jimbob3ca
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Joined 19 years ago
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Re: Emergency Communications
I have used an Inreach Explorer for about six years now. https://www.inreachcanada.com/ This unit allows not only emergency location service, but a plan can be selected that will allow it to be used as a communication device while out of cell service. It can be set up with select email addresses or with phone numbers for texting. The message length is limited to 160 characters. The advantage of this unit is that communication is two way whereas others are one way. You can also suspend the service for a minimal charge when you don't plan to be using it for a while. It has been fairly reliable but I have had occasional messages that failed to reach intended recipients. Haven't had to use it for emergency yet. You can also select a plan that allows someone to track your position when you are out and about if you have the unit on. We have used it to follow our son on several long distance bike race epics, including mountain bike race from Banff south to the Mexican border. I would recommend this unit for what you seem to want.993Views0likes0CommentsRe: Wells Gray campground and hiking advice?
Me again. Forgot to mention that British Columbia is in the midst of another disastrous fire season. Wells Grey may at any time be forced to close as a result of fires threatening the area. They did close and evacuate the park last summer for the same reason. Here are some links to follow for updates. http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/wells_gry/ https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status Not sure how to make them clickable. When you access the second one go the the interactive fire map to observe where the fires are.564Views0likes0CommentsRe: Wells Gray campground and hiking advice?
We have been to Wells Grey several times. Our first choice for campground would be Clearwater Lake followed closely by Falls Creek. Haven't stayed at Pyramid though, but it didn't appeal as we had a boat which made being near the lake better. Several of the campsites in Clearwater Lake and Falls Creek are such that you can sit and look at the river. There is also a concession and boat tour company located near Clearwater Lake campground, though not sure when operations cease in Sept. No matter which campground you choose, you will probably have to drive to the waterfalls anyway.563Views0likes0CommentsRe: BC & Rockies Road trip - next month!
If you use the websites following, you can get information on location, closing dates, facilities, etc. for most of the provincial parks and forest service recreation sites in British Columbia. http://www.sitesandtrailsbc.ca/ http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/ Since you are traveling later in the season, many of the provincial park campgrounds will close shortly after the labor day long weekend (Sept. 5-7). Some will have gates closed and locked, while others may be open for use, but with limited facilities available. You can also begin to expect frost in the early mornings from mid-Sept. on, depending on weather of course. Also be aware that the hunting season usually opens in British Columbia around Sept. 10. If you are hiking where hunters may be, it is a good idea to wear a bright red or orange vest.497Views0likes0CommentsRe: BC fires
Others have provided a link to the active fires map of B. C. That will give a good idea of where not to go. Be aware that as of a few days ago, they are beginning to shut down access to wilderness provincial parks. Wells Grey and Bowron Lakes parks for example are now closed. If things don't change soon, they will also shut off all access to any backcountry areas. Even industrial access will be curtailed. This will of course put more pressure on the front-country areas.396Views0likes0CommentsRe: Edmonton to Osoyoos and Back - Advice welcome!
I agree with Flyboy 320 about the route from Edmonton-Jasper-Kamloops as a good option. However, highway #3 from Osoyoos to Ft. McLeod, though a nice option, has four fairly major pulls over passes. There is a good pull right out of Osoyoos, then a second out of Christina Lake over to Castlegar. You can avoid the other two at Castelgar by going into Nelson, then over the Kootenay Lake ferry. If you choose to follow #3, there is a good pull out of Castlegar to Salmo, then the longest pull over the Salmo-Creston pass. The grades here are steady for up to 25 km. the steepest being as you near the top.376Views0likes0CommentsRe: Highway 93 Border crossing @ Roosville, AB & Montana
We cross at the Roosville crossing quite often. Many Canadians come through that crossing for weekends, and particularly on long weekends. Lines can be long going to the U. S. on Thurs. and Fri. and coming back to Canada on Sunday, or Monday and Tuesday after a long weekend. Weekends to avoid are the May long weekend, usually a week before Memorial Day, July 1st, the first weekend in August and Labor day which is the first weekend in Sept. Crossing mid-week is usually not too much of a problem.729Views0likes0CommentsRe: Front mounted bike rack
A lot depends on the style of bike you intend to carry and the type of rack you use. Bikes with a tubular cross bar can be carried with a rack that clamps on the bar and will keep them lower out of the line of vision. You can also remove the seat. This does mean that the wheels are lower in front as well. If the bikes are a style that cannot use this type of rack, then you need a rack that will carry the bikes supporting them on the wheels. This raises the bikes more into the line of vision. I carried some high-end mountain bikes once that required that they use a wheel supporting rack, and the vision impairment was such that I finally had to put them in the camper which was a big nuisance. Carrying them on the back wasn't an option.384Views0likes0CommentsRe: Alberta Route Question for my Canadian Friends
We often drive from southern B. C. to Calgary and use 533 both ways. It is a good highway. Coming from the south on 2 toward Calgary, the turn west is on the south end of Nanton. Where it joins 22 there is a good provincial campsite on Chain Lakes , probably busy in summer, especially on weekends. Haven't used 540 so can't comment on that one. 520 west from Claresholm I haven't used either, but do remember that when passing the junction on 22 that it is gravel at that end. Highway 40 is also a good highway, very scenic. It has a pass but I don't remember the grades being long or steep. Note that Highway 40 is closed until June 15.847Views0likes0Comments
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