Honeymoon-Canadian Rockies

“I'm pumped up now. I booked 2 round trip tickets to Calgary yesterday so I guess we are going to the Canadian Rockies on our honeymoon. We will be in the area from end of July into August. We need some suggestions. Has anyone here been to the Willmore Wilderness Park just above Jasper? MedicGirl, Can you suggest any trails? I have three months to plan for 2 weeks time.

Your help would be much appreciated!”

“If you can't get any info here, go to a big bookstore, bring a pen and paper, have a seat and starting taking notes.

I'm from WA and wanted to hike in CA. I searched the internet and found a lot of info, but I finally broke down and bought a book. It's the best thing to do.”

“Adventurist,

Congratulations, first of all! That is where my wife and I went on our honeymoon. She spent her days dreaming of a Carribbean cruise, while I dreamt of hiking the Canadian Rockies. We had to compromise and do a car tour with some dayhikes thrown in.

It's such a beautiful area with so much to see. Unfortunately, I didn't get to visit Willmore Wilderness Park, so can't offer any suggestions.

Good Luck!”

“Believe it or not my fiance wanted to go there and when I told her we probably couldn't afford it she seemed dissapointed. So when I found this great airfare she was thrilled. LH, I will be ordering maps and books definitely. I have a collection of books and maps from my previous trips. I was just hoping somebody might reveal some hidden jems. Those trails that are less traveled but well worth it. I found one trip that is 12 days and runs from Willmore into Jasper. I was also thinking about hiking into Willmore and setting up a basecamp and doing a couple days from there.”

“wow, Feen! Have a blast...take lots of pics. :o)

You and D better get ready for the Whites trip in September!”

“Willmore? You're going to WILLMORE?? Oh!!! That's only like my most favourite place in the whole wide world to escape in!!!

If you want amazing scenery, solitude, the ability to camp wherever your little heart desires and a true backcountry experience... GO!!! I have done day long ridge walks, scrambles, valley hikes and tons of off trail exploration in the park usually without seeing another person closer than 2 or 3 kilometers away. Mind you from that distance, it's hard to tell if it's bear or person...

Because it's run by Alberta Environment Lands & Parks, the rules are nowhere near as strict as the NP's. As always though, wilderness etiquette rules apply... pack out what you pack in! I have, in my vast(yeah, right!) travels, found a website done by a man named Ray Rasmussen, who has been hiking in Willmore for years. He's got awesome photos & the different areas really give you a good idea of the park itself. I'd hyperlink it for you if I knew how... http://raysweb.net/willmore

If you want further info.... e-mail me. I'd be more than happy to give you the address for the forestry office that handles the area, and anything else I can help with.

One other suggestion would be Yoho NP, in south-eastern BC... it's only 2 hours from Calgary & the scenery is absolutely spectacular! Tons of people though....”

“Congrats! That will be an awesome trip! Joy and I spent our honeymoon in colorado including a 3 day trip in the rockies. Perfect place for newly weds. Enjoy...”

“Greetings from Beautiful BC and my regards to all. I've been away.

I can't think of a better place to honeymoon! Here's a couple of sites to start you off www.canadianrockies.net www.explorejasper.com www.elp.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/ www.parkscanada.pch.gc.ca

I've Spent a lot of time in Yoho and Banff and will be happy to answer any questions or suggest some trails and guide books”

“What a great place to honeymoon. I traveled to the Rocky Mountain Provincial Parks (Jasper, Banff, Yoho, Kootenay) for the first time last summer. It was mid-June and there was still a lot of snow which limited hiking options. I did visit one place and thought, "I hope to have a honeymoon here". That was the fancy chateau at Lake Louise (in Banff). I will probably never be able to afford a room in the chateau but I could afford a meal in the restaurant and a hike around part of Lake Louise. Look into it - it would be worth it. A few more suggestions. The Athabasca Glacier is really cool (in Jasper). There is an educational center (crowded) and coach tours to the Glacier (yuk). They also have walking tours on the glacier done by some private company. It looked like they were only once a day in the morning. We were too late for it but I think that would have been a great (and safe) way to play on the glacier. Another suggestion, hit all the hot springs you can. Final tip, Bruno's restaurant in Banff in great. It is on a side street right off the main drag. Great food/coffee, inexpensive, music, internet access. Canada must be what heaven looks like.”

“Hooray!! Another Western Canadian is finally here!!! What part of BC are you in Trailguy??”

“Thanks for the info. Medic_Girl, what maps did you use when you went into Willmore and where did you purchase them? Did you hike trails or make a base camp and explore. I think we are going to hike in, make base camp, and hike a different direction from base camp each day.”

“Hey Medic_Girl! I'm in Vancouver(PoCo)and Whistler whenever possible. I'm covering the rest of B.C. one footstep at a time.

