Originally Posted by
Happy Feet
I would say 2 days of strongish headwinds, several moderate to light and the rest negligible. Maybe one or two tailwinds but not that I would notice or maybe more like crosswinds. I know there is much ado about going west to east to avoid them but for me it was mainly a non sequitor. Rain, hail and thunderstorms on the other hand...
Strong head winds through Kananaskis country in the foothills and at the kicking horse pass as to be expected. They are almost always present.
Years ago I left Waterton Lakes national park on the US border (opposite Glacier NP) and was headed north. At that time Pincher creek was a tiny town and I headed east to Fort McLeod and then north on Alberta Rt 2.
I noticed that the drivers were remarkably well paced and disciplined on what is, actually, a pretty major road. I complemented them on their modest speed.
When I stopped for lunch in High River (it night have been Nanton...the latter rings a bell in my head) and looked at my map I realized what was going on! The howling southern wind was pushing me along at such a great pace (I am normally a nice slow pokey cyclist and driver) that I had already ridden over 100 miles! I must have been riding at 20+ mph! NO wonder every car seemed to pass me at a modest speed.