Myer

I have a trip planned for Banff & Jasper August 5-11.

I was reading some reports last night and am a bit confused.

I knew nothing about the wildfires and don't understand the condition maps and reports.
Are roads open, is it worth going ahead with the trip?

Anybody who's in the area with knowledge of the conditions?

lunabug

So far you should not have any problems driving Banff - Lake Louise - Jasper.
I understand there is a fire to the east of Saskatchewan River Crossing which is part way between Lake Louise and Jasper. It's not affecting travel on the Icefields Parkway. I am in Hinton (80K from Jasper) and we have smoke around that is affecting visibility. I think it is from fires in Northern BC. August 5th is quite a ways away and things will change by then - Hopefully for the better. I would say don't worry for now and check back closer to your time of departure.

kgsneds

Actually there ARE closures on the Icefields Parkway.

There are intermittent closures of the Icefields Parkway between Saskatchewan Crossing and Waterfowl Lakes. Closures can occur anytime between 3pm and 7am, so they suggest travel between prior to 3pm. At the moment, they are saying that the closures could go on for up to 8 weeks. Saskatchewan River Crossing Resort is apparently opened though people were evacuated on Thursday night/Friday morning. However, it's probably a good idea not to assume that you can get gas or supplies there.

The smoke in Hinton is also from the fires in Banff NP/provincial land. I was in Jasper NP today and the smoke/haze is very visible to the south and it was getting smokier/hazier over the course of the day.

http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ab/ban...neuf-news.aspx

ltt

there is no way to ask us to predict a situation 3 weeks from now. a few days ago, there we no closures on the parkway, now there is off an one during the day or night, two days from now, the fires could be out or a new one started. come if you want and just know you have to be flexible. no different if you come in winter...if an avalanche happens, the road closes...unless you can figure out how to manipulate things out of your control...as with any trip, you make your plans and assume it will all be ok but adjust to what is dealt to you.

kgsneds

The current closures (2pm to 7am, my mistype) could go on for up to 8 weeks. As LTT says, we can't predict that far in advance. The best suggestion is to check AMA Road Reports, the Banff NP website and Alberta 511 just prior to your trip to see what the current situation is at that juncture.

Worst case scenario is that you will need to time your Icefields Parkway drive so you are past that section by 2pm. Very doable. The other closures really affect only backcountry campers and those if an a few, less popular campsites.

Myer

Thanks for the info.

I've done some homework and have we have 2 days in the Banff/Lake Louise / Yoho areas before we go up to Jasper (town) for 2 nights and 1 complete day.

I've marked a couple of fairly quick scenery stops (Hector and Bow Lakes) and 2 longer but still relatively short stops (Bow Summit to Peyto Lake Overlook and Mistaya Canyon) south of Highway 11 (93 north of highway 11 doesn't currently have restrictions).

Unless conditions change I don't think we'll have a problem taking in these places and getting past Highway 11 prior to it closing. I would have like to do some wildlife searching (we're amateur photogs) along Rt 11 for a few miles but if we can't so be it.

We may do some of it the day we drive over to Yoho (a detour up the Icefields Parlway a bit) (maybe just Hector Lake).

The main places of interest for us are much closer to the Icefield Center (Parker Ridge, part of Wilcox Pass, Toe of the Glacier) and above (Tangle Falls, Beauty Creek to Stanley Falls, and a few short stops).

Hopefully we'll get to Jasper with enough light to drive down Maligne Road and do some wildlife searching. Last year I got great photos of a mother black bear and her three cubs early in the morning).

I think our day in Jasper will be taken up by driving down Maligne Road early for wildlife, then over to Path of the Glacier Trail and double back to Maligne Canyon and maybe Old Fort Point. I did the Path of the Glacier last year but my daughter hasn't been there. I realize we going back and forth but I want to get to the Path of the Glacier before noon.

Our last day we'll be starting in Jasper and ending late at night in Calgary (sleeping at the Airport Delta for an early flight the next morning). We'll have some time available from Lake Louise to Banff as we'll count on being at Lake Louise by 2PM before the road closing. So we' stay in Banff for dinner, drive down Lake Minnewanka Rd for bighorn and ewes. Depending how we've done earlier in the trip we may stop again at Moraine Lake and Lake Louise.

