It was time for a longer road trip to introduce Susan to my parents, and my youngest son who was camping with friends in Jasper. We decided on a circular route, with a stop at Columbia Icefields. We packed the Jeep and hit the road.
Day 1 – South Surrey to Merritt. After a short drive up the Coquihalla Highway and over the summit, we stopped at Merritt for our first night at Claybanks RV Park. We backed up at the fence with our rooftop tent opened up to look at the Coldwater River. The sound of running water and a breeze rustling the trees lulled us to a blissful sleep.
Day 2 – Merritt to Blue River. After an early coffee and breakfast, we left Merritt and took Route 5A through rolling grasslands, past a string of excellent fishing lakes, towards Kamloops.
I introduced Susan to the parents of my late wife who have known me for my entire life. After a brief stop, it was time to head downtown for a light lunch, and fill up our growlers with the delicious porter from Noble Pig.
We continued north up Highway 5 towards Clearwater, then took Clearwater Valley Road to Helmcken Falls, a 141 m (463 ft) waterfall on the Murtle River. Helmcken Falls drops over the western escarpment of the Murtle Plateau. This huge lava deposit in the Wells Gray-Clearwater volcanic field was erupted from nearby fissures starting 200,000 years ago and filled the wide valley of the Clearwater River. Layer upon layer of fresh lava created the plateau, then enormous floods eroded the lava at the close of the last ice age, about 10,000 years ago. These floods created Helmcken Canyon below the falls.
Most tourists see Helmcken Falls in summer. A winter visit is worthwhile because the ice cone at the base often grows to 50 m tall and sometimes even higher in very cold snowy winters. It has occasionally been seen reaching halfway up the falls. The best time to view the ice cone is from late January to the end of February. The cone collapses inward sometime during March and some remnants are still visible in June. The road is plowed and sanded in winter and volunteers maintain the trails. Snow tires are essential and tire chains are recommended as a safety precaution. A network of cross-country ski trails starts near Dawson Falls.
Thoroughly impressed, we returned to the vehicle where Susan had some difficulty climbing out of the roadside ditch up into the lifted Jeep.
We returned to Highway 5 and continued north up to Blue River where we would spend another night, this time alongside the Blue River. The mosquitos were out in full force and they were hungry. We set up camp, and hid inside the rooftop tent behind the bug screens. A few managed to sneak in with us, but they were soon eliminated.
Day 3 – Blue River to Jasper. After a coffee and breakfast in the tent to escape the mosquitos, we packed up and continued up Highway 5, then turned off and headed east on Highway 16 towards Jasper. Extending over 11,000 square kilometers, Jasper National Park is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies and part of UNESCO’s Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site.
We stopped in Jasper, explored the quaint alpine village, then Susan met my son. We had a good visit, and she survived his interrogation. I had his blessing.
We left Jasper and took the Icefields Parkway to our next stop at Wapiti Campground. It didn’t take long to set up camp, and enjoy the warmth of the sunshine. At sunset, the mosquitos were out in force, so we retreated back into the tent for some fine dining by LED light.
Day 4 – Jasper to Revelstoke. We woke to clear blue skies, and I prepared Susan for what she was about to see – stunning vistas, snow capped mountains, waterfalls, and turquoise lakes fed by glacier melt. She was amazed at every turn in the road, and took hundreds of photos. Despite driving this route before, I was also amazed by the scenery.
We continued south down the Columbia Parkway, stopping to fill up our water bottles with spring water, then stopped in Lake Louise for a coffee.
We left Lake Louise, and joined up with Highway 1 heading west. Shortly after leaving the national park, we pulled off the highway to watch a Black Bear eating spring vegetation.
We continued on our way and stopped for a rest in Yoho National Park. Named for a Cree expression of awe and wonder, Yoho lies on the western slopes of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Vertical rock walls, waterfalls and dizzying peaks draw visitors from around the world. With exceptional hiking and sightseeing, the park offers a unique glimpse of Canada’s natural wonders, from the secrets of ancient ocean life to the power of ice and water.
We relaxed on the banks of the Kicking Horse River, enjoying the warm sunshine, watching the clouds, and listening to the sound of gently flowing water. Life is good.
After a good rest, we continued west towards our next stops in Revelstoke, first a refreshment and meal, then set up camp in the Lamplighter Campground.
As usual, whenever we stop for the night and set up the rooftop tent, were soon visited by curious onlookers. They are fascinated by the setup, and surprised by our age in living this overlanding lifestyle.
Day 5 – Revelstoke to West Kelowna. After listening to passing trains and transport trucks all night, we packed up camp first thing in the morning, then stopped for a light breakfast at Subway. We returned to the road, and headed down Highway 97A towards West Kelowna. We had reserved a night at a motel to take advantage of hot showers before visiting with friends.
Day 6 – West Kelowna to South Surrey. After a great visit with friends, a comfy bed, and a quiet motel, we continued the last leg of our route over Highway 97C to Merritt, then headed south on Highway 1 to our home in South Surrey.
Overall, we had a fantastic time however I did stop to investigate an ECM code when we gassed up in Chilliwack. The P0303 code means that the cylinder 3 is misfiring or is randomly misfiring. I will have to check or replace the spark plug on cylinder 3.
