Monthly Archives: August 2018

Banff

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The next stop after Radium Hot Springs was Banff.  Only 85 miles or 135 kilometers since we were in Canada.  A nice short drive but very spectacular.  We were last here in 2004 (14 years) and a lot has changed.  We were able to camp in the full hookup campground at Tunnel Mountain:

We were able to show the Chen’s some old spots we went to and some new ones also!  Bow Falls and the Cave and Basin Historical site:

The above shot was in one of the displays promoting Canadian National Parks.  Looks like an Airstream to me!

One day we took a drive up to Lake Louise, a requirement for anyone in the area as the parking lot bore out.  The lot said full but we drove around and found one but it might have been illegal parking.  No ticket in the end!  Lake Louise is amazing but you cannot go into the hotel there anymore unless you are a guest (staying or eating I guess).  We could not even drive to the Moraine Lake parking as they close the road when it is full.  We have to suffice with Lake Louise:

Another day we stayed around the Banff area and drove by Two Jack Lake and Lake Minnewanka.  We also saw some wildlife, mangy and otherwise, you guess which.

I had seen photographs of the Banff valley from an elevated position and I wanted to go there.  There was one possibility, the Mt Norquay ski area.  Actually, there is a viewpoint before you get there and it was the place.  The parks in Canada have a ‘red chair’ promotion going where they place two Adirondack (ironic) chairs in scenic locations and encourage people to find them and sit in them.  There was one here:

One of the days we decided to take a hike.   It had to meet everyone’s criteria.  The kids wanted long and strenuous but we like short an easy.  A compromise was had with the Johnston Canyon hike.  It was listed as not too long and a moderate hike.  They lie!!  We must have a different definition of moderate.  We did the hike but it kicked our butts!  There were numerous waterfalls all along the river along with some ingenious ways to construct the trail:

Our time in Banff was very enjoyable.  The weather was great for the most part.  It was interesting to see the changes.  Banff is still the touristy town it was 14 years ago, just a bit bigger and busier.  But it was time to move on.

2 Nights, 2 Countries

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We have a long haul ahead of us on this day, and it all happens within Montana!  We had to make a stop for supplies in Missoula which took a bit of time.  I also had to get some forms printed out for our second day.  We drove through some very beautiful country and a lot of heavy rain!  We drove around Flathead Lake and ended up going through Columbia Falls to our next campsite.

The road to the next campsite was very picturesque, very woodsy and very remote.  When we were within 7 miles the road turned to gravel.  Ugh, with washboarding!  There was no easy way of knowing that this was coming but we had reservations so we kept moving, slowly.  It took about 45 minutes to travel that distance and we arrived at the remotest campsite we had ever stayed.  There were vehement signs warning us to the bear influence in the area and it sure seemed like a bear area!  It was very quiet though.

The Chen’s blocking the road!

Our spot in the forest

 

The view of the river from the Chen’s spot

If you want remote, come here!

The next day was more driving north.  We took a different route from the remote campground that only had about 3 miles of gravel but it wreaked havoc on the inside of the trailer.  As we drove around this loop we found this:

We were going through Glacier National Park!  I didn’t realize we were that close but we didn’t have time to drive it and the Road to the Sun road was not open yet.  We headed off to our next reservation.

The significant part of today was crossing over into Canada.  We were not carrying a handgun because I know of the regulations and general disdain for handguns in Canada but we did have our shotgun that we were taking.  This required one form for the US (to declare that I am taking it across the border and I own it so I can bring it back to the US) and a form for Canada.

We pulled over on the US side and went to the CBP.  We showed the form to the agent and he went to the trailer and looked at the gun.  Easy but it took some time.  We pulled through the line on the Canadian side and George had already told the agent about my shotgun so they had us pull over.  I went inside with my form, paid the fee and we were on our way.  Pretty easy, but without preparation, it would have been much worse.

We were now in Canada so we had to start looking at things in a metric way and what the monetary conversion is.  I am glad I like math!

Our next stop was Dry Gulch Provincial Park near the town of Radium Hot Springs.  We had spots together this time but they were pretty steep.

I remember coming to Radium when I was much younger with my parents.  Radium’s big draw is the hot springs.  We had to go there and we did.  It was so relaxing and the setting was beautiful.

George trying out his camera underwater

Just west of the hot springs is a canyon that is the way in and out of the area.  It was this way during horse and wagon days.  Here are a few views of it:

The first two days were 540 miles in total but we made it to Canada.