We are leaving for Banff / Jasper july 2, traveling in the world's smallest class c style rv (Tiger XL , Chevy Astro Van chassis). We don't usually need hookups , we like rustic or remote spots, but we don't have awd or 4x4.
We do have : 200w solar, 2 golf cart (210ah) batteries, 1kw inverter, 12v Vitrifrigo compressor fridge,50 amp battery charger, cassette toilet , fantastic fan , and are self contained with shower.etc. We have dash ac and a furnace, Travasak and extra down comforter.
We have passports and a Canada Insurance card, drivers licenses and current registration, we don't drink , smoke cigs or anything else, don't own guns , have no pepper spray or tasers or flare guns etc.
Arizona plates, we travel at 55mph / 90 kph max steady speed and show courtesy to truckers and faster moving vehicles.
We have a CB and 150w linear , cell phones (but havent set up service for Canada - maybe buy a pre pay phone up there?) , one phone is an iphone and we will have one Mac laptop - so I could get a usb wireless connection device .
We don't need constant internet but would like to check email at least once a day.
I have Tmobile wireless hotspot service for short range wifi.
We like to hike, ride road bicycles, take pictures, and when the conditions are right, I've been known to slap on my speed inline skates to get in some road miles.
Our tentative plan:
Arrive in Banff (or Calgary) about july 5 , 1 week around Banff / Jasper , slide over to Vancouver Island, slide down to the San Juans on a Canadian ferry (my experience is the Canadian ferries are nicer, the food is better), and then down the coast .
We think about 2 or 3 weeks in Canada
Looking for advice, input, suggestions from friendly Canadians or Canada savvy Yanks.
Our rig is 9 ft tall, 16 ft long, 78 inches wide, 6000 lbs , regular gas 16mpg average, 23 gallon tank.
Lived and traveled extensively overseas, last off shore trip was 2 months rv rental in Europe in 2007 - 2/3 of the time we drycamped (free, not paid spots), also did one month rv trip in NZ.
Former full timer 20 years.
Thanks in advance!
Jonny (Chimney Sweep)
Gretchen (5th grade teacher)
Sonoma CA
* This post was
edited 06/17/09 11:34pm by sootyme *
Sounds nice. It's gonna take you a little bit of time to get from Jasper down to Vancouver and then to the Island. You can make it in a day if you drive non-stop but you are missing lots of the Rockies. The Island itself is a one week minimum trip. If you like hiking, you gotta do Cape Scott at the Northern tip and of course you gotta do Victoria which is at the Southern tip. Tofino on the West coast is mandatory and the East coast can't be missed either.
You only need a day or two around Banff (love that place). You definitely need time at Lake Louise. You want to hike a trail called Back of the Lake (you also must have afternoon tea at the hotel there. Soooo cool).
In between, you will need to get to Kamloops, Kelowna and Penticton. All of those places are cool and the surrounding area deserves, hiking, biking and camping.
You will be coming into Calgary right at the start of The Calgary Stampede. You will want to spend a day or two at the Stampede before you head for the hills. There are a number of campgrounds close to Calgary. Once you get into the mountains, most of the area is either a National or Provincial Park which means you will need to stay in desinated campgrounds. The Mountain National Parks are spectacular,Banff,Jasper,Yoho,Kootenay...another idea, go south out of Calgary first to Waterton Park and then into Montana's Glacier National Park and do the "Going To The Sun" Road. It is possible to do this and come back up to Banff in two or three days. You don't even double back on yourself. You can then do the "Icefields Parkway"
up to Jasper and then head west to the coast on Hwy.#16 (Yellowhead Hwy.)
Good luck and enjoy your trip!!
Keep in mind that the Stampede starts on the 3rd of July therefore it might be difficult getting a site near the city. You might be able to get something in Kananaskis Country: http://tpr.alberta.ca/parks/kananaskis/flashindex.asp
No matter what make sure you visit/stay at Peter Lougheed Provincial Park... beautiful mountain/forest area.
Eh!
GeeksRUs
2008 Big Horn 3400RL
2008 Dodge RAM3500, Quad, Cummins, 4x4, Dually, LongBox
RV Home Base @ Coyote Creek Golf & RV Resort, Sundre Alberta
YEs = you just about NEED reservations at that time of year around Calgary and in the mountain National Parks - Banff, Jasper, Waterton etc, for the major cgs but for a rig your size there are many smaller cgs that you can fit into that are not reservable. Just plan to stop early afternoon to get a site. No boondocking is allowed in the National Parks.
John
Colorado Cruiser
Cruiser CF29CK 5th wheel; 2009 GMC Sierra 2500HD, 2wd, short bed
wonderful lifetime traveling companion/spouse
Look up Info on the Kootenay Region of BC in and around Hwy 3. This has more mountain passes to go over on the way to the Coast then Hwy 1, and way less traffic then Hwy 1.
There are lots of places that you can dry camp and ride bikes and hike as well.
Google these places and or sites:
Kootenay Lake
Arrow Lakes
Nancy Greene Lake
Slocan Lake
Trout Lake
Duncan Lake
Christina Lake
Jewel Lake
Kettle River
Good Luck and have a great trip
Soup
2006, Komfort 261FS
2007 Sierra SLE, 2500 HD / 4x4 / Duramax with a 6 speed Allison Transmission
Thank you all for the tips - I will research them all in the next few days.
We probably won't do the Stampede, hate crowds, fighting for crowded rv sites... much prefer rustic and secluded spots, to hike, bike, and take pics.
I traipsed around Banff / Jasper for about 5 months when I was 18, lived at Ma Ruby's boarding house on the way to the Springs Hotel south of Banff proper.
Draft beer was 25 cents and tomato juice was 50 cents at the pubs (we didn't drink much tomato juice), a table held 32 beers.
Now I don't drink the beer, only only tomato juice.
Keep the input coming!
Jonny
ps This trip is our honeymoon, we are getting married saturday
Quote: I traipsed around Banff / Jasper for about 5 months when I was 18, lived at Ma Ruby's boarding house on the way to the Springs Hotel south of Banff proper.
Draft beer was 25 cents and tomato juice was 50 cents at the pubs (we didn't drink much tomato juice), a table held 32 beers.
I estimate that you are 54 years old. (How far off am I?)
I am also guessing that there were four people around the table.
(Everybody used to put down a $2 bill + eight beers x four = a full table)
Ah the good ol' days! This is one calculation where the usual "Yes but back then we only earned X amount of dollars" Beer really was cheaper back then.
sootyme wrote: Thank you all for the tips - I will research them all in the next few days.
We probably won't do the Stampede, hate crowds, fighting for crowded rv sites... much prefer rustic and secluded spots, to hike, bike, and take pics.
I traipsed around Banff / Jasper for about 5 months when I was 18, lived at Ma Ruby's boarding house on the way to the Springs Hotel south of Banff proper.
Draft beer was 25 cents and tomato juice was 50 cents at the pubs (we didn't drink much tomato juice), a table held 32 beers.
Now I don't drink the beer, only only tomato juice.
Keep the input coming!
Jonny
ps This trip is our honeymoon, we are getting married saturday
Congratulations on your big day, and I hear ya on the crouds!
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