Introductions - Getting started

Hi All!

I am fairly new to bike touring and it is the most fun I have had in years! I started last year with a cheap department store mountain bike just to see if I would stick with it. The best I could do last year was 100K through Jasper Park in Alberta, (no overnight trips) but I truly enjoyed it. I stepped up to a Trek 7300 hybrid this year and the difference is amazing. We hope to do a tour from Jasper to Banff this year. I have a lot of training to do, winter lasts too darn long around here!

I look forward to reading all of your posts and I know I will appreciate all of the great advice!

Cheers!

Welcome to BikeForums.
Happy to hear you're enjoying cycling.
Glad you got a good bike. Enjoy the Trek. :beer:

tmayder, I am ESPECIALLY pleased to see you signed up here! Will you marry me? :D

Just ride in the winter. I dont know how popular it is in alberta but many whistler riders ride all year, and talk about conditioning :)

And welcome to the forums.

I am planning to ride from Jasper to Banff around july 24-26. i have done the trip 7 or 8 times before, and if you want a partner, drop me a note. Maybe we can hook up in Jasper?

Hi twclements!

That would be of fun, but we are planning to do the trip starting August 5. Thank you for asking, though. Wow, 7 or 8 times! I would probably slow you down, being the newbie that I am. Any tips you feel we might need would be greatly appreciated!

Are you going alone? How long do you plan to be in Banff?

Cheers!
Linda

Linda,
I will not be in Banff. I'll be camping at the protection mtn campground since lake louise is closed to tents due to bears.
Actual plans are in flux,but i probably will leave protection mtn aug 4 to ride to jasper. May see you en route !!
As for suggestions, here is my favorite ride.

JASPER – LAKE LOUISE via the Icefields Parkway

Day1 Drive to Jasper, camp at Whistlers campground.

Day2 Arrange to leave vehicles. Hike, sight see in Jasper. The trail up Whistlers offers great views of the area. The "Something Else Taverna" has great Greek food, pizza, Etc.

Day 3 Cycle Jasper to Jonas Creek 78K. Rolling terrain, net gain 400 m. En route - Athabasca Falls 32K. Lunch at Sunwapta Falls 56K. Dinner at campground. NO plumbing here, but you can cool off in the (glacier fed) creek!

Day 4 Start early and cycle Jonas Creek to Icefields campground 28K. This involves a stiff climb, so plan on 2-3 hours totaltime. In the afternoon, Wilcox pass is a premier hike, which can be extended to an all day ramble through alpine meadows.

Day 5 Icefields to Waterfowl lake 68k. A short ride takes us to Parker's ridge which is a premier short hike – a must do ! After the short hike, comes an exhilarating descent around the "Big Bend" and an easy ride down to Saskatchewan Crossing – a good lunch stop.A steady uphill ride takes us to Waterfowl Lakes campground which has flush toilets, and hot and cold running water, but no showers. If you are brave (crazy?) enough, quick dip in the lake will wash off the road dust

Day 6 Begin by climbing 17Kto Bow summit and the Peyto lake viewpoint. At 20K, Num-Ti-Jah Lodge is a great place to stop for lunch. From here to Lake Louise is mostly flat to slightly downhill - 42K. Dinner at Lake Louise. We may need to camp at Protection mountain (17k further if Lake Louise is still closed to tents due to bears)

Day7 Rest day. Site seeing, hiking. Loads of hikes ranging from 3-4K to 25-30K.

Enjoy your trip and let me know how it went !

:beer:

ps.
a great book - my " bible" for my first few tours is "THE CANADIAN ROCKIES BICYCLING GUIDE" by Gail Helgason and John Dodd 1986. I don't know if it is still in print, but if you can get it, it is a great resource.
Tom

Further to my last msg. My plans are finally set ( as much as they can be !) I will be hiking in lake louise july 26 - 30, and then riding up to jasper july 31 - Aug 2. I'll spend a couple of days in jasper and then ride back down to lake louise aug 5-7. then i'll drive back down to the coast. when I am in Jasper, I'll leave a note on the bulletin board at the whistlers campground re: which site I'm in. Drop by and I can fill you in on the ride.
Cheers,
twclements
:beer:

Welcome twclements

Glad you are here.

Carl