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Yellowknife Highway Closed: Spring 2012

By KyleWith on April 25, 2012 in Yk Life

It is that time of year again where the Ice Bridge goes out but the Merv Hardie Ferry can not yet run across the Mighty MacKenzie River. As of today, Wednesday, April 25, 2012, the Ice Bridge will be closed to all traffic. The Department of Transportation for the NWT suggests that it will be 4 weeks before the ferry can start running again but this is just an estimate.

I have reflected on what this closure means for us in Yellowknife. It seems we do it every year but every year we seem to need a reminder that the lack of road access to Yellowknife is not the end of the world. Precautions are put in place for use to continue our daily lives, minus driving past Fort Providence.

Stores/Grocery Stores

If you haven’t noticed “the big” Extra Foods has a stock pile of refrigerated trailers in its parking lot. These are full of food and supplies so that the store can do its best to restock as needed. That being said fresh food stock will start to dwindle the longer the highway is closed.

Co-op on the other hand will fly over food and supplies if needed. From my understanding of how the Co-op operates, they have slightly higher prices throughout the year to off-set the cost of flying in food at this time of year without any increase at the store.

While Wal-Mart does not deal in fresh foods, they too have many trailers parked in their parking lot full of product so they can continuously restock their shelves.

Gas Stations

Theoretically there should be no reason for a fuel shortage in Yellowknife as the closure of the Ice Bridge was planned. Therefore there should be enough fuel stored in various locations in Yellowknife for Yellowknifers to continue their normal routines. There should be no reason for residents to stock pile their own supplies, this is what will drive the price of gas up.

Like I mentioned this closure of the Ice Bridge has been planned and there should be no reason for alarm. These closures have been happening longer than many of us can remember and the proper precautions have been put in place. If anything we should be looking at them as an adventure or a story we can tell our southern friends.

If any of the information I have said in this post is incorrect, please just let me know and I’ll be sure to correct it.

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Explore Yellowknife by Snowmobile

By KyleWith on March 12, 2012 in Yk Life

If you ever get the chance to explore Yellowknife by snowmobile, I highly recommend it. Sure you could tour around in a vehicle, but in the winter, a snowmobile is so much neater.

You could also walk, but you can get around quicker on a snowmobile and check out all the cool attractions. If you don’t have a snowmobile or are just visiting, you maybe able to rent one.

Yellowknife has a trail system like no other to get you around the city, but it is not city regulated and the care falls on the riders, so please drive with caution. Yellowknife is also one of the few cities in the world where it is perfectly acceptable to drive a snowmobile on the roads (except for a certain part of downtown).

When exploring Yellowknife by snowmobile you are able to drive ride right up to what makes Yellowknife unique. Places like the well-known Yellowknife Bay Houseboats, or the docks including the bush planes on skis. See first hand what is like to see a plane on skis take off on a frozen runway or check out the fish plant, maybe even get yourself some fresh white fish.

Moving away from Yellowknife Bay and Great Salve Lake you could head to Frame Lake and drive up to the outdoor skating rink out in front of City Hall. Or go down to Kam Lake and Grace Lake where you could watch dog-sledders come ago. You could then explore the recreational area of the Sandpits and while there you could watch the planes come and go from Airport.

There is much to do and see just within the Yellowknife city limits, but you don’t have to stay there. It is only a quick drive until you are completely outside of the city. Take an ice ager with you and try your hand at ice fishing.

There is still much more you can do and see within Yellowknife when traveling by snowmobile. Please share your favourites in the comment section.

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Riding Across the MacKenzie River

By KyleWith on September 22, 2010 in Yk Life

Driving in or out of Yellowknife is a long uneventful trip, most of the time. One highlight is riding the Merv Hardie across the MacKenzie River at Fort Providence. It is a small ferry and the ride is short, but it is a nice little break from driving the long mundane highway.

If you want to know more about the Merv Hardie or Ferry crossing be sure to listen to the Yk Quick Tip all about the Merv Hardie Ferry.

