John Curran
Northern News Services
Published Monday, December 3, 2007

AKLAVIK - Some residents in Aklavik are worried their seasonal shipping lifeline to Inuvik and the south may not open before Christmas.

The reason for their fears? Too much snow.

"Lately the ice road is usually open well before Christmas," said Aklavik Mayor Knute Hansen. "But with all of the snow, people are saying there might not be an ice road until January."

The snow is going to insulate the ice it's sitting on, which he said could delay freeze up along the 120 kilometre route.

The Department of Transportation said there is no reason to worry and things aren't behind schedule.

"We usually only start checking the ice in the first weekend of December," said Gurdev Jagpal, regional transport supervisor for the Beaufort-Delta.

The ice road to Aklavik doesn't usually open until around Christmas, he added.

The department's statistics show the 10-year average opening date is Dec. 26.

However, twice in the past three seasons the route enjoyed its earliest opening date, Dec. 6.

That's something everyone agrees will not happen this year.

In recent years, residents have been driving to Inuvik to do much of their holiday gift shopping, said the mayor.

"It could be a very expensive Christmas for people here," said Hansen.

To make matters worse, the Dempster Highway is still closed as the Arctic Red River ice crossing at Tsiigehtchic has yet to open.

This means any perishables or other goods brought in by Aklavik retailers must first be flown to Inuvik and then moved a second time by plane to reach the community.

"Prices just skyrocket in Aklavik when the river crossings on the Dempster are closed," said Hansen.

In each of the last two seasons the Arctic Red River crossing has opened later than the average: Nov. 24, 2006, and Dec. 1, 2005.

- with files from Philippe Morin