My Day 8 – Arctic Expedition – Icefields Parkway

Subject:  My Day 8 – Arctic Expedition – Icefields Parkway

Today we were on one of the most amazing scenic drives of all time.  This drive should be on your bucket list; plus it is way more fun doing it on a Jeep. The three of us in jeeps made for some great pictures not only by us but by many tourists that were somehow drawn to our tough looking jeeps – some even posed with the jeep in the picture.

The Icefields drive includes Banff hot springs, Columbia Icefield Athabasca Glacier, Jasper National Park and an amazing amount of wildlife and scenery to see.  The drive entry fee is about $9.00.  Earlier before getting to our hotel in Jasper (Sawridge) I saw an elk.  Earlier we saw a small herd of wild sheep by the road that entertained us with the little ones suckling their mother goat.  Also prior to that a bear stopped an entire string of cars and made for some good photo shoots. 

We also went on the great Columbia Icefield glacier adventure tour in a $1.2 million vehicle that looks like a bus but drives like a snowmobile on the glacier.  The Icefields Parkway showed us waterfalls, emerald lakes, alpine meadows plus the Great Divide of the Canadian Rockies.  The parkway follows the headwaters of three major rivers and is considered one of the largest accumulations of ice and snow south of the Arctic Circle.  Eight different glaciers feed this area plus the melt water that feeds the streams and rivers believe or not pour directly into the Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific oceans.    

Last night I camped out but tonight I am sharing a room at a pretty luxurious hotel in Jasper, Canada.  At the Jacuzzi I ran across a couple from the UK who rode a sightseeing train for three days to get here.  Their journey by bus tomorrow will take them to Lake Louis then its back on the train they go. 

The broke down crew of Mike and John are now on scene after driving most of the night to get here to meet us.  Broke down because Mike had a little radiator hose issue and broke down before he had to be towed not too long before that due to a stuck thermostat. 

The Trawlercat jeep is still running great and gets lots of looks on the road.  I’m peppering up the side windows with bumper stickers from all the sights. 

See you on the trail! 

Trawlercat

Subject: Day 6 – Arctic Expedition - Happy Birthday Baby

Happy Birthday Baby! 

Subject:  My Day 6 – Arctic Expedition

Our Arctic Jeep Expedition group dynamics is fast developing as the five of us broke bread last night at the Raw Hide restaurant.  Mike the expedition leader turns out to be the big eater of our group.  He managed to make a huge dent on the all you can eat special consisting of pulled pork sandwich, potatoe salad, beans, corn on the cob, topped off by a fresh loaf of homemade bread; double everything except for the fixings and you get the picture.  Unfortunately for his driving partner the mixed concoction inside had to go someplace and so this morning all caution was taken against igniting any flammables for fear that the whole campground might go up in flames.  The most outstanding waitress of all time also offered up and he also consumed one large slice of cheesecake huckleberry pie.  Hopefully he will have a good sense of humor when and if he ever comes across this blog. 

The two other jeeps now present and camping with me are Mike & his friend Ken and John and his cousin Tommy.   It’s unfortunate to learn that three of the four men have lost their spouses of many many years to life threatening illnesses.   It was long ago that I recall hearing how women outlive their husbands by something like five years.  I threw those statistics out to my wife Patti when she told me that I was outpacing her in depleting our recreational resources.  I remember saying that I was just getting a five year head start.  

See you on the trail!

Trawlercat 

Arctic Jeep Expedition - My Day 5

Subject:  My Day 5 – Arctic Expedition

Here is my lodging to date:  Day 1 – Las Vegas; Day 2 – Mystic Hot Springs, Monroe, Utah; Day 3 – Crystal hot Springs, Honeyville, Utah; Day 4 – Dillon, Montana; Day 5 – Glacier national Park; Day 6 – Glacier Campground (near West side entrance); Day 7?

Tomorrow I make my way into Canada via the the US highway 2 then highway 89 onto Wateron Lake National Park Canada; then on to Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage site.  The story goes that for 6,000 years Indians have been using this spot ot stamped the buffalo to their deaths down a 1,000 foot cliffs.  Sort of like tenderizing your beef before you eat it.   The interpretive center is also supposed to educate us about the buffalo hunting culture of the early natives along with hopefully tours of the bone yard. 

Trawlercat

Arctic Jeep Expedition - My Day 4

July 3, 2011

Subject:  My Day 4 – Arctic Jeep Expedition

For the Arctic Jeep expedition I carried a laptop computer in a Pelican 1500 case to keep it clean and safe.  In addition to the laptop and power cord many other items found its way into the pelican case like the camera 110V charger and upload cable; Garmin GPS cables; spare reading glasses; droid phone charger; must have owner’s manual for the Hero Pro cam; a Flip Video recorder; flash drives; spare screen protectors for the droid; 12V charger with USB insert; spare lithium AA batteries; and an iTunes music charger.  Today what I found missing was AAA lithium batteries for the Hero Pro cam without them I was not able to capture any whitewater rafting footage.  Earlier today I videotaped my drive up the Go the Sun highway and a bear just off the road eating her breakfast.    

