Trip from Calgary, AB to Alaska
We live in Alabama but going to Calgary for the stampede in July. My wife and I are considering driving to Alaska from Calgary. Being from Alabama we don't drive through many mountains and am concer...
Forum Discussion
There are one or two long hills on the Banff - Jasper highway. The highway is well paved and in good shape. You'll have to gear down on those hills to be safe. There are some good threads about gearing down for hills in this forum by people much more experienced than me. I like to go downhill in a gear that maintains a speed where I feel I have full control of the vehicle and could stop easily if necessary. Brakes should not be used freely - save them to slow down enough to get into a lower gear, or to make an emergency stop.
Keep in mind there is only one small service station between Lake Louise and Jasper, near the Columbia Icefields. It has gas at a premium price, a nice gift shop and restaurant. No garage even for car repairs. Not a good stretch for vehicle trouble, so check tires, oil, etc at Banff and fill up with gas. Several years ago we filled up at Lake Louise at a very high gas price. Then I noticed there was a second gas station, away from the tourist center, with a price not much higher than Banff.
Keep in mind there is only one small service station between Lake Louise and Jasper, near the Columbia Icefields. It has gas at a premium price, a nice gift shop and restaurant. No garage even for car repairs. Not a good stretch for vehicle trouble, so check tires, oil, etc at Banff and fill up with gas. Several years ago we filled up at Lake Louise at a very high gas price. Then I noticed there was a second gas station, away from the tourist center, with a price not much higher than Banff.