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Houseboats of Yellowknife

By KyleWith on May 4, 2010 in Attractions, Yk Life

One day while working at my computer, I noticed that pictures of houseboats were going up in my “Yellowknife” stream on Twitter. I was curious about what was going on. Apparently a gentleman by the name of Stephan P. Sweeting was up in Yellowknife visiting his son Nick Sweeting. He had expressed the interest of touring around on the ice getting a closer look at the houseboats, so that is exactly what they did. At the same time they were uploading photos of each house. I, instantly, thought those would make for an interesting post, both for resident and those interested in Yellowknife.

I have always found the houseboats in Yellowknife Bay to be interesting and unique. They are a community like no other, because these houseboats are like no other. Some might think a houseboat should really be a moving, powered, boat looking type of vehicle and they maybe right, but those are nothing like Yellowknife houseboats.

The best way I can describe a Yellowknife houseboat is, a floating house. You could almost just pick these houses up and put them on land. That being said, they would still look unique. You see, each house looks different, each house was build different. The architecture and colour of them is what catches the eyes of passer byres. Beside the point of being unique looking, these houses are also self sustaining. You can’t get much more environmentally friendly than these houses, especially when you don’t have a choice. Solar for power, wood for heat and cooking as well as propane, compostable toilets, no driveways!

To those who live in these wonderful houses, what do you like about them? For those who don’t, could you ever?

Photo credit: Stephen P. Sweeting & Nick Sweeting

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Getting Fit in Yellowknife

By Nancy Zimmerman on January 19, 2010 in Events, Yk Life

There’s no easy way to put this: I’ve packed on the pounds since I moved up here last February. Be it the cold creating an out-of-control urgency for carbs or the long, dark nights with my new big screen TV, my wardrobe no longer fits.

“It’s time to take myself in hand” I muttered Jan 1st. But unlike Vancouver where there’s low-cal everything everywhere and a seawall that begs to be run, Yellowknife looked awfully cold and daunting. I don’t like exercise at the best of times, but I knew it wasn’t just a case of eating less (although, alas, that’s part of the plan. Farewell, TimHo’s French Vanilla Capuccinos! Farewell, snacks, gorgeous, home-made snacks, on every third workstation at work!) … it wasn’t just a case of eating less but of integrating activity into my lifestyle. *le sigh* I’d much rather be blogging.

I gingerly considered my options. I am simply not a gym person. And that UltraIcyRockDeathByColdExcercise thing going on up here just makes me faint to think of it. Xnay that. I also get bored easily of any one activity. So with a buddy in Vancouver, we came up with a list of activity options. Turns out, there’s a real variety of possibilities!

squash
shoveling snow
swimming with the help of a coworker who coaches
Wii Fit / Active
shoveling snow
power walks
yoga
Zumba (talk to Donna Wong. Exercise has never had such an evangelist!)
X-country skiing
Snowshoeing
shoveling snow
skating
Agility with the daschunds (in the spring)
Running groups at Bodyworks (in the spring)
exercise podcasts (justifies the big screen tv, non?)
Riding lessons

So here’s my plan. I’ve created a set of activities, but only through March. Then, to prevent boredom, I’ll switch it up to something spring-ier.

For now, I’ve joined the Raquet Club. I have to give them a shoutout. It’s the most down-to-earth, cozy kinda/sorta gym I’ve ever been to. We even have candles in our Nia class, for heaven’s sake! And people there come in all shapes and sizes (and I contribute to that) and age ranges. It’s not the yummy mummy lululemon club (which is not to say there aren’t any. It’s just a nice variety of people.). Anyway, if I can be comfortable there, I’m guessing anyone can be. I imagine the same applies to Breakaway and BodyWorks

So it’s Nia Class at the club on Tuesday evenings, and Spin at the club on Saturday mornings.

Thursday, a group of us power-walk at lunch to the hospital and back. Anyone is welcome to join us – we meet 12:05 in the courthouse lobby.

And last, I’m hoping to learn to snowshoe (pssst – anyone have a second hand pair you’d like to sell? I’m too cheap to invest in a new pair til I find out if I like it).

Wish me luck, folks. And if you have any more ideas, I’m wanting to hear them – leave a comment below.

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10 unexpected delights about Yellowknife.