I'll check back closer to the trip.

kgsneds

My understanding is that, currently, Rt. 11 is open unless otherwise indicated, however there is absolutely no stopping on the stretch between 93 and well out towards Nordegg. So it wouldn't work for photos ops.

You don't need to be at Lake Louise at 2pm, just past Waterfowl Lakes. That still leaves you plenty of time at places like Peyto Lake and Bow Summit area if you want.

panecott

Oh, my! I wish I'd come on this board just a few days earlier.

I just booked a trip to Banff and Jasper NP's beginning on 9/16 and I knew nothing about the wildfires. I hope they are contained by then!

Five years ago I had to cancel my trip to the area at the last minute due to an ankle injury and I lost two hotel deposits as well as sky miles. I booked the same two hotels for this trip and used awards miles as well. I hope history does not repeat itself! Just venting here.

Myer, I seem to follow you to some of the same places. I hope things clear up by your trip.
It will be good to get updates from you, as well as from our helpful Fodor's neighbors to the north.

kgsneds

It should be just fine by September. They are talking 6-8 weeks max, and even by the end of that period, there is likely to be far less disruption.

Myer

I'm taking my daughter and granddaughter to Yellowstone this Friday (July 18). On Aug 5th I'm leaving for Banff & Jasper with my daughter.

I realize we don't have to be off the road by 2PM. Just past the closed areas. And those could change.

This is what I think we'll do. On our 2nd day we'll go to Yoho. I think we'll go partway up the Icefields (Bow Summit, Mistaya Canyon and a few scenery stops. Then we'll spend the afternoon in Yoho. It's very close. We might not get to Wapta Falls.

That way on day 3 when we have to end up in Jasper we'll only make a couple of scenery stops (if they're not smoked out) before the area that will be closed around 2PM. We'll be able to spend a good part of the day at Parker Ridge, Wilcox Pass, Toe of the Glacier, Beauty Creek and several scenery stops).

My original plan was to do on the way back what we missed on the way up. I just want to make sure anything we miss on the way up will be south of the closed area so we'll be able to get there on the way back.

I just hope all of the scenery isn't ruined by smoke.

I had several thoughts. The least expensive part of the trip is the Jasper lodging. So if we decided after 2 days that this is a total waste of time, we could drive down to Glacier (MT) and spend 2 days in Many Glacier. I've been there the past 2 years so I wouldn't have to do any research or planning. Lodging would be an issue but we could stay outside of the park if there aren't any cancellations inside.

Or we could go to Yoho, Glacier (BC) or Kootenay. Again lodging is an issue and since I don't really know them I'd have to do some quick reading.

Sometimes things don't go the way you'd like and sometimes they do. Rather than cancel and deal with airline change fees and rebooking I'd rather take a chance and live with it.

You'll be fine in mid-September except that's a bit late in the season.

I found out by accident a couple of days ago when I read about wildlife along Rt 11. That's when the wildfire popped up. While things could always change for the better or worse, I'm planning on what we know now. I just have to shuffle a few things around to avoid the closure areas when they're closed. I didn't drop anything. I might even have to add a few things as we may get back to the Lake Louise area or beyond early enough to do a few things. We'll probably eat dinner in Banff and then drive to Calgary to sleep over and fly home.

I just hope all the scenery isn't ruined by smoke. While other parks have spectacular scenery as well, I find Banff & Jasper have a lot of roadside scenery that can be mixed in with some hikes.

I'll check back here in the next few days and add more after my trip.

panecott

Well, it's encouraging that they're expecting it to be over by September. Whatever happens, I don't want to cancel again!


>>>> I just hope all of the scenery isn't ruined by smoke. >>>

That happened to me in Alaska. I took a van tour from Fairbanks up the Dalton Highway to Deadhorse where the oil fields are. The entire first day we saw nothing but smoke. Fortunately it was much better the second day and we saw some beautiful late summer scenery on the tundra, and going through the mts.

Good luck. I hope it's clear when you're there and you won't have to use your contingency plan.

kgsneds

FYI, at the moment, Banff/Lake Louise/Calgary are apparently more affected by the smoke than Jasper. It's really hazy here in Edmonton, but that's either storms or from the fires in BC and NWT (far worse than the one in Banff NP).

