Livingston, Whitefish, Glacier, Banff.....

[garrett]

I am planning a trip this summer (August/September) and thought I'd ask some of you folks about additional areas to seek out.

The plan is to fly into Bozeman and drive from that area (a quick drive down to Livingston - lived there most of a summer 5 years ago) and drive up through Whitefish, Glacier and ultimately end up in Banff National Park area. Then fly out of Calgary.

I've been to all these areas years ago, but never in the summer. Only to ski - Big Mountain, Fernie, Sunshine Village, Lake Louise, Norquay, etc. They were all "fly in, fly out", so I never got to explore too much.

I'd especially like to spend more time around Banff and areas north as this is one of those places that is a must see in your lifetime in my opinion.

The trip would be limited to about 6-7 days.

I will be a mix of standard local hotels (like The Murray in Livingston), Isaac Walton Lodge in Glacier (stay in an old caboose no doubt) to some great places like Banff Springs Hotel.

Roads like The Sun Road through Glacier would be a must of course. I've been on most of it, but again that was in the winter and limited with time.

Open to all suggestions.

Thanks in advance.

 

[D Chapman]

You're going to have a busy August.
http://discoweb.org/forums/showpost.php?p=935811&postcount=28

 

[garrett]

Yep. I have the entire month off. The two people that I was planning on going with on the AK trip had to bail due to work in Afghanistan. So this is something I can do with the lady and then off to the place in Nova Scotia for a week with a few folks.

 

[D Chapman]

The two people that I was planning on going with on the AK trip had to bail due to work in Afghanistan.

How is Steve Young, anyway?

 

[apg]

I've spent several weeks skiing Big Mountain, Fernie, etc., but my experiences are pretty much limited to yours: whatever roads are open in winter. Going to the Sun Road is perhaps the most spectacular paved road in the lower 48, but that's just what I've heard or seen on videos. It's always been closed when I was in the neighborhood, and some years, it doesn't open until August. Big Mountain had 250" of snow last season and just closed last weekend; plowing has just started on GTTS Rd. Website says that they will try to open the road on June 21st.

But...the Park Service was in the midst of a major, multi-year reconstruction when the road closed last fall. Monies for many National Park Service projects nationwide have been sequestered and and it's unknown if the funds to continue work on GTTS Rd. will be available. Hope it's open for ya'....

Cheers

 

[garrett]

I've spent several weeks skiing Big Mountain, Fernie, etc., but my experiences are pretty much limited to yours: whatever roads are open in winter. Going to the Sun Road is perhaps the most spectacular paved road in the lower 48, but that's just what I've heard or seen on videos. It's always been closed when I was in the neighborhood, and some years, it doesn't open until August. Big Mountain had 250" of snow last season and just closed last weekend; plowing has just started on GTTS Rd. Website says that they will try to open the road on June 21st.

But...the Park Service was in the midst of a major, multi-year reconstruction when the road closed last fall. Monies for many National Park Service projects nationwide have been sequestered and and it's unknown if the funds to continue work on GTTS Rd. will be available. Hope it's open for ya'....

Cheers

The Sun Road is a must. We did a ton of XC skiing up around the lakes in Glacier and a week at Whitefish at Big Mountain. Back then I wasn't quite as "focused" as I should have been regarding the area, but nevertheless it was gorgeous to say the least. A quick day trip to Fernie (via The Sun Road) was dampened by fog at the mountain.

What I am trying to figure out are the pieces in between the places I've been and what I likely missed. Like Moraine Lake in Banff National Park. http://www.morainelake.com/wp-content/themes/moraine/images/home-promo-img-1.jpg Lake Louise was nice, but damn...........

I was suppose to be in Iceland next week too. Work gets in the way.

 

[fishEH]

I recognize that place! You must have been following me.

Yeah, Lake Louise is pretty touristy but its damn beautiful.

 

[garrett]

I was at Lake Louise in the winter, so we were the only people at the lake. This is back when they just built the new ski lodge at the base of the "resort". Some amazing skiing for sure. Makes China Bowl at Vail look little.

But it's been so long ago and I'm old now, so it would be like visiting a new place. Not to mention the summer there would be nice.

I even thought about Yellowstone, but no way in hell in August. It would be like Disneyland. I've been there twice in the summer and once in the winter. Gardiner to West Yellowstone would take a day I bet. But I bet the burgers in Gardiner would be worth it! I fucking hate crowds.

 

[fishEH]

The buses full of Asian tourists were annoying, but they moved along quickly enough.
The Bearpaw Brew Pub in Canmore was a great place after 3 days of backpacking in rain/snow.
Yes we got snow the first week of Sept so I'd go as early as you can.
I wasnt impressed with Calgary. Stayed at the downtown Marriott two times to bookend the trip. Two blocks in any direction and it got pretty seedy. They seemed to roll the sidewalks up around 8 or 9. Almost got in a fight with some douchebag oil worker from Edmonton when beer got spilled on his $300 jeans. Historic Ft Calgary was kinda a hole, too. The actual fort was ok but if you wanted to walk around the park you'd be accompanied by countless drug addicts and other shady characters.

