Opinions needed on cross country road trip via Canada...

colby · Since 23 Apr 2005 613 Posts Celebrity Photographer

My wife and I are heading to the East Coast somewhere in late August,
possibly by car if we can find 12 days to do it. I've put together this route
through Google Maps and wondering if any of you think this is a good way
to do it or if there is more scenic/speedier way -
thinking Jasper and Banff would be the camping part of the trip with a mad
scramble across the plains and finish with a day in Toronto before heading
down to NYC. Here's the basic outline and then the Google Map of the trip:

1 day to Okanagen for an evening wine country tour (HWY 97 through central Washington)
1 day to Jasper National Park
3 days camping in Jasper/Banff and spend last night in Calgary
2 days to Winnipeg (400 miles approx per day) anything to see?
1 Day to Thunderbay in Ontario
2 days to Toronto (400 mile approx per day) anything to see?
2 days to NYC (stay a night in Toronto)
12 DAYS TOTAL

Google Map: http://local.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=2912+NE+Glisan+St,+Portland,+Oregon+97232&daddr=Hood+River,+OR+to%3Ayakima+wa+to%3AOkanagan,+British+Columbia,+Canada+to%3AJasper,+Alberta+Canada+to%3ABanff+Canada+to%3ACalgary,+Canada+to%3AWinnipeg,+manitoba+Canada+to%3AThunder+Bay,+ON,+Canada+to%3Asault+ste+marie+ontario+to%3AToronto,+ON,+Canada+to%3ANew+York,+NY&mrcr=6,7&sll=46.860191,-98.349609&sspn=24.346086,81.5625&ie=UTF8&ll=49.553726,-92.021484&spn=23.132215,81.5625&z=4&om=1

Pepi · Mon Jun 25, 07 8:36 am

I'd try swinging south between Thunderbay and Toronto so that you could pass through Traverse City, Michigan. That is one of the kiting epicenters of the MidWest.
Try contacting the brothers over at Broneah Kiteboarding for more info.

My 2 cents.

Pepi

colby · Since 23 Apr 2005 613 Posts Celebrity Photographer

Thanks Pepi!...I may not kite this trip depending on how quickly we can get across with roads being more freeway like or not, but will look Michigan up just in case it could fit in.

J.P. · Since 10 Mar 2005 638 Posts Addicted

StrangeBrew · Since 25 Mar 2007 2 Posts New Member

"1 day to Okanagen for an evening wine country tour (HWY 97 through central Washington)"

stoked

"1 day to Jasper National Park"

Jasper's pretty far north...ong day, but stoked; beeeautiful scenery

"3 days camping in Jasper/Banff and spend last night in Calgar"

doin' it right. Eat steak in Calgary

"2 days to Winnipeg (400 miles approx per day) anything to see?"

haystacks, sunsets and sunrises...so...basically, haul ass across the praries and look out for radar trap cops. It's not hard to make it all the way from Alberta/Sask border through to Kenora, Ont. in a day. Don't waste any time in the flatlands; BORING. Oh yeah; lots of mosquitos to see in Winnipeg.

"1 Day to Thunderbay in Ontario
2 days to Toronto (400 mile approx per day) anything to see?"

North end of Lake Superior, past Thunder Bay is gorgeous and plenty kiting opportunity if there is wind. Entire zone to the East of the Trans Canada from Sudbury through to Barrie is really, really nice, especially if you can log some time in a canoe.

colby · Since 23 Apr 2005 613 Posts Celebrity Photographer

Thanks for the helpful replies and private messages! I'll be sure to post some pictures from the trip, especially from Jasper or of kiting.

crasher · Since 21 Jul 2005 23 Posts Long Island, NY

When you get to New York, shoot me an e-mail and we'll kite together out on Long Island.

It'll give me a chance to return some that Oregon/Washington hospitality that I got on my two trips out to the Gorge.

I'll be heading out in the opposite direction at the end of July. I will most likely take the U.S. route though.

Craig
casher@optonline.net

Mark · Mon Jun 25, 07 11:45 am

You now need a passport to travel outside of the US. There are some exceptions for the next 6 months due to the huge back log.

Slipin Lizard · Since 23 Sep 2005 88 Posts Hood River, Oregon

Jasper/Banff are always tough because there's so much to see and you're not sure how to best spend your time. I'd recommend:

In Jasper:
-the drive up to Edith Cavell mountain, very spectacular.
-Maline Canyon trail. This is a must. If you're up for it, hike the loop trail from the bottom to the top. If not, just be aware that the canyon is incredible, and has some really great scenery down the trail, away from the main visitor center.
DO NOT bother to go to , oh, what's it called again? Spirit Island, Medicine Lake or whatever. You'll see all the post cards of it, but it is a very long drive and really not that great when you actually get there.

