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Tough Trip! - Albuquerque, NM to just north of Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada

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Mark Gall

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I recently returned from a 6,000+ mile trip that I've wanted to take for a long while. I drove with my large dog in our 2024 RAV4 Hybrid from Albuquerque, NM to just north of Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada; that's on the Arctic Ocean and the furthest you can drive north in Canada. The Northern Lights (aurora) was seen every chance that I got to look on the rare occasions when the clouds disappeared for a short time.
The car had only about 6,500 miles on it when I started, and I'd installed stiffer/taller springs, skid plate, trailer hitch where I mounted a largely homemade rear carry rack, swapped all the new tires for the Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail tires, bought a new wheel on which I mounted a used tire for a spare, and still carried the space saver spare just in case. I also carried a tire plug kit and flat fix; I luckily had no problems with the tires even though the road was terrible in places.
My fuel mileage dropped down to 26 on some of those awful roads, but the car ran perfectly. I slept in a tent or back of the car in grizzly/polar bear areas. Temperatures dropped down as low as 27F at night, and this was the middle of September. I'm glad that I took the drive, but would not do it again. Note that I traveled for several years after I retired from the National Park Service in India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos , Cambodia, Vietnam, and Indonesia etc., as well as South America. Those roads were not worse than this one.
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#4 ·
Mark Gall said:
I recently returned from a 6,000+ mile trip that I've wanted to take for a long while. I drove with my large dog in our 2024 RAV4 Hybrid from Albuquerque, NM to just north of Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada; that's on the Arctic Ocean and the furthest you can drive north in Canada. The Northern Lights (aurora) was seen every chance that I got to look on the rare occasions when the clouds disappeared for a short time.
The car had only about 6,500 miles on it when I started, and I'd installed stiffer/taller springs, skid plate, trailer hitch where I mounted a largely homemade rear carry rack, swapped all the new tires for the Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail tires, bought a new wheel on which I mounted a used tire for a spare, and still carried the space saver spare just in case. I also carried a tire plug kit and flat fix; I luckily had no problems with the tires even though the road was terrible in places.
My fuel mileage dropped down to 26 on some of those awful roads, but the car ran perfectly. I slept in a tent or back of the car in grizzly/polar bear areas. Temperatures dropped down as low as 27F at night, and this was the middle of September. I'm glad that I took the drive, but would not do it again. Note that I traveled for several years after I retired from the National Park Service in India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos , Cambodia, Vietnam, and Indonesia etc., as well as South America. Those roads were not worse than this one.
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Great post and images
 
#5 ·
Thanks for the post and photos. Looks like it was a great trip.

I've also been to Inuvik and north into the Mackenzie Delta and out onto the Beaufort Sea, but during mid-winter, not summer like you. And not in a RAV4. Full sized Ford diesel pickups and a helicopter to get onto the ice in the Beaufort Sea. Mid March and temps in the mid -40F most of the time.

It is actually easier to drive in the winter, the roads are snow covered with fewer hazards. And the ice road on the Mackenzie River to the coast was completely smooth. And another advantage of being there in the winter....no bugs.
 
#7 ·
Mark Gall said:
I recently returned from a 6,000+ mile trip that I've wanted to take for a long while. I drove with my large dog in our 2024 RAV4 Hybrid from Albuquerque, NM to just north of Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada; that's on the Arctic Ocean and the furthest you can drive north in Canada. The Northern Lights (aurora) was seen every chance that I got to look on the rare occasions when the clouds disappeared for a short time.
The car had only about 6,500 miles on it when I started, and I'd installed stiffer/taller springs, skid plate, trailer hitch where I mounted a largely homemade rear carry rack, swapped all the new tires for the Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail tires, bought a new wheel on which I mounted a used tire for a spare, and still carried the space saver spare just in case. I also carried a tire plug kit and flat fix; I luckily had no problems with the tires even though the road was terrible in places.
My fuel mileage dropped down to 26 on some of those awful roads, but the car ran perfectly. I slept in a tent or back of the car in grizzly/polar bear areas. Temperatures dropped down as low as 27F at night, and this was the middle of September. I'm glad that I took the drive, but would not do it again. Note that I traveled for several years after I retired from the National Park Service in India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos , Cambodia, Vietnam, and Indonesia etc., as well as South America. Those roads were not worse than this one.
/QUOTE]

I envy you.
Click to expand...
 
