Description: This is a camping tour through some of the most scenic areas of North America.  (The tour was done, in a reverse direction, in August 2002 and was very well received at that time.)  There will be a support vehicle (1 Ton cube van) for all camping and cooking gear.  The cook teams may assist in the driving of the van.

Itinerary: The tour will “gather” on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 2nd at  Kamloops RV Park.  The itinerary below gives approximate distances; details pertaining to accommodations will be provided at a later date:
    July 3 —  Kamloops to Sorrento,  61 km —  level terrain with one short climb; 
    July 4 —  Sorrento to Sicamous (Malakwa),  76 km — a few significant hills;
    July 5 —  Sicamous (Malakwa) to Revelstoke,  60 km — gradual climb for most of the day;
    July 6 —  Revelstoke to Glacier National Park (Loop Brook site),  65 km — moderate climb for most of the day;
    July 7 — Glacier National Park to Golden,  83 km — one moderate climb of significance;
    July 8 — Golden to Mosquito Creek (Banff National Park),  104 km — a gain of 1000m for the day;
    July 9 — Mosquito Creek to Columbia Icefields,  86 km —  gradual climb for the last 30km;
    July 10 — Columbia Icefields to Jasper National Park (Waipiti site),  115km — moderate climb for the opening 10km and then a gradual descent;
    July 11 — Rest day at Jasper;
    July 12 — Jasper to Mt. Robson Provincial Park (Robson Meadows site), 87 km — a few short climbs and a gradual descent;
    July 13 — Mt. Robson to Valemont, 45km — relatively flat with a couple of climbs.
                    Prior to leaving camp there will be short walk to the historical sites along the headwaters of the Fraser River;
   July 14 — Valemont to Blue River, 91 km — one gradual climb , a descent and then a relatively flat ride;
    July 15 — Blue to Clearwater, 104 km — undulating while descending (a possible view of waterfalls in Wells Gray Provincial Park via bus);
    July 16 — Clearwater to Barriere, 61 km — relatively flat except for 7 km of a few steep climbs; and,
    July 17 — Barriere to Kamloops,  76 km — a few short, but steep climbs, and then 50 km of  “flat” riding.

A wind up dinner may be planned for the last night in Kamloops.

There will be fourteen (14) cycling days for a total of approx. 1100 km .  The only hotel accommodation will be at the Columbia Icefields.  Camping will be at all other locations with no shower facilities at Glacier National Park and Mosquito Creek.  There is a vehicle storage area for those driving to Kamlops and the charge is $4/day but this may be reduced once we make a firm commitment with the campsite.

The level of difficulty for the tour is “intermediate/advanced”.  The leader will probably accept members with lesser ability but who have a strong desire to ride this  most memorable route.  The weather will probably be quite pleasant  except for unforeseen conditions in the mountainous areas where conditions often change quickly.  (But keep in mind that the truck is for transporting participants only in an emergency situation.)  Remember the oft quoted cliche:  “there’s no hill that you can’t walk up”!