Tag Archives | Driving

YKQT 01 – Driving to Yellowknife

By on April 29, 2010 in Yk Quick Tips

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Yk Quick Tips is your guide to Yellowknife, NT. Whether you are moving to the city or just visiting, we can offer information about all the best things. The show will contain information about what to do while visiting, things to know about moving to the City and everything else interesting about Yellowknife.

For the first episode of Yellowknife Quick Tips I thought it would be appropriate to talk about how to get to Yellowknife. So, this episode is about driving to Yellowknife.

We start off in Edmonton, Alberta, as it is a good, known, starting point for your journey north. As we leave Edmonton, Kyle talks about some of the towns you will encounter in Alberta while heading north and little tidbits about them. Information like Gas Stations, Motels and Dairy Queens.

When we get to High Level we learn that after this little town there isn’t much else until Yellowknife, amenities wise. We lose cell service, and fast food joints. As we travel the road into the NWT, Kyle enlightens us about some of the tourist information and attractions that can be seen. Like the border visitor centre and Alexandria Falls, which are a must while driving up in the summer.

A key sign that you’re on your finally leg of your drive is the Mackenzie River. In the summer you’ll have the pleasure of a ride on the Merv Hardie or in the winter a stroll on the Ice Bridge. Once past Fort Providence, be sure to watch out for the bison, they may very well be everywhere. Kyle explains about how to safely pass them if they happen to be on the side of the road.

That and more on the first episode of Yk Quick Tips. Have any questions or feedback? Leave us a comment or send us an e-mail to info@ykonline.ca

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Snowy Days in Yellowknife

By on January 11, 2010 in Video

It is snowy out there be careful. Here are some winter driving tips.

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Winter Vehicle Tips Part 2

By on December 8, 2009 in FP, 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.

Today - February 4,2009 - 70 copy

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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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Winter Vehicle Tips Part 1

By on December 7, 2009 in FP, Yk Life

Winter has finally struck Yellowknife and drastically it seems. It was not a shock that it did become -30, but more the fact it went from -5 to -30 within 36 hours. With an actual Yellowknife winter comes challenges that like no others, okay maybe not but there are somethings that we should be aware of.

One of these things we should be aware of is vehicle use. Many of use vehicles for everyday things, such as going to work or getting the kids to soccer. Whatever your reason for doing it there are somethings you should know about driving in this -30 weather.

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  1. Check your coolant: Always read antifreeze labels closely to be sure you have the antifreeze-to-water mix correct. The antifreeze stops your radiator from cracking and freezing, and water will prevent overheating, even in winter temperatures.
  2. Battery Maintenance: You’ll need 3-4 more times the starting power in colder weather. Have a draw and load test performed by a mechanic. Should your battery fail that test, then a recharge may prolong its’ life for an additional year. Barring that, investing in a new battery is equally wise.
  3. Hoses and Belts: With the cold brittle days comes cracking and fraying of the belts and hoses that are used to operate our vehicles. It is best to replaces them as soon as you notice either of these.
  4. Washer Fluid: Having properly rated windshield washer fluid is idea for winter condition. It prevents from freezing in its container and tubes and can also help to defrost windshields on those frosty mornings.
  5. Winter Gear: Although Yellowknife is not a very large place and we can seldom go somewhere with out seeing someone we know, it is still a good idea to be prepared. There is always the Ingraham Trail. Having basic items like a winter coat, mitts & hat, booster cables, rope and matches is a good idea. Having survival gear is always something to have, things such as flares, sleeping bag, food, shovel, etc.
  6. Plugging in: Plugging in your vehicle should mean powering two things. 1) A battery blanket, which will warm up the battery so it can deliver maximum power when try to power the starter. 2) The Block Heater heats up your vehicles engine block which includes the oils inside, by doing this it helps the engine turn over when starting. When it comes to plugging in, it is said your vehicle only needs to be plugged in for about 2-3 hours to warm up to the appropriate temperature to start.

These are tips before you start your vehicle, coming up tomorrow will be some tips about operating your vehicle in the frigid cold that is a Yellowknife winter. If you have any tips or secrets of your own, please share with everyone. And now make sure to check out Part 2 Tips.

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Monday Morning Discussion

By on November 30, 2009 in Discussion, FP

Happy Monday, or at least I hope you are having a good day. Sometimes I think that some posts get lost in the feed, and become buried down underneath more recent useless posts. So one thing I may do from time to time is try and dig up those old posts and see if we can’t get more conversation going.

Banning Cell Phones While Driving: I stated some points to ponder about the law, and Megan also has given some excellent points as to why it shouldn’t go through at the moment. Now it is your turn, are you for it or against?

Uptown Vs. Downtown Debate: Many stores over the years, and two just recently have moved to the uptown part of Yellowknife. What is your take on this. I tried to bring up the pros and cons of both but would love your say on the topic.

Yellowknife Food Prices: There has been good discussion about this already and many readers from down south commenting. How do you find the prices of Food in Yellowknife compared to else where?

And Finally.

Northern Airlines taking a hit: Seems as though our Northern Airlines are taking a hit with the arrival of Westjet and now Air Canada will be flying to Iqaluit. Some say competition is good, others will not give up supporting the north. What are your thoughts?

Please leave your thoughts on some of those posts and join in the discussion. Have a Good Week. If you ever want to leave me any feedback go over to the contact page or comment below.

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