#8 ·
Mark Gall said:
I recently returned from a 6,000+ mile trip that I've wanted to take for a long while. I drove with my large dog in our 2024 RAV4 Hybrid from Albuquerque, NM to just north of Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada; that's on the Arctic Ocean and the furthest you can drive north in Canada. The Northern Lights (aurora) was seen every chance that I got to look on the rare occasions when the clouds disappeared for a short time.
The car had only about 6,500 miles on it when I started, and I'd installed stiffer/taller springs, skid plate, trailer hitch where I mounted a largely homemade rear carry rack, swapped all the new tires for the Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail tires, bought a new wheel on which I mounted a used tire for a spare, and still carried the space saver spare just in case. I also carried a tire plug kit and flat fix; I luckily had no problems with the tires even though the road was terrible in places.
My fuel mileage dropped down to 26 on some of those awful roads, but the car ran perfectly. I slept in a tent or back of the car in grizzly/polar bear areas. Temperatures dropped down as low as 27F at night, and this was the middle of September. I'm glad that I took the drive, but would not do it again. Note that I traveled for several years after I retired from the National Park Service in India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos , Cambodia, Vietnam, and Indonesia etc., as well as South America. Those roads were not worse than this one.
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Great story and some great shots! Glad you posted it. Any insights on sleeping in the vehicle? Did you leave it on so it would maintain temp?
 
#9 ·
Mark Gall said:
I recently returned from a 6,000+ mile trip that I've wanted to take for a long while. I drove with my large dog in our 2024 RAV4 Hybrid from Albuquerque, NM to just north of Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada; that's on the Arctic Ocean and the furthest you can drive north in Canada. The Northern Lights (aurora) was seen every chance that I got to look on the rare occasions when the clouds disappeared for a short time.
The car had only about 6,500 miles on it when I started, and I'd installed stiffer/taller springs, skid plate, trailer hitch where I mounted a largely homemade rear carry rack, swapped all the new tires for the Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail tires, bought a new wheel on which I mounted a used tire for a spare, and still carried the space saver spare just in case. I also carried a tire plug kit and flat fix; I luckily had no problems with the tires even though the road was terrible in places.
My fuel mileage dropped down to 26 on some of those awful roads, but the car ran perfectly. I slept in a tent or back of the car in grizzly/polar bear areas. Temperatures dropped down as low as 27F at night, and this was the middle of September. I'm glad that I took the drive, but would not do it again. Note that I traveled for several years after I retired from the National Park Service in India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos , Cambodia, Vietnam, and Indonesia etc., as well as South America. Those roads were not worse than this one.
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Wow! Just Wow! Question - would you have attempted it without the Falkins? Was the road bad (muddy steep), or uneven/high clearance (or both).
 
#10 ·
Mark Gall said:
I recently returned from a 6,000+ mile trip that I've wanted to take for a long while. I drove with my large dog in our 2024 RAV4 Hybrid from Albuquerque, NM to just north of Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada; that's on the Arctic Ocean and the furthest you can drive north in Canada. The Northern Lights (aurora) was seen every chance that I got to look on the rare occasions when the clouds disappeared for a short time.
The car had only about 6,500 miles on it when I started, and I'd installed stiffer/taller springs, skid plate, trailer hitch where I mounted a largely homemade rear carry rack, swapped all the new tires for the Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail tires, bought a new wheel on which I mounted a used tire for a spare, and still carried the space saver spare just in case. I also carried a tire plug kit and flat fix; I luckily had no problems with the tires even though the road was terrible in places.
My fuel mileage dropped down to 26 on some of those awful roads, but the car ran perfectly. I slept in a tent or back of the car in grizzly/polar bear areas. Temperatures dropped down as low as 27F at night, and this was the middle of September. I'm glad that I took the drive, but would not do it again. Note that I traveled for several years after I retired from the National Park Service in India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos , Cambodia, Vietnam, and Indonesia etc., as well as South America. Those roads were not worse than this one.
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Awesome! Could have driven further North to Tuktoyaktuk though. Is situated on the Actic Ocean in Northeat Territories.
 
#11 ·
Mark Gall said:
I recently returned from a 6,000+ mile trip that I've wanted to take for a long while. I drove with my large dog in our 2024 RAV4 Hybrid from Albuquerque, NM to just north of Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada; that's on the Arctic Ocean and the furthest you can drive north in Canada. The Northern Lights (aurora) was seen every chance that I got to look on the rare occasions when the clouds disappeared for a short time.
The car had only about 6,500 miles on it when I started, and I'd installed stiffer/taller springs, skid plate, trailer hitch where I mounted a largely homemade rear carry rack, swapped all the new tires for the Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail tires, bought a new wheel on which I mounted a used tire for a spare, and still carried the space saver spare just in case. I also carried a tire plug kit and flat fix; I luckily had no problems with the tires even though the road was terrible in places.
My fuel mileage dropped down to 26 on some of those awful roads, but the car ran perfectly. I slept in a tent or back of the car in grizzly/polar bear areas. Temperatures dropped down as low as 27F at night, and this was the middle of September. I'm glad that I took the drive, but would not do it again. Note that I traveled for several years after I retired from the National Park Service in India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos , Cambodia, Vietnam, and Indonesia etc., as well as South America. Those roads were not worse than this one.
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Thanks for sharing your photos.
 
