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Thread: Powder Highway Planning Help
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08-31-2022, 05:36 PM #51
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09-13-2022, 09:20 AM #52
I’ve done the Powder Hwy loop three times so I’ll chime in. Did two trips with a buddy and last one with my 16 yr old son. We flew to Calgary, rented an RV and hit the road from there. Had a great time each trip. Canadian’s may be the friendliest, nicest people I’ve ever met. My 1st trip with my Bro we were super high on BC bud, totally lost (no coincidence), trying to find Whitewater during a raging storm. Without exception, every Tim Horton’s or Petro Canada we walked into and threw a map on the counter we were greeted with “Oh, goin skiing eh? Gonna be some good powder there eh?”, followed by patiently showing a couple of clueless Californians how to get there. Nice folks.
During my three trips we skied Lake Louise, SV, KH, Revi, Panorama, Kimberly, WW, Red, & Fernie. Conditions ranged from insane waist deep pow in some of the steepest tree skiing I’ve ever done at Fernie, to fog and drizzle at Revi, to sub zero temps at SV, and everything in between. If I had to pick a favorite, probably Kicking Horse. 4000 vert feet of ass kicking skiing. Super fun.
As far a overnighting in the RV, we never had a problem staying in the lots right at the ski areas. Most of the time we would walk up and find someone, a security type, introduce ourselves and be directed to the appropriate section of the parking lot and were good to go. At Whitewater we told the lodge was open all night and were welcome to use the bathrooms anytime. I developed a healthy addiction to Kokanee’s, my teenage son now loves Poutaine.
I highly recommend it as a ski trip. Exchange rate still looks favorable, gas is a bit more expensive these days, but oh well. If you’re an ikon pass holder bring it along as some of the resorts are affiliated. Good luck & safe travels.
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09-15-2022, 07:17 AM #53Registered User
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I’d rent a car in Spokane. Doing the loop from Spokane to Spokane is a lot of driving if you’re going to spend three days at Schweitzer; personally, I’d head north you’ll find better skiing elsewhere. It’s an honest 9-10 hrs on good roads from Spokane to Golden.
Red has great terrain, but the snowpack has been an issue the last few years. WH20 is a great slackcountry hit. The Nakusp hot springs are worth a visit if you head to Revelstoke. Revelstoke and Golden would be my two choices for reliable conditions and terrain.
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09-15-2022, 05:37 PM #54
I just drove Route 3 from Fernie to Grand Forks.
That road’s a blast. I recommend a very fast car.Well maybe I'm the faggot America
I'm not a part of a redneck agenda
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09-15-2022, 05:47 PM #55
If you go through Nakusp, Revelstoke, Rogers Pass to Golden, yeah, maybe 9 hours or so with breaks. If you go Bonners Ferry, Kimberley, Radium, it's about 7 hours with breaks. As noted before, I've done it in 6. It's 6 hours to Revy from Spokane, also so nothing is too much of a drive, assuming decent weather, of course. And also assuming you take the best route.
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09-18-2022, 11:47 PM #56Registered User
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I can help with F&F discounts at various hotels in Banff if you end up this way. Just PM me with notice.
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09-19-2022, 09:02 AM #57
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09-19-2022, 12:08 PM #58Registered User
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Did the powder highway in February just before everything shut down for covid. A friend was supposed to join me but bailed at the last minute and I decided to do it solo anyway. Flew into Spokane, rented a car and drove up to Red the same day. Only had a week, so could only spend a limited amount of time at each resort. Went to Red (Day 1), Whitewater (Day 2), Revelstoke (Day 3,4), Kickinghorse (Day 4,5), Fernie (Day 6), Schweizter (Day 7 on the way back to Spokane).
In hindsight, I would not do it that way again, especially solo. Too much driving at night, especially after skiing all day. Definitely would recommend either a longer stay or fewer stops along the way. You do have to take a ferry on the way to Revelstoke. I didn't pay attention and luckily got on one of the last ones for the night (runs from 5:30 am to 12:30 am). Of all the resorts, Revelstoke and Kickinghorse are worth spending the most time exploring, with KH being my favorite.
