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Saturday June
25th |
|
km |
total km |
elev. (m) |
|
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0 |
0 |
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Prince George Airport |
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15 |
15 |
575 |
Downtown Prince George
The ride from the airport to downtown Prince George is easy as it is either
flat or downhill.
Be sure to stock up before leaving Prince George as the next store of any
consequence is at McBride, over 200 km away!
Overnight at the Travelodge Hotel. |
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today's total = 15 km |
Approaching Vancouver by plane |
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Sunday June
26th |
|
km |
total km |
elev. (m) |
|
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0 |
15 |
575 |
Prince George
A beautiful sunny day!
Leave Prince George on Hwy. 16 (the Yellowhead Highway) and start
climbing shortly after crossing the Fraser River. |
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5 |
20 |
700 |
The last convenience store before Purden Lake. |
|
25 |
40 |
|
Our first bear sighting of the trip. The farmland has now
given way to forest. The terrain is undulating, but the riding is not too
difficult. |
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30 |
45 |
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Wildlife Viewing Area. |
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35 |
50 |
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Willow River Rest Area.
A very nice rest area beside the river. Swimming (in the river), picnic
tables and excellent outhouses! Cyclists could easily camp here for the
night. |
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56 |
71 |
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Bownron River Rest Area. |
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58 |
73 |
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Purden Lake Provincial Park entrance.
The park is 2 km from the highway and offers camping, swimming and a
picnic area. We called in for a swim as it was quite hot by then. |
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62 |
77 |
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Back on Hwy. 16 after the 4 km (round trip) detour to the
park. |
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66 |
81 |
780 |
Purden
Lake Resort.
We elected to camp here, rather than at the provincial park, as we were
drawn by the prospect of hot showers and a licensed restaurant! The resort
has two very nice log cabins for rent and a (very) small store. |
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today's total = 66 km |
Leanne near Purden Lake |
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Monday June
27th |
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km |
total km |
elev. (m) |
|
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0 |
81 |
780 |
Purden Lake Resort.
Another gorgeous sunny day!
The stretch of Hwy.16 between Purden Lake and McBride is quite remote. There
is a small 'diner' at Dome Creek, but no stores. |
|
25 |
106 |
|
Two moose were spotted crossing the highway.
The scenery is improving all the time as the Rocky Mountains are getting
ever closer. |
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58 |
139 |
740 |
Slim Creek Rest Area.
A very nice, large, rest area where cyclists could easily camp for the
night. There is swimming in the river as well as picnic tables and excellent
outhouses. |
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61 |
142 |
810 |
Dome Creek Diner (closed on Mondays and Tuesdays!)
The riding is becoming more strenuous as the climbs become longer. |
|
106 |
187 |
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Goat River Road Rest Area, where we camped for the
night. This is a small, quiet, rest area with an outhouse and swimming in
the river. We were able to squeeze in our six small tents. |
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today's total = 106 km |
Camping at the Goat River Road Rest Area |
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Tuesday June
28th |
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km |
total km |
elev. (m) |
|
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0 |
187 |
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Goat River Road Rest Area.
Another beautiful sunny day (albeit a little hot by mid-afternoon)! |
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6 |
193 |
920 |
The 6 km climb out of the Goat River Valley is not too bad as
the maximum grade is 6%. |
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10 |
197 |
950 |
Two deer were spotted, grazing at the side of the highway. |
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27 |
214 |
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Scarecrow Farm.
This would have been a wonderful place to stay for the night as the camping
is excellent. The B & B accommodations are equally good. The owners,
Peter and Tweazle Hollist,
are extremely nice people and treated us to fresh water melon. |
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41 |
228 |
725 |
McBride (pop. = 750)
The last 20 km of riding was much easier as one is now in the beautiful
Robson Valley.
McBride is a delightful little town with all services (campsite, motels,
food stores, etc.) available. There is an excellent coffee shop located in
the old train station. |
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43 |
230 |
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Beaverview Campsite. |
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55 |
242 |
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King Creek Golf & Winter Club.
Small motel, campsite and restaurant. |
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63 |
250 |
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Rest Area. |
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65 |
252 |
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Cougar spotted crossing the highway. |
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88 |
275 |
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Small River Rest Area. |
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103 |
290 |
777 |
Tête Jaune Resort (at
Tête Jaune Cache)
Campsite, motel and restaurant.
The riding between McBride and Tête Jaune
Cache is not particularly hard. |
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105 |
292 |
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Tête Jaune Cache Rest
Area (on the Fraser River). |
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108 |
295 |
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Rearguard Falls.
Start climbing! |
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112 |
299 |
890 |
Mt. Terry Fox Lookout & Rest Area. |
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113 |
300 |
860 |
Mt. Robson Lodge & Robson Shadows Campground.
An excellent private campground with a restaurant and hot showers. The
campsites are alongside the Fraser River and afford great views of Mt.
Robson. The only negative is that the sites are approx. 500 m from the
showers. The owners are very nice people. |
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today's total = 113 km |
Mt. Robson at sunset (from our campsite) |
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Wednesday June
29th |
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km |
total km |
elev. (m) |
|
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0 |
300 |
860 |
Mt. Robson Lodge & Robson Shadows Campground.
Another perfect day for enjoying the magnificent scenery that this
section of the trip has to offer! |
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5 |
305 |
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Mt. Robson Provincial Park Boundary. |
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6 |
306 |
830 |
Robson River Campground. |
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7 |
307 |
830 |
Robson Meadows Campground. |
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7 |
307 |
830 |
Mt. Robson Visitor Centre.
There is a restaurant adjacent to the Visitor Centre that serves good food
at reasonable prices.
Start climbing immediately after the Visitor Centre! |
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9 |
309 |
900 |
Overlander Falls.
The scenery is spectacular, and will remain that way for the duration of
the trip! |
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15 |
315 |
1035 |
The steepest part of the climb is over! |
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25 |
325 |
1072 |
Red Pass.
The highway levels off as it now follows Moose Lake. |
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29 |
329 |
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If you are thirsty, watch for the lovely, cold, spring water
gushing from pipes on your left! |
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36 |
336 |
1035 |
Moose Lake Boat Launch and Picnic Area. |
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58 |
358 |
1110 |
Lucerne Campground. |
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61 |
361 |
1110 |
Mt. Fitzwilliam Picnic Area. |
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68 |
368 |
1155 |
Yellowhead Pass.
Boundary with Alberta and Jasper National Park. This is also the Continental
Divide and the start of the Mountain Time Zone. |
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72 |
372 |
1120 |
Toll gate for Jasper National Park. |
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93 |
393 |
1060 |
Junction with Hwy. 93 (The Icefields Parkway).
Turn left to visit the Town of Jasper, where all services are available.
You will need to re-stock for the trek to Lake Louise through Jasper and
Banff National Parks. |
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97 |
397 |
1100 |
Whistler's Campground (on the Icefields Parkway).
A large site with hot showers and food storage lockers.
There were 25, or so, elk wandering around the campground. |
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today's total = 97 km |
Leanne approaching Mt. Robson |
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