Canadian Rockies?

“It's early, I know, but I can't help but to think about next summer's "Westward, Ho!" trip.

I'm thinking about entering Canada through MN. I'll go north a ways, then turn left toward the Rox.

Where should I hike there? Keep in mind that I'll have the dogs, so the Natl Parks will be out of the picture, I reckon.

Frankly, I don't care to temp the grizzlies, so griz country should be avoided - if there's any such possibility in Cannyda.

Suggestions?

Thanky!
Joe, Belle, and Giz (the 5lb griz).”

“Saskatoon's always nice....”

“Will they let you take dogs across the border?

Belle or Gizmo might want to check before trying to get you across, gojo.”

“As you pass through Regina, just make sure you pronounce it correctly. It sounds like, uh, well, oh never mind....”

“Nice save Martyb.

It's been several years since we crossed into Canada with our springer, but at that time all you needed was their shot record.”

“i just crossed the border with forest last november, got searched and all, but all i needed was his rabies certificate to cross, i'm in minnesota, haven't been backpacking in the canadian rockies yet though...”

“Ooo! Good idea. I'll stop by the vet for a print-out of their records. Both are due for shots, so saving those printouts will prolly suffice.

If I'm still denied entry cuz of the dogs, I'll FedEx them to WA and pick them up later on my way through -LOL!

I usually try to skirt around cities, but I plan to hit Vagi... Regina and Saskatoon.

But what about the woods?
Recommend, y'all!
pweeeez?”

“Gojo, keep this near the top and sooner or later Hodgeman will see it. I'm sure he'll have more than a few ideas.”

“Yep. He'll know.

Hmmmmm...
I wonder if I should ask him for a "hot and a cot" on my way through BC?”

“Hey Gojo - You and the kids are more than welcome any time !!

I was just discussing the issue, of dogs in the parks, with someone else recently. I was led to believe that pets were not allowed in the National Parks backcountry. This may not be the case, but leashes would be required.

I thought the exception for dogs was Jasper NP, which is 2.5 million acres, and mostly accessed by horseback. In the Tonquin Valley, where I was last September, there would be no problem and Belle and Giz would love it. However, that brings us to the Grizzly issue.

Griz out number the blacks by 2 to 1 in the Cdn Rocky Mtn NPs. Partly due to the elevations at this latitude being above the blacks range, but just the same there is the possibility that ol' Gizzmo would wanna wrassle one up and being that he's not even quite as big as our marmots.....

Having said that, the wilderness areas, on the eastern slope ranges, such as the Willmore or Kananaskis, would have a different sent of rules. So to would the Provincial Parks, on the B.C. side.

Check the links, on my info page and send off an email to a couple of parks. Banff or Yoho info centers could probably give you the run down for all of the National Parks, and that's certainly where you'd find the most restrictions.

I'm sending you an email !!”

“Concerning myself with bears and all. I'm concerned that Giz REALLY would wanna mix it up with one. Belle, however, would stand her gound - "her ground" being whatever's between my boots - LOL!

Maybe Gizmo's attack would act as a diversion as Belle and I got scarce...

Thanks, Hodge.
I'll get yer vitals before summer and look you up. Mebbe you'll be able to show us around the local woods.”

“I backpacked with my kids in Kananaskis Country in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Alberta, in 1988. Back then it was completely undevelopped. It now has conference centres, a golf course and Gawd knows what else, but the backcountry is still there.

We hiked up the Kanaskis River from the lake and to the glacier and the British Columbia border. There are designated camp sites with bear bars for suspending food bags and fire wood.

There is no place in the Rockies that does not have a grizzly bear population. Statistically black bears are far more dangerous and they give you bear avoidance instructions at the park entrance.

BTW, when we were there, a camper down on the Prairies in Alberta was killed by a black bear.

You might be able to take 'Belle there. Someone must know the website for Alberta parks. Our trip was fabulous (and we saw two grizzlies).”

“LOL Gojo

Gremlin - There are some areas where seeing a Griz would be extremely unlikely.

Within the parks, if you were looking to see one, your best chances would be in Mt Assiniboine PP, which has had a number of resident Griz for a few years now, or Kootenay NP. These are the lesser traveled parks, which don't have a million visitors every summer, like Banff and Jasper.

Also, the in northern half of Jasper, which is very wild and the horse trails go for 100s of kilometres, you could likely encounter a Griz. For the average camping tourist and day hiker, the chances of an encounter are remote at best, in the busy areas, and most sightings occur while driving the parkway, away from development.

Statistically, there is also a better chance that a black bear has had previous exposure to humans. Partly because black bear ranges are far more accessible to humans, than Griz terrain is. People that are travelling is Griz territory are more likely to be experienced, wary backcountry sorts, like ourselves. Whereas any novice could jog down a trail, in my back yard here, and encounter a black bear. You know what they say about statistics...... you can make them say whatever you like. Having met both on the trail, I can tell you without a doubt that I would prefer to take on two black bears, than even a small Grizzly

Woah... long post... just my two cents, anyway”

“I am from Laberdoor but my name is Montana cause I go there in the truck and its perdy like me. My daddy is a poleaceman, but I am not a poleace dog cause I got no desk.

I live in the next door to meester hodgerman. He sayed to get on his compooter an tell yew to come heer. If meester hogerman has to werk and caint go pakpaking then you and gizshmo could stay at his howse fer a leetle bit so yer daddy could go to see the grizzlees eat the marmrats.

We have a park and reely big trees and paths by the rivers. Thre is reely big treerats heer too and some are black”

“You're right. Saskatoon is nice. Great mountains just outside of town! lol.”

“And tree rats?!

OH MY GOODYS!

It will be the goooooood times!

Kno what?
If I seen a bare I wold RUN THE NOTHER WAY!
BOL!

Serios, tho.
Me and my daddy was in our tent the nother time at nite in Wyodaho and I heerd a bare byside the tent and I sayed "you better go a way you crazy bare!" and the bare RUNNED THE NOTHER WAY!

In a minit me and my daddy RUNNED TO THE TRUK tho.
ahahahh! BOL!

We rode ever wher in the truk but we did not see no bares. I gess it runned perty good. We sleept in the truk so we wold not have to walk to the tent in the rane I gess. That was my daddys skuse any ways...

Yall are verry welcom for tellin us about the Candada woods. I gess Candada will be a perty good vissit.

You are welcom to Mr. Hogs Man to let me and Gissmo and my daddy sleep on yer kweeng sides bed and cowch. I prolly will not pee on yer flore but I can not say about Gissmo and my daddy - BOL!

BWT - Do you got hogs? Hogs are perty nice I gess. Mr Chip got some hogs in a fens at his hous. They are verry stinky. I like them verry much.”