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09-20-2022, 10:29 AM #59Registered User
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Duno if its been mentioned but while Revy & Golden are not that far apart if its snowed or snowing Rogers pass is often closed in the AM for aviy blasting
also I think there might be a time change in there as well
I don't know if there are other bus lines but there are no more greyhound buses in western CanadaLee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know
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09-20-2022, 12:07 PM #60Registered User
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" Any time is train time " as the slogan goes so the Railway runs every day moving freight not tourists
Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know
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09-20-2022, 12:22 PM #61
Powder Highway Planning Help
Yes, it’s open and EZ in winter. Done it lots of times in a semi, never had to chain up. It follows the valley of the Kootenai River, mostly along Lake Koocanusa, so low elevation.
Koocanusa = KOOtenai river + CANada + U.S.A. (!)
edit to add link: https://www.visitmt.com/listings/gen...a-scenic-byway
Last edited by Harry; 09-20-2022 at 03:50 PM.
"Zee damn fat skis are ruining zee piste !" -Oscar Schevlin
"Hike up your skirt and grow a dick you fucking crybaby" -what Bunion said to Harry at the top of The Headwaters
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09-20-2022, 01:08 PM #62Registered User
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[QUOTE
Does the Train run in the winter even? Jasper and Kamloops aren't really ski towns and are the only train stops between Vancouver and Edmonton. Wonder why it wasn't built through the tourist towns and Calgary.[/QUOTE]
Jasper is a summer tourist town with Marmot ski area 20 minutes away and Kamloops is a pulp mill and university city with Sun Peaks Resort 45min away. If flying into Vancouver, then a short connector flight to Kamloops airport and a shuttle bus from there would take you to Sun Peaks without the need for a car.
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09-20-2022, 06:37 PM #63Registered User
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Jasper is a summer tourist town with Marmot ski area 20 minutes away and Kamloops is a pulp mill and university city with Sun Peaks Resort 45min away. If flying into Vancouver, then a short connector flight to Kamloops airport and a shuttle bus from there would take you to Sun Peaks without the need for a car.[/QUOTE]
30+ years ago you could take the CP Rail passenger train through Calgary, Banff, Kicking Horse River canyon through Golden, Rogers Pass, Kamloops, the Fraser Canyon to Vancouver. The CN Rail passenger line was through Edmonton, Jasper, down throughMt Robison park, then Frazier Canyon to Vancouver, if memory serves. As kids, we did the CN route from Montreal once and Toronto the other time.
Now, there is a luxury Rocky Mountaineer that funds the CP route in the summer, but that is pretty posh, almost first class travel.
Greyhound Bus lines pulled out of Canada, or at least Western Canada about 8 or 10 years ago. Not much in the way of bus service unless you have airport to Banff. Panorama resort runs a service from Calgary Airport to the resort several times a week as well. At least they did pre-covid.
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09-20-2022, 06:44 PM #64
Jasper is a summer tourist town with Marmot ski area 20 minutes away and Kamloops is a pulp mill and university city with Sun Peaks Resort 45min away. If flying into Vancouver, then a short connector flight to Kamloops airport and a shuttle bus from there would take you to Sun Peaks without the need for a car.[/QUOTE]
The Rocky Mountaineer only runs during tourist season and has fewer stops. VIA rail is the year-round ‘budget’ passenger train service and can/will stop in the weirdest small towns along the route. COVID shut down a list of the passenger service, especially the mountaineer, but I think everything is back on track now. But ya, no one has time for trains and everyone flies to ‘loops now if driving isn’t desirable.
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09-22-2022, 11:32 AM #65
Why no rental car?
