2016 Southern Rockies Tour No. 2

Tour
  • Tour Leaders : Al McLean 604-987-6149
  • Tour Dates : July 8 to 20, 2016: 13 days
  • Tour Participant Numbers: Min. 12, Max. 24.
  • Tour Rating : Intermediate/advanced
  • Tour Fee: $850 for each of 24 registrants; $1,100 each if only 12, (and pro – rated if in between).
  • Tour Registration Opening Date: Feb 16, 2016 @ 5:00 PM PST. Register @ http://tinyurl.com/m9dw6g at a cost of $2.00 CAD (non – refundable).

Description: Cycle through the magnificent Canadian Rockies in B.C and Alberta, and along the eastern foothills. Being a camping tour you’ll enjoy hearty meals and campground happy hours, often with musical accompaniment, in mid – summer fresh mountain air.

The route follows a loop starting and ending at Fort Steele, near Cranbrook B.C. Long – term parking will be available. We will head east through Fernie and the Crowsnest Pass following Hwy 3. Upon reaching the foothills on the east side of the mountains the route will head north over rolling grasslands of the foothills following Hwy 22, the “Cowboy Trail”. It will continue north on the spectacular Kananaskis Hwy over the Highwood Pass to Canmore. The route then turns west and south along Hwy 93 and descends to Radium Hot Springs, Invermere and Windermere back to Cranbrook. There will be opportunities for hiking or walks in the Rockies on the first rest day, and more hiking or a chance to see Banff on the second rest day.

There may be one night in a motel if camping is not available, (night 2). The CCCTS camping equipment will be utilized, which includes stoves, cookware, tables and shelters for up to 24 people. Luggage, food, water, and camp equipment will be carried by a rented support truck [no bags heavier than 18 kg (40 lbs.) please], driven by one member of each day’s cook team. Assigned cook teams will rotate to purchase groceries and prepare breakfasts and dinners in camp. Volunteers will be requested to carry out each of the following duties; wagon – master, wine and beer steward, and blog-master. All participants will assist in the set-up and take-down of the camp kitchen, communal dish washing, and unloading and loading of the truck each day. Participants will prepare their lunches each morning in camp using ingredients supplied by the tour. A welcome dinner will be provided at the campsite on the first night.

Campgrounds will be located on private, provincial or federal sites, and most will have hot showers, and flush toilets. The tour will provide warm water and an enclosure for sponge baths or mini – showers on the two days (4 & 5) where the campground has no showers. Participants will supply personal tents, bedding, eating utensils, and lawn chairs. There will be opportunities for laundry and wi-fi at most of the private campgrounds.

Riding conditions: The total distance will be about 800 km, averaging ~80 km/day for 10 days of riding. Roads will be paved roads except for 6 km to reach one campground. The shortest and longest riding days will be 63 km and 114 km respectively. Most of the route has generous shoulders and good pavement, with moderate grades. The total ascent is about 6,000 m or an average of 600 m of climbing per day. Two rest days are planned. The tour vehicle will provide en-route, at roadside, coffee/water and support services at ~30 km and ~60 km points each day. The vehicle will also provide emergency rider support, but it will not be deemed a “sag wagon”. As well, the van will carry a well equipped tool kit and two excellent pumps.

Tour fees include camp ground fees, 1 motel and all camping meals including coffee-breaks and happy hour snacks, which will be prepared/presented by rotating cook teams; daily maps and cue sheets; vehicle rental and ancillary expenses.

Tour fees do not include alcoholic beverages, restaurant meals when not camping and participant’s transportation to and from Fort Steele, 14 km east of Cranbrook, B.C. Cranbrook is ~10 hours/ 850 km driving from Vancouver, and is serviced by Air Canada and Pacific Coastal Airlines. Participants will supply their own bicycle.

Registration and participant selection: Registration will open Tuesday Feb. 16, at 5:00 p.m. PST . A $2.00 non-refundable registration fee is required at tour signup, which must be done online at http://tinyurl.com/m9dw6g. Participants will be selected first, on the basis of date and time of registration; secondly, on fitness and experience in relation to a longish “intermediate/ advanced” tour. Once participants have been determined and notified each will be required to make, on line, their respective first tour fee installment of $400.00 within 72 hours; the second payment of between $450 or $700, (depending on the number of registrants), will be due March 16. A registrant canceling will incur costs made or committed on his/her behalf, unless a replacement can be found. Trip cancellation insurance is recommended, as is supplementary medical insurance.

Southern Rockies Tour Itinerary, (subject to minor revisions)

DAY DIST (KM) ASCENT (M) ROUTE DESTINATION
 1     Assemble at Fort Steele Campground (private)
 2 90 418 Local roads, Hwy3  Fernie, private campground or motel
 3 77 553   Hwy 3 Crowsnest Pass Campground (private) 
 4  88  634  

Hwy 3 and 22
Chain Lakes
  Campground (provincial)
 5  90  969  Hwy 22 and 532  Etherington Creek Campground (provincial
 6  70  968  Kananaskis Hwy 40  Lower Lake Campground (Lougheed Prov. Park)
 7    rest day or hiking    
 8  69  410  Hwy 40  Bow Valley Campground (provincial)
 9  79  327  Bike path, Hwy 1A  Johnston Canyon Camp. (Banff Nat. Park)
 10     rest day or hiking    
 11  114  810  Hwy 93, 1 400m down  Radium; Canyon RV & Camp (private)
 12  63  300  Hwy 95, local roads  Canal Flats, Kootenay River RV (private)
 13  65  549  Hwy 95  Fort Steele, end of tour.
Total 805 6010    

Participants:  Terry Chalmers, Tracy Dixon, Leonard Gal, John Gould, Wayne Hanscom, David Insley, Doris Maron, Joanne Mayer, Douglas McIntyre, Alan Mclean, Yvonne Mclean, Duncan Mclelland, Dawn Minett,  Andreas Poulsson, Brigitte Relling, Janet Whitehead

Waiting: