OK, I have my passport.

I'm in Oregon. My great-grand parents are buried in Edmonton, Alberta Canada. It's an 800 mile ride, more or less, crossing the Rockies, and Jasper Nat'l Park in Canada.

I've figured out the currency exchange, routes, rules of the road, and how to convert Km/h speed signs into Mph. And my French is pretty good too.

Canadians tell me that Canada generally is accommodating to campers, that I can find places to pitch a tent out on the open road -- not necessarily in some sort of province campsite.

But what I wonder about -- even now in Mid May -- is snow in the mountain passes, and road conditions in the Rockies. I concede to having little grasp to what the weather is doing "up north" in Canada, and in the interior.

Looks pretty much like America, has Golden Arches, but it's a foreign country. What about riding in Canada, eh?

 

most of the snow has been replaced with weather much more accomodating to us riders, even in my mountains albeit at night it can get a bit cool. once you drop down out of the rockies and into alberta it gets warmer again the roads last time i was out there where pretty fair considering. only major issue with camping on the side of the road i nthe rockies is predation both the 2 and 4 legged kind. better to grab a cheap motel or find a campground for the night ahead fo time

 

You don't want to go tenting in the Rockies its cold at night! The campgrouns are generally fenced off for your protection and the gates closed at night but still chilly. If your going anywhere out west French won't be necessary and don't plan to ride after dark in the mountains on purpose, beside you would miss the best part.

 

We are in Canmore Alberta, a small town outside the east gates of Banff National Park. Spring weather in the Rockies is varied and unstable, some heavy rains and overnight snow is normal, it usually melts by mid morning. In the higher elevations it gets risky, and spring brings occasional avalanches and mud slides which closes the TransCanada Hwy. Check the road conditions on web sites, they keep them updated.
Get a motel, the grizzlies are out now!

 

Depends when you are going. Just got back from Radium Hot Springs in the Rocky Mt Trench. It's been a cool spring but the roads are open. Biker Oma is right, it can be cold at night, and early morning, snow is still a possibility at this time of year in the high country so take warm clothes for riding. I'd also do the motel thing but I might camp at lower elevations if the temps are not too cool. Banff is around 5000 feet elevation.
The roads are generally fine, helmets are mandatory in BC and Alberta, and DON"T BRING A GUN. We can't pack heat up here (damn) and the border guards get somewhat testy. If the weather is good it will be a beautiful ride.

 

I have a few things I can add if you like. I live in Calgary, the largest City in Alberta, over a million in population. We're located about 3 hrs south of Edmonton.

Don't brings guns or ammunition across the border. Don't offer the border guards any extra info, just answer their questions truthfully and everything will be fine. They have the power to turn you around if you give them a reason.


Multiply kilometers by .6, for example if the speed limit is 100 km/hr, that's 60MPH. 80km/hr is 48, etc.

It might be an idea to take some masking tape, cut into small thin pieces and stick onto your speedo so you can see your speed in Km/hr. For example put a 50 label at 30mph, 80 at 50mph, 120 at 75 mph.

No that's not completely accurate. Although people do camp in random places, it's generally not done. You don't know who owns the land or who's going to bother you in the night. I'd stick to campgrounds, or motels.

You might hit some bad weather. But you'll see it coming, it's late enough in the year that there won't be any snow that sticks on the roads, you'll be fine.


Think of Canada is the 51st state of America. We are just like you folks, except we talk a bit differently and our money is pretty. Have a great trip, and don't forget to come back to this section and tell us how it was when you get home.

 

51st state...funny, but unfortunately many Americans have that attitude when traveling your country.

 

wow... it sounds so scary;-) The OP is from Oregon not the moon! The parts of B.C. and Alta that your going through are gonna remind you of home. The animals we have here will be the same that you have there. Since Grizzlies were mentioned then I guess gota touch on that as well, I dont know if you have them down there at all but up here as long as you have a clue they arent an issue. your ATM and Visa cards will work, we speak english, our rules of the road are 99.9% the same as yours, you can camp on the side of the road but not in national or provincial parks which you will be in alot of the time through the rockies. park campsites are plentiful and resonably cheap and have hot showers and toilets so that is a bonus. everyone has already covered the weather so just enjoy the ride. oh yeah dont worry about border guards, they are just guys doing a job. a little respect goes a long ways.


for road conditions in B.C. this is the best source
http://www.drivebc.ca/
and Alta
http://511.alberta.ca/

 

Yeah, "don't bring a gun" -- As much as I have connections to Canada, (two or three generations removed), I have reservations about being unarmed on a road trip -- pretty much this same concern for the Al-Can Highway run up into AK. (I don't mind bears, I just don't want to be in a tent when they come into camp.)

The more I think about the logistics, the more I think I might be happier, safer in the truck -- with a camper, 4WD, heater, AC.

But since we're here . . .

What's the law on knives in Canada? We're talking fixed blade -- as in a working knife, utility knife. This knife would be packed away, and not carried openly or concealed. And so what's the law on possession of knives?

 

as long as its not carried for self defence you'll be fine i carry a gerber LMF II daily as a utility knife.