempster Highway segment we go through the Ogilvie Mountains (two passes) and Richardson Mountains (one pass). The high elevation point on the trip is 1,289 metres at the summit of North Fork pass in the Ogilvies.
On several nights we are camp at between 500 and 1000 metres above sea level.
Bears and Bugs: Grizzlies are common in the north and bear sightings from the road are not uncommon. Riders are always advised to wear bright colours. Bears have notoriously bad eyesight but very keen hearing a good sense of smell. When in bear country make it a habit to keep track of wind direction. While riding do not use headphones, which can be a distraction from seeing or hearing things you need to see.
Bears are not the only concern. Small animals, such as squirrels, can trash a bike bag. Never have food, toothpaste, insect repellent or scented cosmetics in your tent. Store those items and your bike bag in a secure place overnight. When riding, carry food in a clean thoroughly sealed plastic bag.
Do not feed any wild animals or provide them with an opportunity to take your food products, including food waste. Use the bear-proof garbage containers. Don't throw those banana peels or apple cores into the woods!
Insects are a fact of life during summer in many parts of Canada. Mosquitoes are more of a nuisance in early summer and much less of an issue in later days of summer. High summer in the north is roughly from late June to early August.
Ferry Travel: On Tour Arctic there are 5 ferry trips - three on the Pacific and two river crossings. The scenery is spectacular on the two long ocean trips through British Columbia's Inside Passage and the Alaska Panhandle.
The first ferry trip is a short one from the B.C. mainland to Vancouver Island, it is integrated into the day's ride.
There are two major ferry trips, the first is a full day and the second two nights and one day. For the overnight ferry trip, bunks in cabins are provided for Tour Arctic riders. These trips are on ocean-going vessels that have full services.
The final two ferry rides are river crossings on the Dempster Highway. They are part of the roadway system and integrated into the days' rides.
Travel in the U.S.: We will be traveling through the Alaska Panhandle and almost all of that segment is by boat. We are on road in the U.S. for a short distance from Skagway to White Pass at the B.C. border.
Passports or other acceptable international travel ID documents will be required to enter the U.S. and return to Canada. Non-Canadians should check with the Canadian and U.S. consulates on whether a visa will be required.
Registered participants in Tour Arctic will receive registration packages with much more detail on planning, training, packing and preparing for Tour Arctic.
Photo children dipping toes courtesy of Northwest Territories Tourism, George Fischer photographer.