Just planned a shorty with my buddy in late January. Fly to YYC, drive 5 hours to Revy, then 2 days later drive back to Golden, then 2 days later drive back to YYC and take off. Done this twice before, it's dynamite. You could also extend this a little by skiing Lake Louise and/or Sunshine on the way back to Calgary. In my experience all rental cars we've ever gotten in the winter have had the M+S logo on them. The tires were still shit mind you, but legal. It's not something I worry about anymore.
Rental car opens up a lot in these towns. You can explore a little better, ski/apres on your own schedule, check out that weird looking truck stop, stretch your legs at a scenic rest stop, take a piss on the continental divide, etc. Totally worth it I think, but as always depends on your circumstances and what you're after.
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09-22-2022, 12:07 PM #66Registered User
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What are they quoting you for the rental car this winter and compared to when you did the same trip before ??
this summer buddies of mine were talking about a couple of K for a week to rent cars back eastLee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know
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09-23-2022, 08:36 AM #67
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09-25-2022, 08:44 AM #68
Yes there is a time change between Golden and Revie, Just before the park so you can leave Golden and get to Rogers Pass before you left ( by your phone anyway)
A fairly frequent closures going through Rogers do to avie. Big snow means longer closures.
Also nightly closures in Kicking Horse Pass ( Calgary to Golden) 10 pm to 7am . If you miss the time cut off its an extra 75-90 minutes. If you mistime your run from Calgary to Golden and miss the cutoff you will have to back track and that adds an extra 120 minutes to the 75min. See https://www.kickinghorsecanyon.ca/co...tion/calendar/Last edited by DougW; 09-26-2022 at 03:18 PM.
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09-25-2022, 10:40 AM #69
Powder Highway Planning Help
Weird question for winter, but I’m pretty uninformed on the cold north…do people use an engine block heater Banff & north?
(I’ve not penetrated the powder highway beyond Nelson)
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09-25-2022, 10:58 AM #70Registered User
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its a good idea for sure, at the Glacier park lodge which was right in the middle of the pass we would get a ground floor room & run a 50' extension out the window to plug in my VW TDi cuz the diesel didn't always like starting
we also ran a kettle & toaster oven so the first thing you do is figure out where the electric breaker panel is in the hallway
A block heater is actualy a smart question for the narth along with a good battery, studded snow tires, window scraper, you would get extra points for having a battery blanket
IME most cars will start at -20, -30 is getting pretty cold and at -40 a lot of cars are not going to start
I forget if it was standard but I had a block heater in my Ranger and a battery blanket on an electrical T adapter and my Tacoma has it as part of the narthern package
I have never used one but this magnetic block heater might be an easy to instal portable option compared to paying to instal a heater
https://www.princessauto.com/en/200w...t/PA0004270099Last edited by XXX-er; 09-25-2022 at 08:53 PM.
Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know
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09-26-2022, 08:15 AM #71
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09-26-2022, 08:17 AM #72
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09-26-2022, 09:07 AM #73
Pretty sure its all this winter for night closures. The project is supposed to be completed winter 2024 so while they have made a lot of progress still some time to go. I have heard that a good % of the total 24 hour closures are done after this fall but I would still check for night closures next winter. Spring and fall the pass is totally closed as it is right now so have to do the long route.
From website
"From now until Winter 2023/24
As a rule of thumb, the contractor will be required to abide by the following during the course of the project:
Fall, Winter and Spring
Daytime may see stoppages from 20 minutes to 2 hours.
There may be closures of up to nine hours overnight, which will require significant advance notice.
In addition, there may be multi-day extended closures from April 1 to the end of May and from mid-September to the end of November.
The highway will be kept open for Easter and Thanksgiving long weekends, and there will be two daily peak-hour windows to allow passage for school buses, commuters and other essential local traffic/trips. Extended closures will also require significant advance notice, and the first is now expected to occur in spring 2021.
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09-26-2022, 09:49 AM #74
Dang, thanks for this information. I likely would not have known otherwise
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09-26-2022, 11:14 AM #75
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