#13 ·
Mark Gall said:
I recently returned from a 6,000+ mile trip that I've wanted to take for a long while. I drove with my large dog in our 2024 RAV4 Hybrid from Albuquerque, NM to just north of Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada; that's on the Arctic Ocean and the furthest you can drive north in Canada. The Northern Lights (aurora) was seen every chance that I got to look on the rare occasions when the clouds disappeared for a short time.
The car had only about 6,500 miles on it when I started, and I'd installed stiffer/taller springs, skid plate, trailer hitch where I mounted a largely homemade rear carry rack, swapped all the new tires for the Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail tires, bought a new wheel on which I mounted a used tire for a spare, and still carried the space saver spare just in case. I also carried a tire plug kit and flat fix; I luckily had no problems with the tires even though the road was terrible in places.
My fuel mileage dropped down to 26 on some of those awful roads, but the car ran perfectly. I slept in a tent or back of the car in grizzly/polar bear areas. Temperatures dropped down as low as 27F at night, and this was the middle of September. I'm glad that I took the drive, but would not do it again. Note that I traveled for several years after I retired from the National Park Service in India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos , Cambodia, Vietnam, and Indonesia etc., as well as South America. Those roads were not worse than this one.
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Well, at least it wasn't more than a one dog night. 😬
 
#14 ·
Mark Gall said:
I recently returned from a 6,000+ mile trip that I've wanted to take for a long while. I drove with my large dog in our 2024 RAV4 Hybrid from Albuquerque, NM to just north of Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada; that's on the Arctic Ocean and the furthest you can drive north in Canada. The Northern Lights (aurora) was seen every chance that I got to look on the rare occasions when the clouds disappeared for a short time.
The car had only about 6,500 miles on it when I started, and I'd installed stiffer/taller springs, skid plate, trailer hitch where I mounted a largely homemade rear carry rack, swapped all the new tires for the Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail tires, bought a new wheel on which I mounted a used tire for a spare, and still carried the space saver spare just in case. I also carried a tire plug kit and flat fix; I luckily had no problems with the tires even though the road was terrible in places.
My fuel mileage dropped down to 26 on some of those awful roads, but the car ran perfectly. I slept in a tent or back of the car in grizzly/polar bear areas. Temperatures dropped down as low as 27F at night, and this was the middle of September. I'm glad that I took the drive, but would not do it again. Note that I traveled for several years after I retired from the National Park Service in India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos , Cambodia, Vietnam, and Indonesia etc., as well as South America. Those roads were not worse than this one.
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That's an awesome roadtrip and it's on my bucket list
 
#16 ·
Mark Gall said:
I recently returned from a 6,000+ mile trip that I've wanted to take for a long while. I drove with my large dog in our 2024 RAV4 Hybrid from Albuquerque, NM to just north of Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada; that's on the Arctic Ocean and the furthest you can drive north in Canada. The Northern Lights (aurora) was seen every chance that I got to look on the rare occasions when the clouds disappeared for a short time.
The car had only about 6,500 miles on it when I started, and I'd installed stiffer/taller springs, skid plate, trailer hitch where I mounted a largely homemade rear carry rack, swapped all the new tires for the Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail tires, bought a new wheel on which I mounted a used tire for a spare, and still carried the space saver spare just in case. I also carried a tire plug kit and flat fix; I luckily had no problems with the tires even though the road was terrible in places.
My fuel mileage dropped down to 26 on some of those awful roads, but the car ran perfectly. I slept in a tent or back of the car in grizzly/polar bear areas. Temperatures dropped down as low as 27F at night, and this was the middle of September. I'm glad that I took the drive, but would not do it again. Note that I traveled for several years after I retired from the National Park Service in India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos , Cambodia, Vietnam, and Indonesia etc., as well as South America. Those roads were not worse than this one.
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Awesome trip! What brand of skid plate and springs did you install? New springs in front and back? Did that include a lift kit?

Thx

Mike
 
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