I know there have been links provided here to web sites w/info on the fires. However, we find the info is usually just too specific, or narrow to help those of us not that familiar w/the specific sites they mention.

It's hard to gather whether we should just entirely abandon our hoped-for road trip to the Canadian Rockies from California? It's an awfully long way to drive, if it's going to be the worst viewing time. And yet, we can't fly due to health issues. (which would at least mean less time off work, if it all turned out sort of a disappointment this year) We were there in '95 & can't wait to get back. However, it was sooo gorgeous that Sept, that it might be a real let-down & depressing to see so many fires & so much smoke. (and right now, we could use a little 'escape' from our health worries. Heard some are having breathing issues, too, with the smoke?)

Sounds like not only our driving routes might be majorly impacted by these continuing fires, but even our days w/in the parks, themselves. Noticed there's a fire or two in Kootenay & a bunch southwest & east of Banff? A fire in Jasper area, too?
We're growing more & more concerned...saw a quote today that the fires may continue into the snow season. There have been many postings here about the fires, but they seem out-of-date already. Please share what the conditions are like in Jasper & Banff area. Would you recommend we just give up on this year & try again next? Thanks so much for any assistance you could lend. We just find the info we can access on the Net, is hard to interpret from this far away...with maps as undetailed as we have. I feel so badly for the people enduring these fires...being evacuated, etc. Very sad....

Forgot to mention...
our trip time possibilities are Sept. 20-Oct 5
or, Sept 27-Oct 12...
not sure if later might give us a chance of some fires being conquered? On the other hand...it may just give us the chance to have both smoke AND cloudy weather...based on how stubborn we're hearing these conflagrations have been.

The fire in the Crowsnest Pass is completely contained and causing no problems, as far as I know Banff and Jasper are ok too. We still get some smoke from the BC fires but were at the Pass the weekend and it was lovely and clear.

The major difficulties are in BC with the fire at Kelowna still raging out of control and threatening the town and Cranbrook, BC is having difficulty too. I would think if you are heading to Alberta, you should be ok.

There is a big fire in Glacier National Park, not too far from the Alberta border.

Most forestry areas in South. Alberta are completely closed to traffic due to the drought and dangerous conditions, this does not include Kananskis and Canmore area but fire bans are in place. When they speak of the fires continuing until the snow falls, this is common, there are always hot spots etc. and only the snows or huge rains will help but that doesn't necessarily mean that the fire is burning out of control.

You could check the www.gov.ab.ca website and see if there are updates there about the fires.

Hope this has been of help.

Yesterday, I hiked up to the Lake Agnes tea house at Lake Louise. I would rate the haze from smoke as being moderate; it did not noticeably affect my breathing, but the view of the Victoria glacier from the Lake Louise hotel was definitely disappointing. That being said, we are having some rain (in Banff, Lake Louise and Calgary) which will help to clear the smoke particles and our temperatures seem to have finally moderated as well. It is possible that the smoke and fire situation could be much better in two weeks.
I also noticed a number of hiking areas along the Bow Valley Parkway (between Lake Louise and Banff) were closed off, although this could also be due to bear activity; this time of year being when they come down into the mountain valleys to gorge before hibernation. (Johnson's Canyon was open however).
If you want to talk to a real person as your dates draw closer, try the Banff National Park Information Line 403-762-1550, or for a general recorded report, the Parks Canada Fire Information Line 1-800-748-7275.
Best of luck to you.

Thank you both *so* much!!!
Truly appreciate the prompt replies.
Will check those places for info, too.
And, I'd still appreciate any additional recent reports from the area, from anyone willing to share their experiences & 'take' on things, as they stand & look now.
Thanks again!

Two families of friends both just returned a week ago from Banff / Jasper / British Columbia. Both came back with differing reports.

The one couple was on a train tour and said they saw smoke & fires but were able to get to all of the sites intended with no detours. For example, they were able to stay at the Lake Louise resort in Banff and thoroughly enjoyed it.

The second family was driving the area by car and was turned back by road blocks in the Banff area twice. Once because (they were told) the bears are being forced down into more populated areas because of the fires and the road was blocked for danger of bears. The road to Lake Louise was blocked because of the forest fires and they could not go see Lake Louise.

Sorry not much "exact" help, but two completely different stories on trips taken the exact same week.

The fires in Alberta are all contained according to recent reports.
Plus there was some rain today and more is forecast for tomorrow.
Apparently it rained in BC (Kelowna) too, and that's where the worst fire has been lately.

syv - I wonder which "road to lake Louise" was closed because of the forest fire??
The Trans Canada (Banff to Lake Louise) is open.

The following is information for BC:

Provincial highways Road Reports are updated as new information becomes available.
NOTE:
Times shown are Pacific Standard Time.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LAST UPDATED: Mon Sep 08 AT 21:13 PM

2003 Closures, advisories, etc.
Date: September 8th, 2003
Time: 2109 hrs
(C)Provincial Highway Conditions Centre
(Please check individual road reports for further road closures.)
************************************************** *******
Public Service Announcement

The Ministry of Transportation has received calls from members of the public who have been assuming that many highways in British Columbia are closed due to the forest fire situation. This is not the case, as all provincial highways are currently open to the travelling public.

Highway conditions may change. For the latest road conditions, travellers are advised to use one of the following options:

* Go to the Ministry of Transportation web site at www.gov.bc.ca/tran
and click on the Road Reports icon

* Dial *4997 on your cellular phone

* Phone 1-800-550-4997 for recorded highway information.