By Nancy Zimmerman on December 20, 2009 in Yk Life

Eight months ago I returned to Yellowknife after a twenty year absence. The adjustment from living in downtown Vancouver to living in Yellowknife had all the ups-and-downs you might guess. On the whole the number of delightful surprises I’ve enjoyed in Yellowknife have far outweighed the items that – well, never mind that. Here’s a list of a few of my Favourite Things that are unique and wonderful elements of my new life in Yellowknife, aspects that I hadn’t expected:

The fish man I don’t know who he is (you likely do – leave his name in the comment section below?) but never anywhere else have I walked out of my office to find I could purchase fresh-caught fish out of a truck on the street. Love it.

Choral music If any readers were at the Home for the Holidays community concert this past week, I need say no more. Coming from Vancouver, home of such Canadian choral groups as Elektra and Chor Leoni I hadn’t even thought to hope for the calibre of music Yellowknife enjoys. Shad, Margo, a heartfelt thank you to what you and the many other uber-talented people contribute to Yellowknife culture.

Re-using stuff Boy, do we reuse stuff here! The SWAP shop, YK Trader, garage sales (a contact sport!), informal exchanges and of course the legendary dump – I imagine this is as much a function of economics as environmental sensitivity but whatever. It’s happening on a scale I’ve never seen before! FTW!

Blogosphere Before I even arrived the local blogosphere invited me to their regular meetup. I flew in on Friday and on Saturday bravely went to a (then) stranger’s home to meet a group of folks I’d never met IRL, and I haven’t looked back since. Like nearly all bloggers I’ve ever met, they are warm, open, fun and have made me feel so welcome and included. For a list of some of Yellowknife’s smartest, opinionated and funny bloggers, visit www.nwtblogs.com.

Housesitting This seems to be nearly an underground economy up here! But for travelers like me who have dogs, finding a good house sitter is a godsend, and all the more in the winter. How did I find my amazing house-sitter? In Yellowknife fashion, I asked a friend who asked a friend who gave me a name, et voila.

LEED home Doug and Mary are not building any old home for themselves! They’re going for LEED PLATINUM status. This blew my mind. LEED is world-class design for energy efficiency. For example, their home has 12″ of insulation rather than 6″, the water used initially for things like showers and dishes gets reused in the toilet, and I think there’s some solar power involved too. If the Greenstone building can be built here, and now this residence, honestly, Yellowknife can disarm anyone’s excuse for not building efficiently.

Donny Days ‘Nuff said!

Spring at Niven Lake When I was a kid, Niven Lake was the sewage lagoon (sorry for the reminder, Niven residents, but it was!) While I’d heard about the trail along Frame Lake, Niven was a surprise. In the spring it’s lovely beyond telling. The muted, lush colours; the ducks, bugs, muskrats; the many sounds of its fertile eco-system – truly a living prayer.

iPhone Roy’s Audiotronics has set the customer service Record Of All Time in my life. For month’s I’d harassed them about the iPhone which of course was unfair as they had no control over what Bell offers up here. And then. One day. One glorious day. April bumped into me on the street, and before I could ask, told me that not only was the rumour true, ie., they were getting iPhones, but she’d already ordered one for me and would set it aside. A week later when it arrived, indeed there it was for me. And I’m living happily ever after (as I’m sure their staff are now that I’m not pestering them anymore). ps: you can follow them on twitter, too.

Aboriginal Day I knew about Caribou Carnival and Folk on the Rocks but Aboriginal Day was an unexpected delight. Thank you, my aboriginal brothers and sisters, for sharing your northern space with me, and for the many individuals (you know who you are!) who have taught me so much particularly about Dene culture and history. Thank you too, artists like Digawolf and Richard Vancamp – I’m so impressed by your work. I rave about you to all my southern friends.

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SWAP Shop – the best value in Yellowknife!

By Nancy Zimmerman on December 19, 2009 in Business, Yk Life

If you haven’t been to the SWAP shop (in the slightly rickety building a wee down the street towards old town from its sister store, Quality Furniture) it’s a must. Under new management as of a few months ago, the new manager is x-naying the kitchy/tacky in favour of some rather nice items! And the prices are wicked!

For instance, for $399.00, this was available.

$1249.50 for this genuine antique wardrobe

And this little table / wine unit was only $59.00

I imagine these items are long since sold but you can bet there are equally great treasures available there at a fraction of the usual price. I’ve bought three items to date and all of them have been in great condition and are integral parts of my home! Yay, reusing! Yay, great deals!

