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Seattle WA to Banff, the Ice Fields Parkway and home
Quick trip report on our two week recon trip to British Columbia.
First, I have to say that the Canadians have got it going on! We had a great trip staying in national, provincial and municipal campgrounds, unlimited firewood, unlimited showers, no crowding and stunning scenery as well as some serious off road adventures. We met the nicest people on our travels, and we are seriously impressed with B.C.
The Route.
Day 1. Seattle to North Cascades National Park. - After getting out late due to us putting a solar panel on my brother in-laws VW Syncro we hit the road, staying off the freeways and made our way to North Cascades for the night.
Day 2. North Cascades to Syringa Provincial Park - After a late start we rolled out of the NP and passed through Winthrop WA in time to catch a duck race and then crossed the border. Canadian Customs couldn't have been nicer and after they made sure we weren't trying to import a case of liquor we rolled right through and on up to the 2nd nights stop. Due to the need to keep stopping and checking out the sights we rolled into Syringa around 7pm and took up a spot on the lake. Our first nights camping in Canada was a warm welcome from the host who went off to get us firewood and various neighbors stopping by to see how we were all doing. It seems that the SMB is quite the conversation starter!
Day 3. Our traveling companions decided to make a B line for the Yoho park and we took a more leisurely place. We drove Hwy 6 to Winlaw and stopped for coffee at an off the hook little place called Sleep is for Sissie. Just up the street is an organic grocery store run by a guy that moved to BC to follow a girl and plant trees and now has a very nice little store and cafe. From there we took a little side trip to a ghost town and found an off-road track that climbed 2000m and went to the top of Idaho Peek for a stunning 360 view of the Slocam Valley. From there it was back down the ten or twelve Km and on to the ferry crossing at Galena Bay. Sadly the Valhalla's were in cloud that day so we didnt get to see much. Camp for the night was right next to the lake a few clicks up from the ferry and we bedded down.
Day 4 we rolled through Revelstoke, Glacier and on into Yoho, meeting up with the Syncro crew and making camp for the night on the Glacier Highway.
Day 5 we stayed camped but took a ride up to the Athabasca Glacier and the tour buss up onto the ice. From the road you just don't get a sense of how big this stuff is but it is well worth the price of the tour IMHO.
Day 6 we parked the rig at the Fairmont in Lake Louise and spent the day horseback riding up to the tea houses and then crashed at the Hotel for two nights.
Day 8 we decided to run into Banff and due to changing weather, change our plans and head south instead of to Jasper.
Ill post some info on the trip home and pictures as I sort through the 600 or so we took.
Not to much wild life but we saw a couple for bears which is always fun.
Rig went well. No issues to speak of and the new bed configuration worked well.
More to come.....
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