This is perhaps the best description I have ever read that describes the Dempster Highway. I have been trying to describe the sheer isolation, solitude and need to be self sufficient on the Dempster and knew I always missed the mark . You sir hit it right out of the park with this paragraph, thank you.
" The Dempster highway is a ride report all in itself. I can not begin to put into words how massive, how remote, how far, how alone you are on the Dempster. The Dempster is 500 miles to Inuvik and 500 miles back, all on gravel. That literally means a 1000 mile long gravel road. Imagine getting on a gravel road in New York City and getting off again in St. Louis, Missouri. Imagine getting on a gravel road in Los Angeles and not getting off again until Denver, Colorado. You are in Miami, Floida, you get on a gravel road and go clear to Raleigh, North Carolina. Did I say you could stop there, that's only 800 miles, you have 200 more to go. The Dempster defines solitude. I rode an accumulated 600 miles on the Dempster all by myself not seeing anyone, not even the guys I was riding with. On the way out from Eagle Plaines Eric and I rode for 165 miles before we saw another person, not even a car or a truck. When you meet someone coming towards you on the Dempster you wave like it is a long lost relative and they are waving back just as enthusiastically. It seems like you can see forever on the Dempter. Everywhere you look is mountain range, after mountain range, after mountain range. You ride in every possible road condition, from 4" deep loose gravel or sand to hard pack highway gravel, from slick mud to monster pot holes. I have read in other ride reports that dust can be so bad you have to come to a stop. The only dust we seen was in our mirrors because for dust to be a problem there has to be other vehicles involved and there were no other vehicles. Maybe we just picked the right time of year to go or maybe is was coincidence but there was nobody on the road. One time while riding with Eric he wanted to stop and put on his long underwear. He said where else in the world can you stop, be naked in the middle of the road, and not even have to look to see if a car is coming."
great description by Steve of the Dempster and great acknowledgement of that by Bill310
another quote by Bill310
"The ride to Prudhoe is overrated in comparison and few understand the additional risks on the Dempster due to the factor of isolation"