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#1
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Canadians... HELP!
Hi Guys!
A mate and I from Australia are coming up your way... we've booked in some travel, and I wanna know how feasible it is. We're basically flying to Calgary, then bussing to Banff. We're spending a week at Sunshine, then grabbing a four-wheel-drive, and heading West to Lake Louise, then to Big White etc. for another week or so... then.. and this is the tough bit, we're planning to DRIVE to Vancouver for a week in Whistler before flying out to Japan.. but that's another story. Now... before you all go 'That's a long way'... in Australia, it's quite normal to drive over a thousand Km's in a day. I'm concerned however that we may not be able to do that in Canada with weather conditions etc. I know NOTHING about your roads, and whether they're tops or they suck..? Here's where I need some local help: - Is it at all possible to complete the trip as planned or is it simply "impossible". - If it's possible, how long should we allow to make the Big White Vancouver leg of our Journey, given that there's 2 of us, happy to drive around the clock in a 4WD vehicle - How 'likely' is it that we'll come to grief, get laid up, lost, die in the wilderness etc. All the accom/car hire etc. has been booked and paid, so there's not much room for me to make changes, and the Travel Agent didn't flinch, so they obviously think it's all OK (or simply don't care)... what do YOU guys think? Thanks... I'll buy ya' a beer when I get there! Rich. |
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#2
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Canadians... HELP!
On Thu, 18 Dec 2003 01:18:44 GMT, "RR"
allegedly wrote: Here's where I need some local help: - Is it at all possible to complete the trip as planned or is it simply "impossible". - If it's possible, how long should we allow to make the Big White Vancouver leg of our Journey, given that there's 2 of us, happy to drive around the clock in a 4WD vehicle - How 'likely' is it that we'll come to grief, get laid up, lost, die in the wilderness etc. It's definitely possible, but all depends on the weather. If there's no storm pending, and there hasn't been one for a day, then most of the roads will be reasonably clear. The authorities know how to shift a heap of snow in a hurry. I've never done that particular drive (although I've probably done something equivalent in the US), but I reckon on about 6-7 hours. Mapquest or a local will correct me. With a decent map you shouldn't get lost. Navigation is not a difficult task in BC. Whether you die or not depends on if you hit a massive storm, then drive at 100kph round a bend, power sliding into a tree, roll down a canyon, and wake a grizzly bear... or something like that. - Dave. -- The only powder to get high on, falls from the sky. http://www.vpas.org/ - Snowboarding the worlds pow pow - Securing your e-mail The Snowboard FAQ lives here - http://rssFAQ.org/ |
#3
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Canadians... HELP!
"RR" wrote in message ...
We're basically flying to Calgary, then bussing to Banff. We're spending a week at Sunshine, then grabbing a four-wheel-drive, and heading West to Lake Louise, Louise is 45 minutes outside of Banff, Sunshine 20 minutes. If I were you I'd stay in Banff and ski both places the first 2 days, and then decide how you're going to divide your time between them based on snow conditions, personal taste etc. then to Big White etc. for another week or so... then.. and this is the tough bit, we're planning to DRIVE to Vancouver for a week in Whistler before flying out to Japan.. but that's another story. Actually the drive from Kelowna to Vancouver is cake, the tough bit is the drive from Banff to Kelowna. You have to cross Kicking Horse Pass and Roger's Pass - those both can be scary in bad weather and sometimes are closed for days at a time. Allow 8 hours in good winter weather from Banff to Kelowna, and make sure your flexible enough to handle a delay of a day or two if the passes are closed. The roads are in good condition, mostly 2-lane with the odd passing lane on the uphill stretches. From Kelowna to Vancouver the quickest route is the Coquihalla toll road, 5 hours in good conditions. The more scenic route is Hope-Princeton, more like 7 or 8 hours. Coquihalla is wide, double-lane much of the way and about as boringly safe as mountain roads get. It does have some pretty steep grades so again you may be delayed if the weather is bad. Have fun, sounds like an amazing trip. Neil |
#4
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Canadians... HELP!