Last weekend in Jasper was fine - Sunday was hazy, but the heat was a far worse problem and we had no smoke issues other than a thickening haze.

The best updates and some pics of/on the fire are here: http://srd.web.alberta.ca/rocky-moun...se-area-update

For smoke, there's a nice animation with forecasts here:

http://www.bcairquality.ca/bluesky/west/

panecott

Good websites -- thanks for the info.

On the animation it seems that there are bigger fires to the north?

kgsneds

Yup. Much larger and out of control. That's where most of the smoke is coming from - we're under a thick smoky haze in Edmonton with an air quality advisory in effect.

Myer

It's great to have people posting who are so close to the action keeping us up to date.

THANK YOU and PLEASE KEEP IT UP!!!!!

Has the Banff fire been getting worse or are they making progress with it? Any chance of a good rain dump and put an end to it?

I'm taking my daughter and granddaughter to Yellowstone this Friday (Jul 18). We'll be gone a week.

Right now the plan is that we leave for Banff & Jasper Aug 5th.

I want to avoid dealing with the airlines for cancellations and rebooking. If things don't work out well we'll discuss redoing it next year.

We very briefly discussed the options:
1) Leave it as it is.

2) Drive down to Glacier in MT (the least expensive hit would be Jasper lodging for 2 nights) for the last 2 1/2 days. I've been there each of the last 2 years so I don't have to do any homework. Of course lodging is an issue (I've never tried to sleep in a car) but maybe last minute cancellations or stay just outside the park. We would probably spend the whole time in Many Glacier.

3) Instead of Jasper we could go to some combination of Yoho, Kootenay, Glacier (AB) and Mount Revelstoke. Other than planning part of a day in Yoho I know nothing about the other parks. I've emailed for some info and hopefully it'll be waiting when I return from Yellowstone.

What are the conditions like in those other parks?

kgsneds wrote that Jasper is less affected than Banff & Lake Louise. If that remains then Jasper may be the best of them all.

What about places like Toe of the Glacier, Wilcox Pass and Parker Ridge. Are they just too close and smoked in?

Myer

I just took a quick look at the Alberta 511 web site.

A 7:40PM photo at Lake Louise looks clear with blue skies and white fluffy clouds and the map doesn't show a road closure.

Any chance that the situation is improving or am I just dreaming?

Myer

Oh. While the Lake Louise photo is July 16 at 7:40PM (good) the marker on the map is 1PM July 15 (doesn't tell us anything).

Well, maybe the photo is a good sign.

kgsneds

From what I hear, the conditions in Calgary are much better. Which probably means Lake Louise and Banff are OK too. Jasper/Hinton was apparently pretty crummy today, though the situation varied widely depending on one's location and there were good views to be had from many hikes. However, I suspect most of that smoke was the fires to the north, not from the south. Here in Edmonton it was smoky, but it's improving tonight and again, the smoke was from the fires to the north.

All areas are expecting rain and cooler weather, which is likely to make things better. The winds here in Edmonton are already making it better.

It's not a matter of putting the fire out - they want to control it to the current boundaries, not extinguish it. The area in question was long overdue for a natural fire or controlled burn, so they are trying to let the fire burn up the natural fuels. This will help prevent future fires and as well as benefit nature. Rain will help to tamp it down and improve air quality, but not put it out. The area is far to dry for that.

Again, I would not be changing plans - most of the area in the parks is just fine. I've heard two accounts of great climbs or traverses in Banff National Park this week, plus people out hiking Jasper without any major issues. You just have to make sure you get past the closure area before 2pm.

I think the area around the Columbia Icefields should be fine - the only problems I've heard for people there is getting to the area from the south. I may be at Wilcox this weekend and will report back on conditions if I am.

Glacier NP is in BC, and those parks could as easily be affected by the smoke in BC depending on the winds.

Myer

kgsneds. Thanks for the update.

panecott

When we were talking about things being better by September (and hopefully by August for Myer's trip), was that referring to the larger fires to the north, or to the smaller ones closer to Banff/Jasper?

I'd hate to have the beautiful scenery marred by smoke!