Up here, we drive across frozen lakes. Temporary roads are created, ploughed and come complete with signs. There is a government department in charge of these winter roads, as they are called.
Below is a photo taken from one of our drives on the Yellowknife – Dettah road.
Using these roads is an interesting northern experience that can’t be duplicated in most other places in the world.
If you’re interested, here’s a winter road website.
https://spectacularnwt.com/story/cool-highways-4-awesome-ice-roads-northwest-territories
Happy weekend. 🙂
That’s a road? Wow! You are tough, Lynette. Stay safe.
Thanks, Jill. Yes, that’s a road! It’s wide and very straight. 🙂 At first I was a bit unsettled about them, but the Dept. of Highways maintains them and determines if they’re safe.
Wowza. This takes driving in the winter to a whole other level.
It’s actually not that different from driving on a snow-covered road (when you’re on it it’s hard to tell), but I did initially find them a bit disturbing. Not anymore, though. They are well maintained and very safe.
Ahhhh. Memories of Ice Road Truckers. Better t drive an SUV on these roads than a fully loaded big rig. No troubles getting thick ice this winter I am sure. Stay well and stay warm. The bid chill is over here. Up to +4 tomorrow. Yay. Have a great weekend. Allan
Hahaha. 🙂 Despite the popularity of that show, I have never seen a transport truck on a winter road. They do travel them, and especially to the more far-flung and summer fly-in communities, but much less than was portrayed, I think. I can’t see the Dept of Highways allowing some of the crazier stuff I occasionally saw on that show (I only saw bits of it, so maybe I’m not being fair). I’m confident that these roads are well maintained and safe.
-4C and very sunny today. It was such a nice break!
Your vehicles, which way tons, drive over frozen lakes? Wow, that’s really frozen solid. It’s one of my fears….falling through broken ice.
Stay safe and warm up there.
Thanks, Lori. 🙂
Yes, and it’s somewhat common. It gets so cold that the lakes (and boggy tundra, too) freeze very solidly and deeply. The Dept of Highways oversees all the winter roads and ensures their safety. My truck is about 2300 kilos (about 5000 pounds), but yes, the transports often weigh lots more. I was dubious at first about driving on a frozen lake road, but once I saw how well-maintained they are, I quickly got over it.
Have a good weekend. 🙂
This is one of those things that I don’t think I could do. I’m sure it it totally safe, but… yeah, nope!
It’s not for everyone, but you might change your mind once you see that they are well-maintained and safe. Then again, maybe not. 😉
I’m realizing that. I probably have more phobias than I knew.🤣
We all have our stuff. 🙂
When I was a child, my older brother took the family for a Sunday drive in his VW Beetle. We drove across the frozen Peace River and after watching the cracks shooting out across the ice, I will NEVER go on an ice road again. NEVER!
That’s so dangerous! Highways maintain these winter roads and ensure their safety. The road in the picture has ice that has frozen to a depth of 1.5 metres, so it’s very stable, especially when the temperature stays far below zero for months. So sorry to hear that you had such a bad experience.
It still give me the shivers when I think about it.
Yes, I bet it does!
We should actually love, respect and protect our roads so when we drive we are free from potholes and such things
Safety first!
That photo looks just like Texas this week! (Okay, that’s a complete lie. The actual photo would show one snowflake on the ground and all the citizenry staring at it in wonder and confusion.)
Hahaha. 😀 Having read all about all the troubles you’re experiencing, it’s good that your sense of humour is still intact.
I read a piece about how Canadians have been sending out cold weather tips on Twitter. The best one (and one I’ve used myself): leave a very thin stream of water running to prevent frozen pipes. Then I read that in some places, there is no water! You’re getting whacked. Stay safe, Brian. I’ve been thinking about you.
Temporary roads across frozen lakes. I never knew there was such a thing. I imagine that they make some trips shorter than they would otherwise be.
Yes, they do. The Yellowknife – Dettah road across Great Slave Lake is only 6 km, but shortens a 40 minute drive to six. Pretty great.
Loved being on a winter ice road again, thanks to you!
You’re welcome! It’s certainly an experience.
Ice road looks very difficult. Hard to imagine a drive..
It’s all about the practise. People get better at it, just as when you first start driving. 🙂
Yeah😊