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Tuesday July
4th |
|
km |
total km |
elev. (m) |
|
|
0 |
696 |
1450 |
Tunnel Mountain Campground, Banff National Park
At 6 AM, it was 5 ºC and not a cloud in sight.
We started the day by hiking the Hoodoos Trail as it was close to our
campsite. This trail affords spectacular views of the Bow Valley and the
Banff Springs Hotel. |
|
5 |
701 |
1400 |
Banff, where we spent the morning. |
|
13 |
709 |
|
Bow Valley Parkway, Highway 1A |
|
28 |
724 |
1490 |
The highest point between Banff and Castle Mountain Junction. |
|
30 |
726 |
1440 |
Johnston Mountain Campground |
|
31 |
727 |
1450 |
Johnston Canyon
Restaurant & lodge. |
|
36 |
732 |
1460 |
Castle Mountain
Campground |
|
37 |
733 |
1460 |
Junction with Highway 93 (Castle Mountain)
Lodge & small store.
Immediately start climbing (8% grade in places) as you head south on Highway
93! |
|
43 |
739 |
1710 |
Storm Mountain Lodge
Restaurant and accommodation. |
|
45 |
741 |
1735 |
Boom Lake Picnic Area |
|
49 |
745 |
1654 |
Vermillion Pass
Continental Divide; Alberta - British Columbia border; Banff National Park -
Kootenay National Park border. |
|
55 |
751 |
|
Marble Canyon Campground
This area was ravaged by fire in 2003. Amazingly, the campground seems
to have been spared. |
|
today's total = 55 km |
Continental Divide (and Brian's bicycle!) |
|
Wednesday July
5th |
|
km |
total km |
elev. (m) |
|
|
0 |
751 |
|
Marble Canyon Campground
We were awakened at 6 AM by the sound of rain on our tents. This was the
first rain of the trip, and it only lasted 5-min! The sky soon cleared and
it remained sunny for the rest of the day. |
|
24 |
775 |
1282 |
Kootenay Park Lodge (Vermillion Crossing)
The ride from the campground to here was easy as it was either downhill
or level.
In 2006, the lodge served an excellent buffet breakfast between 8 AM and 10
AM. |
|
39 |
790 |
1210 |
Brace yourself for a short, steep, climb (7% grade). |
|
40 |
791 |
1268 |
Lookout at the conclusion of the climb. It is either flat, or
downhill, for the next 25 km. |
|
51 |
802 |
1170 |
Dolly Varden Picnic Shelters |
|
59 |
810 |
1135 |
McLeod Meadows Campground |
|
60 |
811 |
1135 |
McLeod Meadows Picnic Area |
|
64 |
815 |
1120 |
Kootenay River Picnic Area
A lovely picnic area on the Kootenay River, and a good place to relax
prior to tackling Sinclair Pass. |
|
65 |
816 |
1120 |
Let the 10 km Sinclair Pass ascent begin! |
|
75 |
826 |
1486 |
Sinclair Pass
The climb is quite steep (with 8% grades) in places. Do not yet fooled by
the "false summit" after about 6 km of climbing as the worse is yet to come! |
|
85 |
836 |
1025 |
The Radium Hot Springs
The 10 km descent from Sinclair Pass to here is wonderful.
Admission to the Hot Springs was about $8 in 2006, and is definitely worth
it! |
|
88 |
839 |
885 |
Village of Radium Hot Springs
It is downhill all the way from the hot springs to the village. The road
has a couple of 10% grades, and passes through some impressive rock cuts.
Keep your camera handy!
There is a plethora of restaurants and motels in the village. |
|
91 |
842 |
1018 |
Redstreak Campground, Kootenay National Park
Although it is 3 km from the village to the campground, it is uphill all the
way!
Redstreak is a large campground with hot showers and excellent walk-in
sites. |
|
today's total = 91 km |
Wayne descending after enjoying the Hot Springs |
|
Thursday July
6th |
|
km |
total km |
elev. (m) |
|
|
0 |
842 |
1018 |
Redstreak Campground, Kootenay National Park
No sooner had we retired to our tents for the night when a thunderstorm
struck. Although it rained on-and-off throughout the night, the skies had
cleared by the time we crawled out of our sleeping bags on Thursday morning.
