British Columbia, Okanogan Valley Fires, smoke, delays

[BobsYourUncle]

For anyone with travel plans or reservations in the South Okanogan area, it would be prudent to check conditions, possible road and CG closures.

There are a number of brush fires raging. Especially affected is between Kelowna and Penticton, and it's really bad around Peachland to Summerland.

A lot of the fires are burning right beside Hwy 97. Last I heard the Okanogan Lake Provincial CG was closed, evacuated due to fire.

There have been lengthy travel delays on Hwy 97 from Summerland to Peachland. Some closures, some one lane only travel with police escort.

The smoke is so thick you could cut it with a knife. One of my best friends lives in Summerland. He tells me it's difficult to breathe and it is posing health issues with himself.

Use caution and check ahead everyone.
Safe travels.

[BobsYourUncle]

Well Don, it's not so bad!

Though we missed our time on the Island, we are making the best of it here. At least we are still out in the RV. 😉
Could be a lot worse.

I don't think the smoke would be any less at Canyon, there is a fire burning quite close to here. I saw the flames on top of the nearby mountain when driving back from Calgary a few days ago. Not sure I want to wander up any mountainside right now with the smoke.

We will go to the train museum and likely the dam too. Lots of stuff to do here. Hope the wind direction changes and clears things up a bit. We went to the local farmers market yesterday. It was great, bought a few things including a couple bottles of wine. :B

I'd like to venture out more but the smoke is limiting us because we both have a hard time breathing it.
Never thought about making an filter for the AC.

It is a great relationship test. No problem there at all. We get along fantastic!

[pianotuna]

BobsYourUncle,

If it is any consolation--it is nearly as bad smoke wise in Regina as in Calgary. I've started up a hepa air filter. We are not getting ash per se, but it is enough to leave an acrid taste at the back of your throat. The only side benefit is that the smoke is lowering the daily high temperatures.

You might want to take a 20 minute ride West to the Canyon Hot Springs. It is up out of the valley so the smoke might be less? They do have a kind of restaurant/counter service only.

There is also the Revelstoke Alpine Gardens, again up at higher altitude. Drive your car part way up--then get on a tour bus.

You might want to occupy some of your time creating a "home made" hepa filter. Something that fits over the air return on the air conditioner?

Sorry this holiday has been a bust--but it may be a near perfect "relationship" test!

[BobsYourUncle]

The smoke is getting a lot worse here in Revelstoke.

Up until yesterday we could still see the mountains through the smoke.
Yesterday was the worst yet. The mountains are right there but we could not see them at all, not even an outline.

The sun is obscured so bad that all we can see is a red dot in the sky, and you can look right at it.

Haven't left the RV yet today but looking out the window it's more of the same today.

The smoke smell is very evident in the air, and we are coughing like a smoker from it. It's pretty bad. And our eyes are stinging too.

I have had pictures texted to me from friends in Penticton and Kelowna. It's the same there too. A cousin RVing in Lethbridge and Waterton in South Alberta sent pics, same situation.
Cousin in William's Lake sent pics, it's really bad there, hard to see down the street.

I ran back to Calgary a few days ago when I had my truck towed home. Air quality there is very poor, but not as bad as here in BC. I brought the car back to Revelstoke so we have wheels, there is a layer of soot and ash all over it.

Don't think there is anywhere in BC where its clear...

Not the best time to be trying to enjoy the outdoors. We are mostly staying inside the RV.

[BobsYourUncle]

We are rather limited being on foot but I'm going home Thursday with the transport truck towing mine home. Going to bring the car back and spend another week here so will be able to get around a bit.

[gmckenzie]

So, I was staying a bit further east mid-July.

Not sure if you got a car there yet, but on Saturday they have a farmers market and the local distillery sells gin there. I sampled but they were out of stock so I didn't buy. Bought some cinnamon liquor (like fireball).

Brewery east of town (Begbie) was pretty good and walking distance from the campground we were at, but not for you.

We also did the Pipe on the ski hill. Was kinda cool. We didn't do the upper gondola and should have. Looks like some decent hiking up there.

We didn't do the rail museum, only because we did last time through there and wanted to do more hikes this time around. But it was neat.

Lots of places for easy hikes if you are into that.

[BobsYourUncle]

We were heading to Campbell River on Vancouver Island when the engine broke in the truck.
I hear there are fires west of Nanaimo too.
Seems like it's everywhere.

[crosscheck]

pianotuna wrote:
Glacier National Park has been evacuated.

Just to clarify, there is an evacuation alert in Glacier National Park(USA), not Glacier NP in BC, which is where this topic is focused on.

Dave

[BobsYourUncle]

Sitting in the CG in Revelstoke right now, I can see and smell the smoke but it isn't too bad. I can still breathe.
The nearby mountains are very hazy to look at.

Maybe I'm getting used to it....

[pianotuna]

Glacier National Park has been evacuated.

[gmckenzie]

Sorry to hear of your engine trouble. Revelstoke is nice but being stuck somewhere and not know has got to be tough. Used to have a Duramax and I do know some of the forums are good for helping out.

Anyone else coming through the Okanagan, it's bad right now. Can't see the local mountains for all the smoke and our air quality is really bad.

[BobsYourUncle]

Thanks, will do

[blofgren]

Yeah, that's certainly not good. I suppose it depends on how badly it overheated as to the extent of the damage.

If you haven't already, I would suggest posting on a good Duramax forum to see what guys in the know have to say about it. I certainly understand what you're saying in cost to repair, but since you bought the truck new and it is still in good condition it may be worth fixing it. That era GM Duramax are typically pretty durable. My gut tells me it's probably just a head gasket but I get that the costs add up quickly when checking/machining heads, etc.

Best of luck and please let us know how you make out.

[BobsYourUncle]

blofgren wrote:


I'm sorry to hear that; having that kind of trouble on the road really sucks.

Do you know if it is just a head gasket or is the engine toast? It may be an idea to get it to a good diesel shop in a larger centre to ensure you have a proper diagnosis before making a decision. If the rest of the truck is in good condition I would be tempted to fix it.

I had hoped it was just a hose. Mechanic changed the hose, put it back together and fired it up. Within 2 minutes it was blowing the pressure release of the rad cap. He tried again with the rad cap off and it was shooting out of the reservoir like a geyser.

That means compression is getting into the water jacket. High indication of at least a head gasket. Maybe worse. It has to be torn down, heads sent out to be checked, injectors etc stripped out, possible head replacement and so on.

Engine isn't fried but its gonna cost 7 to 9G to fix it.

Rest of the truck is in very good condition. I bought it new 12 years ago exactly in 3 days and I've always taken care of it. But 374,000 K on it and it's starting to break and cost me.

Think I'm going to dump it for whatever I can get for it broken.
Too bad though, it's the last run of the good LBZ

[blofgren]

We just got home yesterday after 2 weeks in Osoyoos. Overall the smoke wasn't too bad but it was getting worse yesterday when we left and it was VERY smoky through Manning Park due to the fire there.