The Detah ice road in Yellowknife, NWT has tied a decades-old record for its latest opening date, opening on January 11th. The previous latest opening was on the same date in 2000. The average opening and closing dates for the ice road have changed in recent years due to warmer winters and heavy snowfall, with the last five years seeing a shorter season. While the road is not a critical link, it reduces travel time between Detah and Yellowknife to about a third of the normal journey, saving time and gas money for residents. Tourists also look forward to driving over the frozen lake, with one visitor from Chicago hoping to cross the experience off his bucket list.