We certainly have been lucky with the weather on this tour! |
|
3 |
845 |
885 |
Village of Radium Hot Springs |
|
5 |
847 |
925 |
Dry Gulch Provincial Park
Although one can camp here, it is smaller than, and definitely not as
nice as, Redstreak. |
|
14 |
856 |
825 |
Turn-off to Invermere. |
|
18 |
860 |
829 |
Town of Invermere
A delightful town on Lake Windermere. The Kinsmen Beach and Park is a
great place for a picnic and/or swim.
Be sure to leave Invermere by following West Side Road. This road runs along
the west shore of Lake Windermere and is a quiet alternative to Highway
93/95. However, it is a little rough in places. |
|
45 |
887 |
812 |
Junction with Highway 93/95. Turn left and head north. |
|
49 |
891 |
820 |
Fairmont Hot Springs
We had planned to enjoy the hot springs at Fairmont, but a thunderstorm
struck and we were forced to shelter from the downpour.
We headed to the campground between downpours! |
|
51 |
893 |
810 |
Spruce Grove Resort (Campground and Motel)
This is an excellent campground on the Columbia River. The owners were kind
enough to allow us to shelter from the rain by pitching our five small tents
under the picnic shelter (see below). |
|
today's total = 51 km |
Camping at Spruce Grove Resort |
|
Friday July
7th |
|
km |
total km |
elev. (m) |
|
|
0 |
893 |
810 |
Spruce Grove Campground
After yesterday's storms, the perfectly clear sky that greeted us when we
awoke was a welcome sight indeed. |
|
2 |
895 |
810 |
Junction with West Side Rd.
Hoodoos Campground. |
|
8 |
901 |
912 |
Rest Area & Lookout
Great views of Columbia Lake! |
|
24 |
917 |
|
Community of Canal Flats
Restaurant and store. |
|
52 |
945 |
800 |
Community of Skookumchuck
Restaurant, small store, campground and motel. |
|
65 |
958 |
785 |
Junction with Hwy.95A (to Kimberley) |
|
67 |
960 |
785 |
Turnoff to Wasa Lake Provincial Park
Small store. |
|
70 |
963 |
785 |
Wasa Lake Provincial Park Campground
This is a gorgeous campground where the spacious sites are shaded by
mature trees. Although there are no showers, the bathing in Wasa Lake is
excellent (and pleasantly warn after those mountain rivers!).
Small store nearby that sells beer and wine. |
|
today's total = 70 km |
Leanne and Sue approaching Canal Flats |
|
Saturday July
8th |
|
km |
total km |
elev. (m) |
|
|
0 |
963 |
785 |
Wasa Lake Provincial Park Campground
Another glorious, sunny, day for our final day of
riding through the mountains! |
|
3 |
966 |
785 |
Lions Park, Wasa Lake
We started the day by partaking in the Wasa Lake Lions Pancake
Breakfast. A great start to the day for $5!
Leanne and I said goodbye to the others at this point: they were not flying
home until Monday, whereas our flight out of Cranbrook was on Sunday. Sue,
Gerry and Wayne elected to spend a second night at Wasa Lake and then they
headed over to Kimberley on Sunday. |
|
2 |
968 |
785 |
Junction with Hwy.93/95 |
|
19 |
982 |
840 |
Rest Area |
|
23 |
986 |
820 |
Fort Steele Heritage Town
Store and campground.
Start climbing after crossing the Kootenay River! |
|
31 |
994 |
905 |
Junction with Hwy.3 |
|
32 |
995 |
930 |
Rest Area |
|
37 |
1000 |
920 |
Cranbrook
Overnight at the Sandman Inn. |
|
today's total = 37 km |
Gerry, Wayne, Sue, Brian & Leanne after the pancake breakfast |
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