 

[galen216]

My FIL should be there about the same time riding his bike on the Continental Divide route from Banff to Whitefish.

I went to Yellowstone in mid-May, I will go again at that time of year. We saw every kind of animal there was with new babies and there were no crowds. I later read that the entire month of May sees as many visitors as 1 day in the summer. Fuck that.

 

[garrett]

The buses full of Asian tourists were annoying, but they moved along quickly enough.
The Bearpaw Brew Pub in Canmore was a great place after 3 days of backpacking in rain/snow.
Yes we got snow the first week of Sept so I'd go as early as you can.
I wasnt impressed with Calgary. Stayed at the downtown Marriott two times to bookend the trip. Two blocks in any direction and it got pretty seedy. They seemed to roll the sidewalks up around 8 or 9. Almost got in a fight with some douchebag oil worker from Edmonton when beer got spilled on his $300 jeans. Historic Ft Calgary was kinda a hole, too. The actual fort was ok but if you wanted to walk around the park you'd be accompanied by countless drug addicts and other shady characters.

Yeah don't bother with Calgary. If you want good times and a cool city hit up Montreal. Or for the real European deal Quebec City - very nice, very clean, very hot woman and very pretty area. Pricey, but worth it.

 

[garrett]

My FIL should be there about the same time riding his bike on the Continental Divide route from Banff to Whitefish.

I went to Yellowstone in mid-May, I will go again at that time of year. We saw every kind of animal there was with new babies and there were no crowds. I later read that the entire month of May sees as many visitors as 1 day in the summer. Fuck that.

Early Spring or Fall is the time to go. Though I really loved taking the tour of the north end of the park on a snowmobile in the winter. Talk about having the place to yourself and getting up close to the wildlife. The moose are docile that time of year (preservation mode) and you have to drive by them as they are all over the roads. You have to scoot by them at times just 10 feet away. Old Faithful and the standard fare at the park were cool to see in the "off" season. Snow was piled up about 8' at each intersection in West Yellowstone.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-...AAAAAAAARg/dvpyGVWM6Is/w673-h505/DSCN1058.JPG

 

[garrett]

Leaving tomorrow and changed the start point - Jackson is the first stop and a drive through the Teton Mountains north through Montana. Still ending in Banff though. So post up any cool joints. I have an idea of some mountain roads I'll be taking from Jackson and some other areas north, but open to suggestions.

Will be a few days before I get there, but......

 

[garrett]

A few pics from the trip. Driving to the Sun Road is pretty epic and something that should be on your list if it's not. Spectacular drive.

https://plus.google.com/photos/1003...5919053270697690434&oid=100372756049018300486

About 5,400 miles in total. Drove from Banff to Middleburg, VA in two days. Last day from SD to VA in 22 hours.

Whitefish is still one of my favorite places out west and the Banff area stands alone as a very unique place.

 

[Some Dude]

Nice pictures. I did a very similar trip last year. I actually enjoyed Calgary, but then I didn't spill beer on anyone's $300 jeans.

Is the Going to the Sun Road still torn up? It was under construction last year when I drove it. It was awful. I came in from the north side and drove down it. I think it took us almost 3 hours.

 

[garrett]

They were doing some minor work where we maybe waited 2-3 minutes, but nothing major. We came from the south (Whitefish) and went north towards Canada. I'd say it still took us a few hours though, but we stopped quite a bit. I drove from Whitefish to Banff that day.

I was able to stop and help a few stranded ladies in a rental van from CA. Cute foreign girls that were amazed at my tool set in my Pelican. uh huh.

Weather was perfect and not many vehicles.

Customs didn't like how close to parked next to his booth though, but the dude releasing me from the border wouldn't stop talking about the Hilux I was driving.

Never really spent time in Calgary, though I love the eastern Canadian towns - Quebec City and Montreal specifically.

 

[garrett]

, but then I didn't spill beer on anyone's $300 jeans.

.

Any man that pays more than $65 for a pair of actual jeans should be punched in the nuts. Skinny jeans deserves an additional punch in the throat.

 

[Drillbit]

Who would spend money on pants that aren't even tactical?

 

[garrett]

Have you tried to do a combat roll in a Starbucks parking lot in Levi's? 5.11s or nothing!

 

[D Chapman]

Any man that pays more than $65 for a pair of actual jeans should be punched in the nuts. .

Pffffft. You need to get to TJ Maxx. You can get four pair of jeans for $65.