Stop and check out the Columbia Icefield on the way to Banff. This is a "get out of the car and look". Actually, as you drive the Icefields Parkway, I'd suggest checking out a few of the scenic pull-outs as you go. Keep an eye out for bears as they are common along this highway.

Banff:
-check out Lake Louise for sure. You can also take a tram to the top of a mountain, worth it if its a nice day.

Southbasin · Since 30 Oct 2006 5 Posts New Member

Hey Colby,

We have a very active kiting community here in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Winnipeg is about 1 hours drive from the 11th largest freshwater lake in the world - Lake Winnipeg. It is shallow, gets nice and warm in the summer and can get very rough - (read good lake waves in the right locations). We have beautiful white sand beaches (Grand Beach - http://www.grand.beach.mb.ca/thebeach.html). Lake Manitoba is also huge and offers great kiting too.

Haul ass from Calgary to Winnipeg (about 15 hours drive) and try to spend an extra day on Lake Winnipeg. It's worth it if you get any wind. I know from 10 summers spent in the Gorge that the kiting here is better than the Gorge IMHO (still rather windsurf in the Gorge.....if I still polesurfed). We have many great spots including some flat water spots that are better than any flat water spots in Hatteras (don't get me wrong - LOVE Hatteras but our flat water spots KICK ASS). See http://members.shaw.ca/cpbs2/cpbs2/WillowOct2.wmv

For an overview of the local spots please see http://www.mts.net/~mhlady2/windtracker.html

Check our Yahoo group for local disscussion and to see where the kiting action will be on any given day.
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/WinnipegKiteboarders/

I'd be happy to help you during your stay - give me a call at (204) 979-9463 (that's 979-wind) or e-mail me at windy@mts.net

PS - I co-own the local kiting shop here Boost Kiteboarding (www.boostkiteboarding.com)

Regards
Chris

colby · Since 23 Apr 2005 613 Posts Celebrity Photographer

I don't know what is better, getting several quality responses in one morning or hearing from people to come kite with them in NYC & Canada - thanks a ton! Really looking forward to making this road trip happen.

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon Jun 25, 07 2:08 pm

you may want to swing down to the state when you get near the midwest just b/c gas is freaking expensive in canada.

Anywhere you go in banf/jasper is beautiful. have fun!

Southbasin · Since 30 Oct 2006 5 Posts New Member

Hey Strangedude,

"haystacks, sunsets and sunrises...so...basically, haul ass across the praries and look out for radar trap cops. It's not hard to make it all the way from Alberta/Sask border through to Kenora, Ont. in a day. Don't waste any time in the flatlands; BORING. Oh yeah; lots of mosquitos to see in Winnipeg. "

Sounds like you've never had a session on Lake Winnipeg.........you truely don't know what you're missing.

alleycat · Since 29 Jun 2006 176 Posts Portland Stoked

Hey Colby

I am from Kelowna which is in the Okanagan valley. A pretty good place to kite is in Skaha lake. The lake is located south of Penticton. I kited there a few days ago and had a good time. The locals are cool and let me know the one and only rule, do not kite near the landing strip of the airport (it's quite obvious though). Another cool area is Nicola Lake at Merrit BC. The launch is at the sailing club on the East side of the lake, bring a 6 pack of beer as the sailing club is private, however, no Canadian alive can resist an ice cold beer.

Another must see during your trip across Canada would be Wasaga Beach in Ontario. Check out this website that happens to have Ontario and Quebec areas posted www.skypilotkiteboarding.com

Have a great trip...

colby · Since 23 Apr 2005 613 Posts Celebrity Photographer

had to bring this post back alive as we are finally doing this trip! but now it's in the reverse order from Brooklyn to Portland within 9 days time.

just wanted to know if there was any camping spots worth shooting for along the Canada route - specifically in the Toronto to Calgary leg? ...guessing much of this is wide open farm country like the midwest

we won't be ducking back into the US near the Great Lakes for kiting as we don't have time if we're going to be up in Jasper for a few days, but hope to on the way back home to Brooklyn in August.

pdxmonkeyboy · Tue Jun 10, 08 11:21 am

If you have the cash, there is an AWESOME BB located in Camore (just east of the entrance to Banff. It is called the bear and bison. My wife and I stayed there. Super nice accommodation, and the owner was a chef and man, he makes some incredible meals!! It would be a welcome respite form camping.

http://www.bearandbisoninn.com/

colby · Since 23 Apr 2005 613 Posts Celebrity Photographer

thanks...the weather's going to be a toss up for camping of course, so this could come in handy. sorry you guys are getting such a late season this year Confused