Dates: Friday, May 25 through June 9, 2012
Participants: Lowell, Annette and Hannah Klassen, Mike Thompson, Clarke and Olga Arnold
Route: Langley, British Columbia, Canada to Missoula, Montana, United States of America
Friday, May 25: Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
Saturday, May 26: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Sunday, May 27: Langley, British Columbia, Canada
Monday, May 28: Hope, British Columbia, Canada
Tuesday, May 29: Lytton, British Columbia, Canada
Wednesday, May 30: Lillooet, British Columbia, Canada
Thursday, May 31: Cache Creek, British Columbia, Canada
Friday, June 1: Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
Saturday, June 2: Jasper, Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada
Sunday, June 3: Columbia Ice Fields, Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada
Monday, June 4: Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Tuesday, June 5: Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Wednesday, June 6: Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia, Canada
Thursday, June 7: Skookumchuck, British Columbia, Canada
Friday, June 8: Missoula, Montana, United States of America
Saturday, June 9: Cedar City, Utah, United States of America
Here we go again! Lowell is off on another adventure, this time through the Canadian Rockies. Our trip across the United States was a wonderful adventure with life-changing events including the death of my mother one month into the trip. What will the next few weeks bring?
Friday, May 25, 2012
Route completed: Lowell and Annette traveled from Cedar City to Salt Lake City, Utah via Lowell's truck which pulled the trailer full of bikes.Hannah traveled from Cedar City to Salt Lake later in the day via the St. George Shuttle.
We arrived at the Salt Lake Temple 10 minutes before Kyle Simmons and Maddy Kerksiek's wedding, so Annette jumped out of the car and ran in. If we had known we would not be seated for the ceremony for another 30 minutes, I would have told Lowell to park, change his clothes and come in and join me. Instead, he went to Rack 'n Road to add a few bike racks and spare tire tire holders to the trailer. He then picked me up and drove me to the airport to pick up a rental car. I had a list of things to complete in Salt Lake, but nothing seemed to fall into place--the prescription wasn't ready at Walgreen's, the Utah Trails office of the National Park Service closed early (I wanted to stamp our passports) and the downtown Zions branch closed earlier than expected so NO CANADIAN DOLLARS! I did make it to Kyle and Maddy's dinner on time, but had to leave mid-celebration to pick up Hannah. The St. George Shuttle is NOT Hannah's favorite way to travel, and I'm beginning to think that it's not a good option for unaccompanied minors. They use a 15-passenger van which is usually full and I had requested that she be given a seat next to or directly behind the driver. Last thing I want is for Hannah to be seated next to some "creeper". When Hannah arrived she reported that the only seat available was on the back row and the woman next to her was watching porn on her phone. Great.
We finally settled into our hotel room for a much needed good night of sleep.
After dropping me off at the airport, Lowell traveled to Dayton, Idaho to pick up Mike and together they started the trek for Vancouver spending the night in Boise.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Route completed: Lowell and Mike finished the drive from Vancouver, Hannah and I flew from Salt Lake City to LAX to Vancouver.
Ensign Peak
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Start: Hampton Inn, Vancouver, British Columbia
Spent the day in Vancouver, Clarke and Olga Arnold arrived in Vancouver
Monday, May 28, 2012
End: Holiday Inn Express, Langley, British Columbia
Mileage:
Weather:
Interesting people along the way:
Spent the day in Vancouver, Clarke and Olga Arnold arrived in Vancouver
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| Hannah Klassen visits the Beluga whales at the Stanley Park Aquarium, Vancouver, British Columbia |
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| Hannah and her Beluga whale visit the Vancouver British Columbia Temple. Langley, British Columbia, Canada |
Monday, May 28, 2012
Start: Holiday Inn Express, Langley, British Columbia
End: ?, Hope, British Columbia
Mileage:
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Start: ?, Hope, British Columbia
End: ?, Lytton, British Columbia
Mileage:
Weather:
Interesting people along the way:
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Start: ?, Lytton, British Columbia
End: Mile-0 Motel, Lillooet, British Columbia
Mileage:
Weather:
Interesting people along the way:
Thursday, May 31, 2012
From Cache Valley to Cache Creek
Start: Mile-0 Motel, Lillooet, British Columbia
End: Sage Hills Inn, Cache Creek, British Columbia, Canada
Mileage:
Weather:
Interesting people along the way:
Friday, June 1, 2012
Start: Sage Hills Inn, Cache Creek, British Columbia, Canada
End: Holiday Inn Express, Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
Mt. Robson Inn, Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada
Mileage:
Weather:
Interesting people along the way:
Saturday, June 2, 2012
2nd Lost Credit Card
Start: Holiday Inn Express, Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
End: Mt. Robson Inn, Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada
Mileage:
Weather:
Interesting people along the way:
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Interesting people along the way: Ranger asking bike questions
Start: Mt. Robson Inn, Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada
End: Glacier View Inn, Columbia Ice Fields, Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada
Weather:
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| Mike Thompson and Clarke Arnold, Jasper National Park, Canada |
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| Lowell Klassen, Jasper National Park, Canada |
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| Mike Thompson, Jasper National Park, Canada |
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| Lowell Klassen and the support vehicle. Jasper National Park, Canada |
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| Hannah Klassen and Mike Thompson, Jasper National Park, Canada |
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| Lowell Klassen, Jasper National Park, Canada |
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| Mike Thompson, Jasper National Park, Canada |
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| Clarke Arnold, Jasper National Park, Canada |
Monday, June 4, 2012
Start: Glacier View Inn, Columbia Ice Fields, Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada
End: Lake Louise Inn, Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Weather:
Interesting people along the way:
Peyto Lake
Bear
Mountain Goats
We woke up to a beautiful blue sky peeking through the clouds with the sun shining on the Athabasca Glacier. The men departed for Lake Louise/Banff and Hannah, Olga took a detour and we made our way up to the Athabasca Glacier via Brewster’s Snow Coach.
There were many interesting facts shared about The Columbia Ice Field and the Athabasca Glacier. The ice field is over 200 square kilometers and the glacier is 2% of the entire ice field. This particular glacier is defined as an “outlet glacier” because it spilled over the edge of the ice field into the first available outlet. There were a few glaciers surrounding the Athabasca that are “hanging glaciers” and they hang off the side of a mountain. At one time they were all connected to the Columbia Ice Field, but the Athabasca advances approximately 15 meters each winter, but recedes 25 meters each summer. Because the sun was shining, the beautiful blue ice was very evident, especially on the hanging glaciers.
We have crossed the Continental Divide multiple times on this trip, but learned that next to the Athabasca Glacier is a snow dome that is considered the “Triple Continental Divide”. The snow cap melts into three different rivers that flow to three separate oceans: The Pacific, The Atlantic and The Arctic.
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| Blue ice water on the Athabasca Glacier. Jasper National Park |
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| Hannah Klassen at the Athabasca Glacier (just 2% of the Columbia Ice Field). Jasper National Park |
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| Hannah Klassen in front of Mt. Adromeda (hanging glacier in center). Columbia Ice Field, Jasper National Park |
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| Hannah Klassen and the Canadian flag. Athabasca Glacier, Jasper National Park, Canada |
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| Hannah Klassen and our snowcoach. Athabasca Glacier, Jasper National Park, Canada |
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| Hannah Klassen and interesting Royal Canadian Mountain Policeman. Jasper National Park, Canada |
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| Hannah Klassen and interesting Royal Canadian Mountain Policeman. Jasper National Park, Canada |
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| Hannah Klassen and a BEAR! Jasper National Park, Canada |
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| This bear must be hungry. He/she is eating dandelions! Jasper National Park, Canada |
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| Mountain goats could care less about traffic. "I'll just stop and groom myself in the middle of the road!" Jasper National Park, Canada |
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| The hiking trail to Peyto (Pee-toe) Lake. You can drive to the observation point after the snow melts. Jasper National Park, Canada |
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| Hannah and Annette Klassen at Peyto (Pee-toe) Lake overlook. Hannah added to her snowball up and down the trail and placed it on the trailer to see how long it would last. Jasper National Park, Canada |
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| The beautiful blue of Peyto (Pee-toe) Lake. Color is caused by light reflecting off of the "rock flour" (fine powder that results from glacier grinding up rock). The rock flour stays suspended in the water. No fish or vegetation can survive in this type of glacial lake. Jasper National Park, Canada |
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Start: Lake Louise Inn, Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
End: Lake Louise Inn, Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Weather: RAIN!
Interesting people along the way: Cigarette roller
No riding day due to rain so we took a road trip to Banff and enjoyed a Thai lunch/dinner and browsing through some of the many shops along Banff Avenue. Some dark chocolate and german chocolate fudge found their way into our purchase bag.
