Excursion to Yellowknife, CA

[Jack Stilts]

‎
As some of you know, I work for an undisclosed automotive manufacturer. We test prototype vehicles for the next model year to help prevent warranty issues. I have been chosen to lead a team from Michigan to Yellowknife, in Canada's Northwest Territories for some extended mileage accumulation.‎ I leave Monday for four weeks.

This is going to be an incredible opportunity to not only see one of the top regions on my travel list, but to also work and get paid while doing so. It's approximately 2800 miles one way, and I'm gearing up with recovery gear as I write this. I wish I could take the X with me (and my dog for that matter), but I am certainly not complaining there is some unforgiving land up there, in some very remote areas. Recovery gear, CB radios, and a 12-gauge are a must.

Just wanted to use this thread to share as many pictures as I can, and to share the adventure. I know I love reading about adventure under the glare of fluorescent lighting; hopefully this will help alleviate some of the wanderlust out there.

Can't wait to head out

‎

 

[Rammer'sX]

Dude, that is awesome, have fun, take lots of pics and enjoy!!!

 

[Jack Stilts]

Thanks, Ramiro!

Headed out this morning. Only 2750 miles to go :uhhh:

I'm going to be pretty close to a lot of
the areas that were in the Xpedition Overland series; I want to hit a few of them if I can. Whitehorse, the Dempster Highway, even the Arctic Circle. ‎

 

[Cruecible]

Have fun and good luck! That's a pretty incredible thing you get to do for your job! I hope whatever undisclosed vehicle you'll be using will be plenty capable in your travels

 

[Rammer'sX]

But, if you get stuck, get a hold of few local X owners just in case... You may be able to do some meet and greet...

 

[maillet282]

when you get to Regina Saskatchewan canada let me know I live 45 minutes away

Good luck and safe travels

 

[caseycamby]

That's amazing! Have fun and be safe. Can you at least disclose what type of vehicle? Truck, SUV, etc?

 

[J Everett]

I have some educated guesses as to what vehicle he's testing, but I'm gonna keep quiet until I'm told I can say something about it.

 

[Jack Stilts]

Have fun and good luck! That's a pretty incredible thing you get to do for your job! I hope whatever undisclosed vehicle you'll be using will be plenty capable in your travels

Thank you, thank you! I'm pretty grateful for such an opportunity.

But, if you get stuck, get a hold of few local X owners just in case... You may be able to do some meet and greet...

when you get to Regina Saskatchewan canada let me know I live 45 minutes away

Good luck and safe travels

Will do! I don't think there's too many northern Canadian members on the forums though...

That's amazing! Have fun and be safe. Can you at least disclose what type of vehicle? Truck, SUV, etc?

I have some educated guesses as to what vehicle he's testing, but I'm gonna keep quiet until I'm told I can say something about it.

They are pickup trucks. All I can say And I have full recovery gear packed, which is going to be interesting to take across the border...

 

[NismoFire]

......hiring?

 

[Jack Stilts]

......hiring?

Ah, trust me. It's not all like this. I've been there eight years and this is the first time I've ever left my desk for more than a weekend on business matters.
Sure pays off, though especially driving through the upper peninsula in the fall.

988 total miles down, 1861 to go...

 

[caseycamby]

Is the mileage your giving total or one way?

 

[Jack Stilts]

Is the mileage your giving total or one way?

That is one way, my friend.

 

[caseycamby]

Whoaaa! What's the sleeping gonna be like? Hotels every night?

 

[Jack Stilts]

Whoaaa! What's the sleeping gonna be like? Hotels every night?

Yep. Not a fan of hotels, but I'm in a pretty sweet setup at the moment. Can't complain

 

[caseycamby]

That's awesome! Like I said before, safe travels and happy motoring!

 

[J Everett]

Man, the UP looks pretty this time of year! I'm guessing you guys altered your route a bit from the one you originally posted.

 

[Jack Stilts]

when you get to Regina Saskatchewan canada let me know I live 45 minutes away

Good luck and safe travels

Sorry sir, we got in to Regina late and left early. Beautiful city, but good lord was it expensive. Raincheck - we're heading back the same way in a few weeks.

Man, the UP looks pretty this time of year! I'm guessing you guys altered your route a bit from the one you originally posted.

The UP is always beautiful. ALWAYS, YOU HEAR ME? Yeah, I didn't want to drive through Chicago, and I DID want to drive through the UP. Good thing it was my route to edit

Expedition update - Canada...is flat. I have never been to this part of Canada before, and I honestly thought it would be much more wooded. It's just all farm - southern Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Oof. Still beautiful, though. 1912 miles down! Few days left. Saw some cool stuff!

Like this Mercedes conversion camper from Rome.

And this very large moose that does not look large at all on a screen.