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Power Outage Stories

By KyleWith on December 16, 2009 in Yk Life

Power outages in Yellowknife are like second nature. When it happens people just go with it and work around it. I’m currently sitting on my couch in the dark as I type, thinking about all the times the power has gone out.

Some of my best memories from power outages were when I was in elementary school. When the power went out then it was great because we all thought it was an excuse to not do any school work any more. We also thought, maybe it is true but I don’t actually know, that if the power were out for over an hour or two, we would get to go home for the day. Unfortunately that never happened, or maybe it did, but when the power goes out in May or June you’d never know do to all the daylight.

I remember other times; times such as the one I’m in right now. Where I am home and it is near -40 outside. I get such a thrill and excitement knowing we may have to find our own heat, rather than rely on a big oil-burning machine. Luckily we have a wood stove in out basement, which when cranked up can heat the entire house well enough to be comfortable.

I could go on with more memories, I have been here for sometime and these seem to be becoming a more common occurrence but I won’t. Instead I will share with you the one thing I enjoy the most about power outages, the silence. There is no furnace running or fridge or silent noise. It is just silent, peaceful and relaxing. It is, for me, one of the most refreshing things. To be cut off from everything just brings a smile to my face.

Although this is not to say that power outages can’t be bad. Of course they can’t. I can’t imagine how some people feel if their pipes freeze during an outage. Or if they can’t keep warm in there house.

Do you have any Yk Power Outage memories you’d like to share? Good, Bad! In the coming days I will publish a post talking about the issues surrounding Yellowknife Power Outages.

Remember to Vote for YkOnline everyday for the Canada Blog Awards and once for the NWT Blog Awards

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A Trek to the Houseboat

By KyleWith on December 11, 2009 in Yk Life

Living on a houseboat is an experience like no other. Creating power by your own means, solar, wind or generator. Waking up each morning to stoke the fire. Both in the summer and winter living on a houseboat gives you a backyard like no other. It gives you a thrill like no other to know that you depend on no one but yourself.

That being said there are 2 times a year when living on a houseboat can be some what risky. During freeze up and thawing. Think about it, how do you get from mainland to a house when the ice is to thick to cut through but to thin to safely walk on. Well this video I found will give you an idea. You will also get a tour of some of Yellowknife’s more famous houseboats.

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Winter Vehicle Tips Part 2

By KyleWith on December 8, 2009 in Yk Life

To continue with the Winter Vehicles Tips series I will share some more tips I have gathered about the actually driving your vehicle in Yellowknife’s winter conditions.

Warming up: Once your vehicle has been plugged in for the suggested amount of time from the last set of tips, you should let your vehicle idol for at least a couple minutes. There has been controversy about how long a vehicle needs to idle, but setting aside personal opinions and whether or not it is warm inside your vehicle, it is probably a good idea to let it idle for 5 minutes. Why, because all the liquids need a chance to warm up and get moved around inside the engine to properly do their jobs. Think of it this way, if you start your vehicle and then scrape all your windows, by the time you are done your vehicle should be good to go.
Tire Wear: With all-season tires, ensure the tread will still give traction on slippery roads, and having studs on all four tires is also excellent for traction. If not, then snow tires become your best choice. For front wheel drive vehicles, your ‘snows’ should be on the front. And always store your ‘summer’ tires on their sides as opposed to on their tread, which can cause flat spots and cause them to become unbalanced. Letting a slight bit of air out of your tires can help with traction, but can be a pain when your tire are frozen from sitting all night.
Winter Front: Having a winter front is a good idea for not only your vehicle, but for your benefit as well. Having one on your vehicle can speed up with time your heater will blow warm air.
Twist your Wheel: A good tip I learned from a a car dealership is about loosening up your power steering. By turning your steering wheel lightly from side to side before you start driving can help loosen the fluid and get it moving for when you are driving. The prevent those pesky blown lines.
Driving the Street: In Yellowknife the hard packed snow on the roads can be as slippery as ice at -30. It is a good idea to keep a little more distance from the vehicle in front of you and begin starting to stop sooner. Remember braking distance is increasingly further. Make sure to be more cautious of your surrounding.

Many tips and tricks can be formed for safe driving and as they are complied we may do a part 3 of this series. If you have any of your own remember to share them.

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