I haven't been on this site in a few months. It's nice to have a neighbour. Where abouts are you?”

“I can't match Medic Girl, but if Willmore isn't a go, try Kananaskis Country in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. It's not that far from Calgary and is a spectacular part of the world. Happy trails.”

“Adventurist, if you want a general map of the entire area that shows the trails & main camp areas, Alberta Forestry has one that's on a 1:126,000 scale. Otherwise, if you get the Canada maps 83E/6-23(or thereabouts...) at a 1:50,000 scale they should cover the whole area.

I usually hike in from the SE corner(Rock Lake) of the park. The NE area looks beautiful too, but I usually try to avoid river crossings that show hazard symbols & say 'dangerous fording' on the map!
My favorite area to hike is the Mountain trail area W of Eagle's Nest Pass. If you like spending your day doing scrambles & walking ridges, you'll really enjoy this area! The main trail from Rock Lake is a bit of a drag since the outfitters drive their horse up it. It tends to be pockmarked when dry & mucky/slimy/awful when wet. Believe me though, it's worth the slog!!

I got my maps from Map Town... you can find them on the web at www.maptown.com Have fun & enjoy!!! If you've got any questions, feel free to e-mail me at caleya@telusplanet.net

Trailguy, that's kinda funny! I spent the first 1/2 of my life in the Lower Mainland(Kits & Surrey), and then another 6 years a little later in life(19-25) in Maple Ridge). I've been an Albertan by residence for the last 5 years now...
I actually live in Edmonton, which makes hiking in Jasper & Banff relatively easy! I'm planning on doing the NBT to Robson & Yoho this summer... wanna come along?”

“Thanks... I want to hit the Starlight Ridge too!”

“lol... you checked out the pics, huh? Talk about addicting! It makes my gut ache with wanting to be there everytime I see them! :o)”

“Hey Medic Girl- I'm thinkin' maybe Assiniboine for a week in September(that's the B.C. side of Banff- for the rest of you). I've never been there except to ski Sunshine. Have you?

Robson and Yoho are my favorites! You saw my pics? I might try for August at one or the other. It's an eight or nine hour drive for me.

Looks like an early season for the alpine. We got half of the usual snow pack. Just a couple of years ago, they were plowing golf courses at Whistler in July- and this year we might not ski in May. Just in case, I'm planning a trek in the Stein Canyon for the 14th-19th. Can't wait to get out.”

“Trailguy, you have hiking pics I can check out? Where, where???
If you decide to hike Robson anytime this summer, let me know! If I'm not on rotation with the ambulance that week, I'll gladly go with you!”

“Medic Girl- Phil put a couple of my shots on his page for me. I'm still trying to find time to get my own site finished.There just isn't enough hours in the day.

I'll let you know about Robson. Sounds like fun to me.”

“Trailguy... sweet coastal shot! I reeeeeeally miss the ocean... :-( On the other hand, having the Rockies in my backyard is pretty cool.... ;-) When was the last time you hiked Yoho?

One of these days I might actually get my own website going too....”

“Hey Medic Girl-It sure would be nice to be a little closer to the rockies. The drive's not so bad in the summer, about 9 hrs or so to Banff, if I push it. But, the ski trips are a different story. Mostly I have to settle for Whistler- it's only an hour and a half- boo hoo, eh?

I've never lived away from the coast. I don't think I could hack it.

I was in Yoho in August, last year, for a week. We went in at Tak falls, stayed a night at Twin and then over the Whaleback. I was in the crags, about fifty feet short of the top when the hail and ligtning started. We got down to Little Yoho in a hurry.

We spent a couple of days there with about forty people from the Japanese Alpine Club. It was busy with all that Mt Alberta anniversary stuff going on. We bagged Mt Kerr and headed down the Iceline to Yoho Lake for two nights. Side trip to the top of Mt Field (above the shale beds)- fantastic view down the Kicking Horse from up there.

Great trip, but we had some wild weather. Just writing this makes me want to get back there..always a favorite.”

“All this talk on B.C. is making me bounce up and down with joy... due to head to Mt. Rainier to hike the wonderland in June then up to Vancouver island to visit sister who is planting trees then i am going to attempt to get to saskatchewan by the start of July”

“Thanks for the warning:-) No, really, we'll leave a light on for ya.
Where abouts on "the rock" is your sister living? Got time to look around B.C. a little?”

“I don't know where exactly she is planting but from last report she has to be flown in to the sites... i will be spending a week in June in B.C. then i am scheduled to work a adventure race in Revelstoke in mid august”

“headcougar- It sounds like your in for a great trip. Drop me a note if you need any info.
hodgeman@telus.net
Stop in-we'll have a beer!”

“Actually i will cash that in right now... my pal told me about some trail called the West Coast Trail? Do you know anything about that?”

