WINTER DRIVING QUESTIONS
Winter
Driving Booklet - Adobe Acrobat PDF file (207 Kb - click
here to open)
Q:
Pls advise if the roads leading to the above places are very snowy
, lots of black ice at that time and need snow chains almost everyday
? Or most of
these roads are closed during winter?
Most
roads will have some degree of snow cover and perhaps some ice
- though black ice is rare in this area. Rental cars come equipped
with
all season tires which are sufficient for normal travel on highways
- again - highways are maintained.
While the roads throughout the Rocky Mountains will be open there may
be temporary closures due to winter storms or avalanche safety work.
Roads are maintained throughout the year - the only time they close is
in very bad storm conditions due to lack of visibility.
Q: Are
places like the Icefield, Lake Louise and Maligne Canyon still accessible
using a normal vehicle?
Yes
though places like the Icefield Centre will not be open during
the winter...
Q: I will be renting/have
a 4 wheel drive, does it mean that I do not need snow chains?
Most
driving challenges here do not involve slippery conditions but
rather visibility conditions.... during storms or highway travel
after
storms blowing snow / winds can reduce visibility drastically.
4 wheel drive/ All wheel drive only provides assistance with forward
motion - it does not help with stopping, sliding, etc...Slowing
down is the only option no matter how equipped your vehicle is.
Q: In dec, how many hours are daylight at the rockies? and from what time is
the sky bright to what time is the sky dark? and what is the weather like?
You
will find the weather conditions to be changing quickly as storms
move in and out of the mountains. Most days will be sunny or with high
clouds. It will be light for approx 8-9 hours from 8:00 am to about
5:00 pm
Q: Will all attractions be open?
Some attractions will be open, but not all. The hot springs in Radium
(in Kootenay National Park) and in Banff will be open. Ski hills will
be open. the Banff Gondola will be open. Most museums will be open. Roads
that go to more remote attractions if not open are often turned into
cross country ski trails.
Q: What is the the biggest challenge of a driving tour of the Canadian
Rockies in the winter time?
Your main challenge is that the drive from Vancouver to Radium/Banff/Lake
Louise/ Jasper/Edmonton and back ... is a very long one - you may want
to allow yourself some more time.... it can be done but you are not going
to be able to do a lot of things other than quick stops and scenic drives.
Your second challenge is going to be the short daylight hours - during
that time frame you are going to be experiencing very short days - approximately
8 - 9 hours of daylight only - from 8:00 am to about 5:00 pm.
Most of the area in the National Parks do not have a lot of towns or
buildings. The first part of your drive through Britsh Columbia (BC)
is going to be the most populated area - once you enter the national
parks you are going to be driving through just wilderness areas. It is
only in Banff and Jasper that there are any real town sites - Lake Louise
is really just a small shopping centre and some hotels.
Most of the activities around here focus on outdoor recreation - ice
skating, skiing, dog sledding, snowmobile touring (more in the Golden,
BC area) -
Recommend Stops and Attractions -
KOOTENAY NATIONAL PARK
Radium Hot Springs, Marble Canyon (a short walk)
BANFF NATIONAL PARK
Banff Gondola (ONLY if you can see the tops of the surrounding mountains),
Banff Park Wildlife Museum, Lake Louise (you may also get lucky and find
the Ice Sculpting competition on or on display during this time) - hot
drinks in one of the Chateau's bars overlooking the lake, Peyto Lake
scenic stop on the Icefield Parkway, Columbia Icefield (the visitor centre
will be closed but you can still stand in awe at this geographic apex
- meltwater from here runs in three different direction to three different
oceans.)
Activities to consider here - rent skates at one of the local stores
and go skating on Johnsons Lake, a quick walk through the Banff Springs
Hotel Lobbies, a horse drawn sleigh ride, also check our winter tours
section at http://www.canadianrockies.net/tours/winter.html
JASPER NATIONAL PARK
This is tougher park to recommend activities in as a lot of things require
much more time to do - Whirlpool Canyon, there is a gondola here as
well at the local ski hill - you may want to try downhill skiing for
half a day or for a very unique experience there are "under the
ice" canyon tours...
Edmonton is due east and will take approx 4.0 hours to drive to it from
Jasper.
Things you should have in your Car
because you are travelling in a remote area - cell phones DO NOT WORK
in alot of places - tow trucks are usually hours away - and some roads
may not be very well travelled other than by the occassional snow plow...you
should be prepared to wait.
Emergency Survival Kit
Common sense, preparation and planning are key to your safety!
A few basic precautions can help ensure the safety of you and your loved
ones on the road. First, make sure your car is fit for travel—get
a complete check-up before you go anywhere.
You should keep an emergency survival kit in your vehicle at all times.
Keep one kit in the trunk and make sure you include the following items:
Shovel
Traction mats
Warning light / triangles or road flares
Emergency food pack
Booster cables
Road maps
Matches and a "survival" candle in a deep can (to warm hands,
heat a drink or use as an emergency light)
Sand, salt or kitty litter
Tow chain
Cloth or roll of paper towels
Extra clothing and footwear *** - very important -
if nothing else throw a blanket in the car
Axe or hatchet
Ice scraper and brush - if you rent a car ensure it
has one of these.... or most gas stations will have one for a few $$
Fire extinguisher
Methyl hydrate (for fuel line and windshield de-icing)
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