sharay
ohio
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Joined: 03/27/2012
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We are soooo ready!!! We are actually leaving Ohio on 5/8 to visit our son and family just north of MSP. That is just 7 days away--one week--eeehaaa!! Really appreciate the extra info on crossing the border with food.
joe b.-thanks for the routing insight at Butte and points north to I-15.
This thread has been very helpful and informative. Thank you all!!
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GrandmaCarol
Cadiz, KY
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Sharay, I'll be looking for that Cleveland Indians or Browns shirt at the airport 
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jmcarp
Colorado
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An alternate route in southern AB for those crossing at Coutts/Sweetgrass and headed to Banff/Jasper which bypasses Calgary is to take Hwy 3 west from Fort McLeod to just past Pincher Station, then north on Hwy 22 (a.k.a. the Cowboy Trail) through some beautiful rolling ranchland to Longview. At Longview turn west on 541, which becomes Hwy 40 after a few miles and then north through Kanaskis country. This road joins Hwy 1/1A about midway between Calgary and Banff. It's a beautiful mountain drive and there are several Provincial parks along the way, plus you'll probably see several bands of sheep along the highway once you get into the mountains.
You can also reach this route if you come up the east side of Glacier NP and cross the border at Chief Mountain, which puts you right into Waterton Lakes NP on the Canadian side. Take Hwy 6 north up through Pincher Creek and hit Hwy 3 just a few miles east of the junction with 22 going north. We came back this way last summer and thoroughly enjoyed this bypass. We spent the night in a quiet little Prov park called Green Ford along Hwy 541, right on the Highwood River and we were the only ones there -- this was in late August.
Jim
'04 Provan Tiger CX
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oetbyg
Vermont
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Joined: 04/02/2012
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jmcarp - Thanks for the suggestion. We are planning an overnight at Ft. McLeod, and your route looks like a great way to avoid greater Calgary. Google maps using the 'terrain' option was a great way to scope out the route.
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cakelady1
North Carolina
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Jim, you must be a mindreader!! My husband and I were just looking at the atlas and trying to figure out the best way around Calgary and this route was one we were talking about. I said it would be nice to know if anyone had driven it and I should post and ask....thanks for the input on those roads. This forum has really been great for feedback on how to lay out our route.
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jmcarp
Colorado
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cakelady1 wrote:Jim, you must be a mindreader!! My husband and I were just looking at the atlas and trying to figure out the best way around Calgary and this route was one we were talking about. I said it would be nice to know if anyone had driven it and I should post and ask....thanks for the input on those roads. This forum has really been great for feedback on how to lay out our route.
One caveat -- I was just looking at the Alberta government highway map, and it has a note that says Hwy 40 is closed from Dec 1 to Jun 15. It does go up over a fairly high pass (2200m or ~7200 ft), so maybe it doesn't get plowed in the winter. Hopefully someone who lives in that area or travels this route more frequently can clarify this, or you can check with the Provincial Hwy Dept for road conditions as you approach. I didn't notice that note before since it was late summer when we passed through there last year. At any rate, if 40 is closed you could just continue north on Hwy 22 through Longview and hit the TransCanada Hwy at Cochrane, which is a few miles west of Calgary.
Jim
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SkiCruiser
Pinellas Park, Florida
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Hi everyone!
I just can't stand it!!! Next week at this time we'll either be in Forest City or pretty close!
Jim, Thanks for that info on The Cowboy Trail! We've decide to use your suggested route around Calgary. Been there done that and Google Earth shows a beautiful alternate. I would really love to hear from anyone with current info on 541/40. Would really love to drive that road!
GrandaMa Carol and Sharay, Looks like they had a pretty heavy snowfall yesterday in Dawson City. Todays picture of the Yukon River has not been posted yet, so don't know if it is still on the ground or if it has melted off. Pretty incredible!!
We will have everything packed this weekend! I can't believe the trip is so close!
Cheryl
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GrandmaCarol
Cadiz, KY
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I beat you Cheryl! I'm PACKED!! (NOW what do I do for the next 5 days before we head to MN? - NO! Please don't tell me I need to spend it cleaning the house! YUCK!)
I saw a post on FB from explorenorth (Murray) that they were having a blizzard in Whitehorse, but he posted later that it melted as it hit the ground, so hopefully that's the story for Dawson City.
Just read that there will be major construction on Seward Highway for the next 2 years - warning to any heading that direction.
* This post was
edited 05/03/12 07:35pm by GrandmaCarol *
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garyhaupt
Back living in Kitimat..northern BC.
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If anyone likes good bacon and gooder bread and is coming west on #16, in BC. Vanderhoof, 1.5 hours west of Prince George has a Co-oP food store right behind the A&W that smokes their own bacon and sausages.
In New Hazelton, west of Smithers, on the right..Skeena Bakery. It is a community enterprise that employs the challenged. Not cheap, but by God, yummy.
Gary Haupt
I have a Blog..about stuff, some of which is RV'ing.
http://mrgwh.blogspot.ca/
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GrandmaCarol
Cadiz, KY
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Thanks Gary - we're heading that way and will definitely check it out!
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