And this Tim Hortons trying to pretend it's an office.

And a beautiful, beautiful sunset with bug guts on the windshield really completing the imagery.

There were some other things I was going to share that I thought of while I was driving, but I'm exhausted. We've been pulling 12 hours a day of nonstop farmland driving. And I'm so sick of hotel-hopping. Can't I camp?! Ugh. Lame.

 

[metzican]

Sounds like a great trip. For cold weather testing I figured you guys wait another 3 months. I use to work at the ice tracks and rinks in the UP when I was in college. I plan to be up that way next late summer so if you have any suggestions let me know as I will be coming down nearly the same way to WI.

 

[J Everett]

Hmmmm, what may we deduce from those hood creases...

 

[maillet282]

Sorry sir, we got in to Regina late and left early. Beautiful city, but good lord was it expensive. Raincheck - we're heading back the same way in a few weeks.

No worries, if you guys have a bit more time on the way back let me know. and yes Saskatchewan is pretty much all farmland until you get passed Saskatoon

 

[Jack Stilts]

Hmmmm, what may we deduce from those hood creases...

Oh hush Focus on the sunset!


Finally made it here, after driving for six days. Welcome to Yellowknife, NT.

How cool are these license plates.

I want to get it registered for the X!

Summary of travels so far:

• Miles driven - 2,976
• Wildlife - 1 coyote, 3 moose, 2 black bears, countless bison, 3 bald eagles, and way, way too many ravens / blackbirds. They're creepy around here.
• People who have exclaimed "Oh! That's that new _______ truck, eh?!" - lots.

I wish Alaska wasn't so far from here. It seems so close. Same with the line for the Arctic Circle, but that's much more feasible. Going to try to make it happen!

 

[Rammer'sX]

Man, that sounds pretty exciting, take lots of pics and have safe travels.

 

[caseycamby]

So this is as far as you're going? Or can you keep going? haha

 

[maillet282]

what border crossing did you guys hit ? North Portal in North Dakota???

 

[Rammer'sX]

I think they crossed thru Sault Ste. Marie, MI, USA to Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada as Brian drove thru the UP, unless he went thru WI...

 

[Jack Stilts]

So this is as far as you're going? Or can you keep going? haha

This is the goal! Now it's testing for the week and then another six days home. Oof.

what border crossing did you guys hit ? North Portal in North Dakota???

I think they crossed thru Sault Ste. Marie, MI, USA to Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada as Brian drove thru the UP, unless he went thru WI...

Nope, the map I posted was my first version of the route. I made changes after that - we drove through the UP, then Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota. Came up through Pembina in ND.

This is such an awesome town. Pictures!

 

[drbandkgb]

How did I just see this???

Good for you buddy

 

[caseycamby]

Do I see a taco in one of these pictures...?

 

[J Everett]

Awesome pics, cool little town. I really dig that 4wd Mitubishi van.

 

[Jack Stilts]

Trip status: successful!

Total miles driven: 6,700
Days: 20
State lines crossed: 2
Provincial lines crossed: 4

And we're going back for round 2

This was an amazing experience. It's going to be so much colder and snowy this time around.

 

[caseycamby]

When are you leaving for round two??

 

[Jack Stilts]

 

[drbandkgb]

Nice buddy...

 

[tchmotorsports]

Awesome!Looking forward to pics of round 2.

 

[Jack Stilts]

Round 2 is underway!

It's been incredible. And so different from our first trip. It's been -10 since we were in Edmonton last week. Averaging a nice, sunny 3 degrees. I love this town.

We got to drive through the mountains near Banff and Jasper and I was honestly astounded. I'd never seen anything like it. If anyone's ever played Skyrim, I now know where they got their inspiration.

Been able to do a little more exploring this time around, too. Can't wait to come back for round 3

I've been setting up my command center in every hotel room...two laptops, CB radio, walkie-talkie, satellite phone, iPhone, tablet...
I love the self-sufficiency of this trip. 300 miles between gas stations. Satellite phones. Gas cans. Keeping our water and computers from freezing out on the road. It's such an awesome challenge.

The bighorn sheep stand in the middle of the road and don't give a f***.
We honked.
We yelled.
They are so stubborn.
So I got out of the truck to yell at one, and it started walking towards me. I got back in the truck because I clearly won that fight :uhhh:

And this is going on my resume..."In 2014 I peed in Canada's best restroom."

Finally, I saw the northern lights for the first time in my life the night we arrived. It was...incredible. Right above us and drifting. Bright green. Didn't take any pictures of those because I was selfish and wanted them to be all mine. And...maybe because my camera couldn't pick them up. /lololol

 

[caseycamby]

That's amazing stuff!

 

[J Everett]

That is awesome, Bryan. I am so very jealous. I live on the Gulf Coast. It is so very flat and snowless here...