| Newsletter - RM 1200 Route Proposals |
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Submitted by David Cambon on February 5, 2011.
Calgary - Whistler
Start: Calgary Airport
Canmore via Hwy 1
Lake Louise via Bow Valley Parkway
Saskatchewan River Crossing via Icefields Parkway
Jasper via Icefields Parkway
Mount Robson via Yellowhead Highway
Valemount - Blue River - Clearwater - Little Fort via Highway 5
Lone Butte via Highway 24
Clinton - Hat Creek Ranch via Highway 97
Lillooet - Pemberton via Duffey Lake Road (Highway 99)
Finish: Whistler
That is approximately 1200 km. This route avoids the horrible Trans-Canada Highway and maximizes the scenery. The route could go through Kamloops instead of Lone Butte but as far as I know there is no good way to ride a bike through Kamloops to Cache Creek.
I got the idea to finish in Whistler from the Whistler GranFondo. Most of the GranFondo people stayed overnight in Whistler and they had lots of fun (I was there). There is a campground in Whistler and the hotels in Whistler are less outrageously priced in the summer. I don't think it's a good idea to be riding the Sea to Sky Highway into Vancouver when you are tired but it is a nice ride after a good night's sleep in Whistler.
I chose a Calgary start to avoid the ugly traffic on a circular route starting and ending in British Columbia. The Calgary airport is a major airport with cheap domestic and international flights and not too many cows on the runway (for Alberta).
Transportation:
A five ton rented truck would be required to transport luggage and bike boxes from Calgary to Whistler and Vancouver. The cost for the truck would be about $2000 -$2500.
Opposite Direction:
This route could be run in reverse, starting in Vancouver and finishing in Canmore (Banff poses high hotel prices, Park Fees and a cattle guard going into town).
Here are some pictures of the Duffey Lake Road from one of my touring journals:
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?page_id=167285
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