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9 Days in a Camper Van, Alberta Rockies Itinerary

9 Days in a Camper Van, Alberta Rockies Itinerary

Old Mar 25th, 2017, 01:25 PM
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9 Days in a Camper Van, Alberta Rockies Itinerary

I'm spending 9 days in an RV in the Alberta Rockies from the 28th March (I know, short notice.) I had a rough itinerary planned, the obvious, Leaving (and arriving back in) Calgary, onto Lake Louise, Maligne Lake, Columbia Ice Driveways etc. I was hoping to just see how it goes when I arrive. However, I've since realised it's not going to be quite that easy. So I was hoping that you might be able to help plan out a more dedicated itinerary in short notice.

We have 1500km on the RV so can only do the Alberta rockies. We were hoping to get in a few tours (glacier hikes etc) and some skiing in if possible? But mainly just hiking and taking photographs of beautiful scenery. We're in Iceland currently, so the cold isn't too much of any issue, neither the indecisive weather!

- What tours/things you might not do at home experiences are there/would you recommend?

- Does anyone have any recommendations to affordable camping grounds suitable for small RV's. We're on a tight budget but we're aware that most grounds will be closed at this time of year!

- Are there any particularly cheap supermarkets we should be shopping at to save a little $$.

- What can my partner and I not miss whilst we're in the Rockies? (We're in Edmonton and Vancouver too at some point so if you have any info on those too )

Any and all hints and tips are helpful but understandably this is late notice as we fly into Canada tomorrow! Ooops.
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Old Mar 27th, 2017, 12:14 PM
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Very late notice and I think you are in for a shock and will need to do a major rethink.

While it's starting to thaw in the cities and valleys, it is still very much winter in the mountains. Ski hills here are open until May!

There is virtually no hiking now. All the glaciers are under a thick layer of snow - tours don't start until mid to late April, and the only hiking now is at very low elevations & is very icy/muddy/snowy. You're looking at trails right in or around the townsites, and you'd need good solid boots. Lakes are all still solidly frozen and seasonal roads shut - no access to Moraine Lake, Edith Cavell or Takkakaw Falls. No hiking at higher elevations as it's still winter with major avalanche risk (two snowshoers were killed just a week ago).

Most campgrounds are shut until late May and you cannot camp outside campgrounds. Those that are open may have limited facilities - i.e. no running water and pit toilets only. Your RV must be winterized - nighttime lows will be well below freezing, so water lines will freeze and you need good heat. That's not cheap - running a heater will run up your bills quickly.

The only open campground in Banff is Tunnel Mountain and Wapiti is the only open place in Jasper.

However, your bigger issue will be winter road conditions. You MUST have snow tires to drive on the Icefields Parkway until April 1 or whenever there is snow on the road. That's the parkway between Lake Louise and Jasper. Even then, we do not suggest driving on the parkway in the winter - especially in an RV unless you have plenty of winter driving experience. It's remote - no cell service, at this time of year no stores, no hotels, no gas stations, and roads are only maintained (scraped, not plowed) during daylight hours. Most pullovers are not plowed, those that are still have quite a bit of snow on the road surface and getting an RV into and out of snowy parking lots is a really challenge - not impossible to get stuck. Conditions are decent now, but one storm could change it back to really, really nasty. And with the current avalanche situation, if we get more snow (very, very possible), road closures are quite likely. We've had many closures of the parkway this year - two lasting 5 days each.

You also need at least M+S tires to drive in BC and again, need to be able to handle snowy conditions in high mountain passes. Very frequent closures and delays between Lake Louise and Revelstoke due to avalanches, rock fall, accidents and snowstorms.

If you are stuck with the RV, ensure that it is winterized and stay in Banff. Based yourself at Tunnel Mountain - there are plugs in there, so can be workable for heating to keep things from freezing. Then you can do day trips for skiing (take the shuttle to the hills as RV parking is very tricky) - Lake Louise or Sunshine. And day trips to Lake Louise, around Banff and after April 1, if conditions are OK, to Emerald Lake. Perhaps to Canmore - might be some OK hiking around there and in K-Country as elevations are lower.

Give Jasper a miss - with an RV you don't want to be risking the full parkway at this time of year. After April 1 if road & weather conditions are very good, you could go as far as Bow Lake. But I would be very hesitant about going to the lake -that road is only scraped and is an easy place to get stuck. Park in the pullout or the upper parking area and walk down to the lake if you want.
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Old Mar 27th, 2017, 08:10 PM
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Thanks for your lengthy reply, honestly so dissapointed that the camper company have even let us go ahead with the booking if this is the case, which I do not doubt. They were very aware of our travel plans. We are as much to blame too though.

We shall be staying in the Banff area, definitely don't want to risk getting shut off anywhere. Will just have to take each day as it comes and see what we can fill our days with.

Where is good to skii around Banff? Are there any affordable options or are we looking at Whistler-like prices?
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Old Mar 28th, 2017, 10:51 AM
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Unfortunately, renter beware. Most companies do not rent in the winter because of the above issues -- not worth the risk of damage/accidents. The company should have been clearer about the limitations of coming to the Rockies in late March, let alone camping.

I should make it clear that there are some folks out in RVs in the winter, but they would have winterized RVs and lots of experience on our roads. Tend to be climbers or skiers who know the area and how to handle camping in the winter. Not uncommon for folks to have an RV/camper but stay some nights at hostels.

Tunnel Mountain should be good - electric hookups, plus good solid cook shelters. Cook shelters generally have a wood burning stove, though I don't know if they supply wood in the winter (you'd have to pay the fire fee to use the wood if it's available, I assume) and you'd like need something with which to chop kindling.

For skiing, your options are Lake Louise, Sunshine and Norquay. The first two are by far the best, with Sunshine usually having the best snow since it's on the continental divide. Especially for Sunshine, which is up a long access road with limited parking, I'd consider taking the ski shuttle. Check to see if the Roam buses go to the Tunnel Mountain campground at this time of year.

And yes - play it by ear. Conditions on the parkway out to Bow Lake were fairly good this past weekend - lots of bare road, but also sections with a thin layer of snow and ice. Mornings were the trickiest as the melt during the day is running across the road and freezing overnight. But at that elevation, it's quite possible we'll see more snowstorms before winter finally departs.
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Old Mar 28th, 2017, 10:54 AM
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As to cost - buying a ticket the day of is going to be pricey ($100+). You can get discounts for multi day tickets as well as ticket/rental packages. Also various memberships offer good discounts (AAA/CAA/AMA, HI Hostel etc).

The good thing is that the resorts aren't going to be anywhere near as crowded as a place like Whistler. Weekends do draw a crowd, especially since it is spring break now, but weekdays will be fairly quiet.
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