Flat Tire and Faro

About 40 miles north of Frances Lake, we got a flat tire. I fixed it quickly enough and was happy I had checked that I had proper tools before I left home, but then I no longer had a spare. Watson Lake was over 100 miles behind us and Ross River was over 100 miles ahead. I flagged down a passing car and was assured someone in Ross River could fix my flat.

The confluence of the Pelly and Hoole Rivers looked very fishy, but I continued to Ross River. The service station said the tire fixer was gone for five days, working at the mine, and I needed to continue to Carmacks, another 104 miles. I stopped to look at the view in Lapie Canyon and then continued another 32 miles to Faro, where a highway worker stopped us and said there  was a forest fire ahead.

After spending the night in Faro, I visited the interpretive center and was pleasantly surprised the town maintenance crew could fix my flat for a fee. They did. Problem solved, kind of. The gravel is sometimes sharp gravel. When it is crushed, little arrowheads are formed that randomly insert themselves into tires and cause a flat. Nothing to do about it except carry spares. I met someone who had two flats at once and heard a story about someone with three flats.