Hannah did have her first experience viewing the rolling of cigarettes. There was what seemed to be a homeless man sitting on a main street bench. He was crouched over a large plastic bucket full of tobacco and slowly rolling it into cigarettes. Interesting what you see in your travels.
Hannah did have her first experience viewing the rolling of cigarettes. There was what seemed to be a homeless man sitting on a main street bench. He was crouched over a large plastic bucket full of tobacco and slowly rolling it into cigarettes. Interesting what you see in your travels.
On our way back to the Lake Louise Inn, we made a detour to the actual Lake Louise. There was still a fair amount of ice on the surface and due to the lack of sun and not refracted light causing the beautiful blue surface like we saw at Peyto Lake. It was quite chilly, so we made our way back to the car and our hotel where we spent the rest of the evening relaxing, watching TV and working on computer projects.
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| Hannah Klassen at Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada |
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| Hannah Klassen at Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada |
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Start: Lake Louise Inn, Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
End: Crystal Springs Motel, Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia, Canada
Weather: Rainy and cold
Interesting people along the way: Our waitress who was from Creston, British Columbia which is not too far from Bountiful
One word for the day: Mazama. Not sure what that means? Try Mazama, Washington, a small town in the Northern Cascades that was a rest point for some very cold and drenched bike riders almost two years to the day. Why not recreate the experience travelling through the Canadian Rockies.
The men left Lake Louise early this morning under overcast skies, but no rain, yet. The goal for the day? Lake Louise through Kootenay National Park and ending in Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia. Hannah, Olga and I left Lake Louise around noon and found the men 60 miles later bravely bicycling through the rain. There was no hesitation when I stopped the truck to see if they were ready to call it a day. Definitely enough character building for one day. I asked what percentage of the day was bicycled in the rain and the answer? 70%! I was happy to find them in good spirits. It was a good thing, because another climb was ahead, and as we continued on to our final destination, it started to SNOW!
After a brief warming and drying period at the motel, we made our way to Radium Hot Springs Resort and Spa and enjoyed some time soaking in the hot mineral (radium) springs.
When the order was placed for dinner at Helna’s Stube, it was obvious the men were hungry because appetizers, soup, salad AND a main dish were ordered. Since there were no amenities between Lake Louise and Radium Hot Springs (except for a hot dog for the men), they were certainly ready for dinner.
After dinner update: The food was yummy! While visiting with our waitress, we learned that she was from Creston, British Columbia which is near Bountiful. For those of you not up on Sister Wives and the multiple wives lifestyle, Bountiful is the location of the Canadian arm of this group. What was our waitresses first comment about this group. I guess their known for "bleeding the beast" too. Don't know what that is? Yes, they want to have the freedom to practice polygamy, but enjoy the convenience of being a "single" mother and paying for the groceries with food stamps. Come to Southern Utah sometime and get in line behind a polygamist woman. You'll see for yourself. (Sorry, that's my political commentary for the day).
It’s still windy and cold so we’re ready to go back to the motel and crawl into bed.
It’s still windy and cold so we’re ready to go back to the motel and crawl into bed.
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| Hurry and take the picture! It's raining! Hannah Klassen at the Continental Divide in Banff and Kootenay National Parks, Alberta and British Columbia, Canada |
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| Hurry and take the picture! It's raining! Hannah Klassen at the Continental Divide in Banff and Kootenay National Parks, Alberta and British Columbia, Canada |
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| Hurry and take the picture! It's raining! Hannah Klassen at the Continental Divide in Banff and Kootenay National Parks, Alberta and British Columbia, Canada |
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| Hurry and take the picture! It's raining! Hannah Klassen at the Continental Divide in Banff and Kootenay National Parks, Alberta and British Columbia, Canada |
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Start: Crystal Springs Motel, Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia, Canada
End: Springbrook Resort, Skookumchuck, British Columbia
Weather: Windy, low 60's, partly cloudy skies
Mileage: 63 Miles
Interesting people along the way:
Sawmill and forklift
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| Logging and sawmill operation in Canal Flats, British Columbia. |
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| Logging and sawmill operation in Canal Flats, British Columbia. Raw materials and finished product. We saw a large forklift-type vehicle with a large "claw" pick up and transport a number of logs like they were toothpicks. |
Friday, June 8, 2012
Start: Springbrook Resort, Skookumchuck, British Columbia
End: Holiday Inn Express, Missoula, Montana
Weather: Overcast morning skies then RAIN!
Mileage: 25 Miles
Interesting people along the way:
Pickle clerk
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