Rich,
If you are heading west from Banff you should check out Kicking Horse. It's a ski area that has recently undergone a huge series of improvements and it has some of the sickest terrain around. I was riding powder that was several weeks old there when the rest of Banff was all ice. http://www.kickinghorseresort.com Chris Stringer RDCShop.com Online Board Shop Bend Ski and Board Sport 1009 NW Galveston Bend, OR 97701 Email: Web: http://www.rdcshop.com Toll Free Phone: 1.877.BEND.SKI |
#5
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Canadians... HELP!
"Baka Dasai" wrote in message news:slrnbu5h3q.gmv.idontreadthis@yahoobb220004112 021.bbtec.net... On Thu, 18 Dec 2003 01:18:44 GMT, RR said (and I quote): Hi Guys! A mate and I from Australia are coming up your way... we've booked in some travel, and I wanna know how feasible it is. We're basically flying to Calgary, then bussing to Banff. We're spending a week at Sunshine, then grabbing a four-wheel-drive, and heading West to Lake Louise, then to Big White etc. for another week or so... then.. and this is the tough bit, we're planning to DRIVE to Vancouver for a week in Whistler before flying out to Japan.. but that's another story. Where are you going in Japan? If it's for snowboarding, check out Niseko. -- A: Top-posters. Q: What's the most annoying thing on usenet? Yeah, it's Niseko allright. I thought that place was the worlds best kept secret, so I'm going back. Last time I was there, we were getting 3-4ft drops overnight. Hills aren't so big, but the snow is just unbelievable ain't it? Thought it would be the place to unwind, soak in the onsens, and rest after my time in Canada... well, that's if all goes according to plan. |
#6
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Canadians... HELP!
"Switters" wrote in message ... On Thu, 18 Dec 2003 01:18:44 GMT, "RR" allegedly wrote: Here's where I need some local help: - Is it at all possible to complete the trip as planned or is it simply "impossible". - If it's possible, how long should we allow to make the Big White Vancouver leg of our Journey, given that there's 2 of us, happy to drive around the clock in a 4WD vehicle - How 'likely' is it that we'll come to grief, get laid up, lost, die in the wilderness etc. It's definitely possible, but all depends on the weather. If there's no storm pending, and there hasn't been one for a day, then most of the roads will be reasonably clear. The authorities know how to shift a heap of snow in a hurry. I've never done that particular drive (although I've probably done something equivalent in the US), but I reckon on about 6-7 hours. Mapquest or a local will correct me. With a decent map you shouldn't get lost. Navigation is not a difficult task in BC. Whether you die or not depends on if you hit a massive storm, then drive at 100kph round a bend, power sliding into a tree, roll down a canyon, and wake a grizzly bear... or something like that. - Dave. Ummm... a little bit too much thought appears to have gone into my demise here Dave. I'll hunt up some decent maps. I guess if it's bucketing snow, hehehe... I'll be staying put... heheheee.. worst things could happen ! Thanks. |
#7
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Canadians... HELP!
"Neil Gendzwill" wrote in message om... "RR" wrote in message ... We're basically flying to Calgary, then bussing to Banff. We're spending a week at Sunshine, then grabbing a four-wheel-drive, and heading West to Lake Louise, Louise is 45 minutes outside of Banff, Sunshine 20 minutes. If I were you I'd stay in Banff and ski both places the first 2 days, and then decide how you're going to divide your time between them based on snow conditions, personal taste etc. then to Big White etc. for another week or so... then.. and this is the tough bit, we're planning to DRIVE to Vancouver for a week in Whistler before flying out to Japan.. but that's another story. Actually the drive from Kelowna to Vancouver is cake, the tough bit is the drive from Banff to Kelowna. You have to cross Kicking Horse Pass and Roger's Pass - those both can be scary in bad weather and sometimes are closed for days at a time. Allow 8 hours in good winter weather from Banff to Kelowna, and make sure your flexible enough to handle a delay of a day or two if the passes are closed. The roads are in good condition, mostly 2-lane with the odd passing lane on the uphill stretches. From Kelowna to Vancouver the quickest route is the Coquihalla toll road, 5 hours in good conditions. The more scenic route is Hope-Princeton, more like 7 or 8 hours. Coquihalla is wide, double-lane much of the way and about as boringly safe as mountain roads get. It does have some pretty steep grades so again you may be delayed if the weather is bad. Have fun, sounds like an amazing trip. Neil Umm... don't wanna come along as a guide doya Neil? 1. Cool. We'll stay in Banff. Booked in the Hostel International at the Alpine Centre for a solid week, and as you suggest, we'll try out both Sunshine & Louise, then cut up our time accordingly. Good call. (Do you have a preference Sunshine/Louise?) 2. As usual with travel, the bits you expect to be tuff are easy and vice verca huh! So we'll allow more time for the Kelowna leg. Another poster suggested trying Kicking Horse, so if we get stuck for a while, maybe we could go there.. then cruise to Vancouver one way or another. I'm really looking forward to the legendary Canadian scenery, so weather/time/alcohol permitting, we'll consider the Hope-Princeton route. Either way, we've got a full 8 day buffer at trips end to make our Japan flight, so a coupla layovers in between should be survivable Neil, thanks for your help. I'll print this out, and use it INSTEAD of a map, coz Aussies aren't really travelling unless they're LOST!!! |
#8
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Canadians... HELP!