“Headcougar, My fiance and I did a 2 week trip to Vancouver Island last year. What part of the Island are you heading to?”

“Headcougar- I know it very well. It's a 50 mile trek from Pt. Renfrew to Bamfield, on Vancouver Island. I like to call it the Wet Coat Trail- be prepared with 'full' raingear- kneehigh gaiters and a treking pole is a nescesity. On one trip, we had 6 inches of rain 24 hours and mud to our waists. Also, the beach/ shelf can be extremely slippery.Every trip is different.

The trail was originally a life saving/ telegraph trail for shipwreck victims. If tides are favourable, you can do about 2/3rd's of the trail on the beach. Not always easy going though. Imagine hiking up a pea gravel driveway for hours, with 40-50lbs on your back :-(.

I love this trail! Carmanah Beach and Walbran are spectacular. Here's a link to start you off.
WCTrail

Let me know what you think.”

“Ooop's try this
WCTrail”

“Thanks dude... great info on the trail... i wish that i knew exactly where we are staying after we leaving victoria... am sure camp sites will be crowded Canada Day weekend...”

“Headcougar,
I have plenty of info I picked up while I was on the island. There is so much to do. We wound up spending a few days in Victoria ourselves. We also spent some time in Stathcona Provincial Park. We also did an overnight on the Juan de Fuca trail... or should I say Juan de Mud trail.”

“Headcougar- Here's some general park info,camping reservations etc.
BC Parks”

“Awesome info... thanks again... things are starting to fall into place”

“No Problem... maybe this should be the Vancouver Island thread :-)”

“i shall make it so”

“Trailguy, sounds like an awesome adventure in Yoho! Those are the ones you remember the most, huh? This summer will be my first trip to Yoho.... I can't wait!!!

Headcougar, why would you pick Saskatchewan??? It's really nothing but prairie... no mountains, no ocean, just wheat fields as far as the eye can see!”

“I am originally a saskatchewan boy”

“Aha, a transplant, eh? Well, good to see another Canadian on here! :o) Have fun in Sask....”

“41 more days....yipppeee !!!!”

“Wow Advenurist, you're pretty excited about the honeymoon. Is there a pending wedding to be excited about , also? Or have you wrapped that up already?

Have you set any details, for your Cdn Rockies adventure. Whatcha got planned?”

“Wedding is on July 21. We will be on our honeymoon from July 23 through August 6. We need to tweak the details but we will fly into Calgary...drive to Willmore/Jasper area, then work our way back doing trips along the way.”

“Sounds Great Adventurist. The weather's usually pretty solid by then (if ever). I'm sure you'll have a fantastic trip.”

“Woooo.......Hoooo! I now have a Mrs. Adventurist! We got hitched Saturday July 21 on the most perfect day. Couldn't have asked for better weather here in PA. We couldn't believe how everything just flowed so smoothly and everyone had a great time. We had a bagpiper play for the cocktail hour outside and lead us into the reception hall. What an awesome thing!

Now we are off to Calgary today! Can't wait!!!

See ya when I get back!”

“Congratulations! Mr and Mrs Adventurist. Welcome to Canada- Have a great time in the Rockies”

“Congrats you guys!! Enjoy Willmore... just remember, the ridges are FAR better than the trails.... and watch out for the bears! ;-)
Again, best wishes for a happy and fruitful marriage! :o)”

“Well we are back. Its amazing how our plans always change. When we were up in Hinton the weather was poor so all we did drive the road to Rock Lake access of the Willmore Wilderness. We decide to head to the Mt. Robson area and we did a 6 day trip into Berg Lake. We stayed three nights at Robson Pass and day trips while base camped there. What an awesome area !!!
We checked out the toe of Robson Glacier, breifly entered an ice cave and drank water pouring off the edge of the glacier without having to pay $3 a bottle for it. After leaving the Mt. Robson area we headed down to Kootenay National Park and spent two nights at a campground there. We did a dayhike through the Sinclair Creek - Kindersley Pass circuit in that region. After that we headed to Banff where we camped two nights at the Tunnel Mtn Campground and did day excursions from there. Then we drove to Calgary and flew home. Pictures will be coming to Photopoint soon.”

“Hey Adventurist- Glad to hear that you had a good trip. Mt Robson eh? Did you get to check out Snowbird Pass, or the Mumm Basin, during your stay? How'd ya like the Valley of the Falls? Can't wait to see your pics. I might not make it up there this year.

P.S. C'mon back sometime, eh!”

“Glad to hear you had an awesome honeymoon! Sorry you didn't get into Willmore... you would've enjoyed it... I guess we'll just have to make a Canadian TT hike and ALL go! Robson's a beautiful area... did you go to the Moose River pass?”