Today I also rafted the middle fork of the Flathead River (49.00) military rate.  According to the guide it is still one of the few truly wild designated rivers in the country.  We were in Class III and IV rapids today.   A rating of one (1) being bath water and six (VI) being Niagara Falls water.   Last night I camped and this morning before most anyone was out I drove about 14 miles of the Going to the Sun road.  This is a beautiful drive along the 17 mile Lake McDonald that is at an altitude of 3200 feet.  This highway ascends up to the Continental Divide before making its way up to Logan Pass, at 6680 feet.  The road was closed at fourteen miles due to road construction but they offered a bus service to the Logan Pass – I passed and came back out of the park for breakfast. 

After the rafting trip I ate a 3^rd of July lunch next door at the Rawhide Restaurant.  The 4^th of July one day early lunch special was pulled pork, fries, beans and a draft beer for $10.00.  Now that was a bargain.  Next to me were some Canadians who took an interest in my trip.  One of the ladies recommended a do not miss stop at Liard Hot Springs.  I said that seems to be my theme so far as I’ve stopped at two hot springs so far – Mystic at Monroe, Utah and Crystal at Honeyville, Utah. 

A quick look at my Alaska Milepost Travel planner and it tells me that across from the Historic Mile 496 milepost is the Liard River  Hot springs Provincial park that has long been a favorite stop for Alaska Highway travelers.  Camping and use of the hot springs is just $19.00 but according to the guidebook beware of bears.  I guess it’s because to get to the pools there is a short walk involved that crosses wetlands environment that supports more than 250 boreal forest plants, including 14 orchid species and 14 plants that survive at this latitude because of the hot springs.  Water temperature 108 degrees. Next caution on the road – watch out for buffalo.      

Below is a picture of Cafe Rider on his documentary expedition.  He is signing my Los Angeles Club Adventurers Flag.

              

Arctic Jeep Expedition - My Day 3

July 2, 2011

Subject:  My Day 3 – Arctic Jeep Expedition

Today I had a guy ask me where my RV was.  I said I’m not towing her; I’m driving her to Alaska and so are four other guys that I’ll soon be meeting up with.  Don’t forget we all use trail names so (John) HalfFastJohn and his cousin Tommy (no trail name yet) finally arrived at the Best Western in Dillon, Montana.  Unlike my jeep John’s jeep is equipped for comfort replete with one large capacity refrigerator.  My refrigeration needs so far are only served via an ice bag cooler riding on the passenger side floor.  Since according to my wife I’m not allowed to carry passengers; especially of the opposite sex that’s a good spot for it where it’s reachable while driving down the highway.  That’s me again low tech - but functional.

So far, no obsessions like where’s the next gas station?  My Road Mate Magellan makes that pretty much fool proof. 

Earlier I fished out of the North Fork Flathead River four Alaskan Amber Alt ale’s.  I’m having my second one right after a beef stroganoff with noodles meal.  Dessert was one rice krispies treat.  The Big Agnes tent is set up about twenty feet from the river’s edge where I earlier placed the beers to cool them.  This way of cooking and camping is incredibly easy and so is the clean up.  Rinse out the MSR cooking pot and one folding spoon; fold up the whisperlight stove into its canister and once the pot is clean place everything inside.  Store the Mountain house beef stroganoff freeze dried meal bag and empty amber beer bottles into the beer food storage box and I am done.  It’s a little windy now for a fire but at least it keeps the mosquitoes at bay for a little while longer. 

Tomorrow morning I hit the “going to the sun road” which I am told is considered to be one of the world’s most spectacular highways.  This road bisects the heart of Glacier and follows the shores of the parks two largest lakes as it hugs the cliffs below the Continental Divide as it traverses Logan Pass. 

I am now within 25 miles of the Canadian border.  Sunburst seems to be the closes town I see on the US side of the border with Lethbridge being the Canadian equivalent.  No wifi or cell coverage from within this remote camp spot.    

I am now staying (July 3^rd) at the Glacier Campground just outside of the west side of Glacier. This is a really great camp site spot.  Mike whom I haven’t yet met made the reservations for two camp sites and I’m the first to arrive.  Unfortunately for Mike the rear end on his jeep Cherokee is or was going out so he made his way back to Missoula for repairs.  In a few hours John and his cousin Tommy should arrive. 

UPDATE:  Two Jeeps so far have had issues.  Kevin's Cherokee rear axle issues and he's gone back to Missoula to get it fixed; not a good thing on a 4th of July weekend.  Mike and Ken had to get their Cherokee towed as they had a stuck thermostat that took out the radiator.  Mike and Ken are here now and just set up their Coleman Instant tent.   

Here is to the people of Montana that I’ve met so far.  They seem to be some of the nicest friendliest group of people yet.  Utah gets the cleanest yards award.  

See you on the trail.

Trawlercat        

Alaska Wet Dog Race - view video on YouTube

My Day 4 - Dillon, Montana

Arrived earlier today at Dillon, Montana from Honeyville, Montana; Crystal Hot Springs after viewing the Golden Spike National Historic park.

Met these three great people on an expedition of their own towards Canada.

All the best.

Trawlercat