"Chris Stringer" wrote in message om... Rich, If you are heading west from Banff you should check out Kicking Horse. It's a ski area that has recently undergone a huge series of improvements and it has some of the sickest terrain around. I was riding powder that was several weeks old there when the rest of Banff was all ice. http://www.kickinghorseresort.com I checked out the site... I'm sold. Too many hills, too little time. We'll fit it in somewhere! |
#9
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Canadians... HELP!
"RR" wrote...
Do you have a preference Sunshine/Louise? Louise if the snow is good there, but they are both amazing hills. Bear in mind I'm a steeps/bumps/go real fast/all-mountain hardbooter kind of guy. People who like to look for hits here and there tend to prefer Sunshine. So we'll allow more time for the Kelowna leg. Another poster suggested trying Kicking Horse Also in the Kelowna area are Silverstar and Apex, both of which are good. But if you've only time for one hill in the Okanagan, I'd stick with Big White. Neil, thanks for your help. I'll print this out, and use it INSTEAD of a map, coz Aussies aren't really travelling unless they're LOST!!! It's pretty damn hard to get lost. Stranded, yeah. Dead off the side of a cliff, definitely possible. But lost would take special effort. Once you get out of Calgary heading west on the TransCanada (#1), there's really only one road until you get to the turn-off for the Okanagan (highway 97A). Then you just follow that until you hit Kelowna. Remember that our turn signals are the left stalk! That screwed me up more than driving on the left when I was in your neck of the woods - kept turning on my windshield wipers when I wanted to signal a turn. Neil |
#10
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Canadians... HELP!
R...your trip sounds great....very feasible if your in shape. You can make
B.W. to Van in a day. No need for a 4WD though....A. "RR" wrote in message ... Hi Guys! A mate and I from Australia are coming up your way... we've booked in some travel, and I wanna know how feasible it is. We're basically flying to Calgary, then bussing to Banff. We're spending a week at Sunshine, then grabbing a four-wheel-drive, and heading West to Lake Louise, then to Big White etc. for another week or so... then.. and this is the tough bit, we're planning to DRIVE to Vancouver for a week in Whistler before flying out to Japan.. but that's another story. Now... before you all go 'That's a long way'... in Australia, it's quite normal to drive over a thousand Km's in a day. I'm concerned however that we may not be able to do that in Canada with weather conditions etc. I know NOTHING about your roads, and whether they're tops or they suck..? Here's where I need some local help: - Is it at all possible to complete the trip as planned or is it simply "impossible". - If it's possible, how long should we allow to make the Big White Vancouver leg of our Journey, given that there's 2 of us, happy to drive around the clock in a 4WD vehicle - How 'likely' is it that we'll come to grief, get laid up, lost, die in the wilderness etc. All the accom/car hire etc. has been booked and paid, so there's not much room for me to make changes, and the Travel Agent didn't flinch, so they obviously think it's all OK (or simply don't care)... what do YOU guys think? Thanks... I'll buy ya' a beer when I get there! Rich. |
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