* In the Lower Mainland, phone 604-420-4997.

Again thank you for the terrific info & latest updates, from the frontlines...either if you yourself are there, or have had friends recently in the area!

Guess we'll keep our eyes on things & hope for the best. Leaning towards going Sept. 27, but wonder if we'll be way too late for any colors by then. I definitely know, that it's not *that* much of a autumn color area, since it's mostly confers, but nevertheless, driving there & back from Calif., may present some decent deciduous belts.

And, I know there are Larch near Moraine Lake, at least...but, I'm guessin' we'll be too late to take in those, huh? Also, seems like I've seem some decent colors near the town of Banff...perhaps only yellows, but even *that* is exciting when you live in an area, like we do. (I miss the fall colors of the Midwest where I grew up.) Thanks again!!!

Oops! Forgive those typos in my last posting...all over the place!

The colors I've seen were in photos, btw. Only other time we were there was early Sept, so there were no colors yet....

So...any fall colors occurring yet?
'Course if the rains come w/a vengeance now, that will definitely affect that.

On Sunday, the larches at the Lake Agnes tea house were just barely, and I do mean barely, starting to turn. Definitely later than usual this year due to the hot weather. So, you may very well still catch some good colours at the end of Sept.

Oh, I'm sure that on a drive from Calfornia to B.C and then to the Rockies, you will come across some lovely autumn colours somewhere along the way, and not just in Banff or Jasper.
If the larches are just beginning to change colour at Lake Agnes teahouse - and that's at quite a high elevation - there are sure to be fall colours at lower elevations even later in the season.
Autumn (fall) is usually the dry season in the mountains, and the rain that does fall is gentle (not like the west caost where two seconds in the rain can soak you to the skin!!), so it shouldn't strip the leaves off the trees.
But - if it is too dry - sometimes the leaves turn brownish instead of yellow.
I really hope that your trip works out for you.
Let us know after you get back home.

We are flying from the UK to Calgary on 20th September and travelling through the rockies and into BC. We are also very worried about the smoke from the fires as we are travelling with young children.
I have been in contact with someone who lives in Banff and they are saying there are good days and bad days with the smoke. What worries me more is our route goes past Kelowana in BC.
It seems we can't cancel our trip as the travel insurance will only pay if the UK goverment declare it a no go area. The whole trip is costing us a large part of our savings and we are hoping for the best.

It is also sad to see the devastation it has caused to the communities in the areas

Do you have to go through Kelowna? You could go through Kamloops and take either the Coquillaha (spelt wrong) Highway to Vancouver or the Number One through the Fraser Canyon. By the way - this region has now received some rain which has helped the fires, although not put them out. All Kelowna residents have been allowed back to their homes.

Thank you, too, for these latest fall color updates/predictions.
Gives me hope!

Have had *numerous* health worries of late...thus, am sooo looking forward to getting back up to this beautiful corner of the world *soon* ...if at all possible! I appreciate all your assistance & good wishes,
& we'll keep our fingers crossed. (currently awaiting news re: a biopsy, even! They *think* it's a skin cancer, but there's a chance it's some other cancer. This on top of being diagnosed w/two unruptured brain aneurysms this past year!) So, forgive me if I'm asking too many questions, here, but we're in big need of an 'escape' of some sort, if you know what I mean? (An awful lot of health worries for someone in their mid-30's.)
Thank you so much!!!

Sound to me like you need this holiday! If possible I think you should add a night or two at Emerald Lake Lodge which is near Field, BC. In my opinion its the most beautiful lake in the Rockies and is very quiet. A perfect place to "escape". Good luck to you.

Geez, R, you're only in your 30s? Sorry, I have no information to add but I hope you have a great vacation.

R

The smoke has not been too bad here in Kelowna the last few days.
The rain has definately helped and the fire has travelled into the forested
areas away from the city. The only road that might still be up for a closure is Hwy 33 from Kelowna - Rock Creek, as the fire is closer to that area now. If you are travelling Hwy 97 you should be fine.
The weather has been so beautiful this year, and it has stayed so nice and warm.
Hope this helps

Thanks everyone!

And, re: Emerald Lake...I completely agree & hope to get there, this time, for sure. It is *the* spot that most sticks in my mind, from our only other trip to the Rockies in '95. Found it so tranquil...so gorgeous!! And, at that time, it seemed less 'discovered,' as well. Lightly considered staying elsewhere in Yoho this time, if I can't find a decent rate. However, after seeing you agree w/my 'take'on EML & memories of the place, Cruiseryyc, I think we should probably just consider it our one big indulgence!

I'm so pleased to hear the fires are losing their strength. Everybody needs a break up there!! With gratitude to all...

Hello!

I jsut completed a drive from Seattle to Edmonton today (via the Yellowhead Highway) and I can say that the only thing that slowed me down was gas stops. I also drove this route a few days ago (I am moving from Seattle to Edmonton) and I stopped in the Okanogan. The fire is well away from Kelowna and Highway 97 was clear.

I can't speak for the kicking horse or the rogers pass, but the coquihallia and the Yellowhead Highway (Hope to Jasper via Kelowna) was great.

This is as of 8 pm on 9/11/2003.

Edmonchuck...
thank you for the update & details on the roads. Most helpful! The most up-to-date info we can get, the better.
Appreciate it!