Natural history, pretty much agree. I am a geological engineer by training, but I am retired, thus have had decades to forget much of my college geological training. But, still remember some of the basics of mountain building episodes, igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary rock types and which you find in most places on the continent, where glaciation had a role in present day land forms, etc., etc. And can't disagree, as a place to visit or explore nature, the west has a lot ot offer.

Social history is written by the winners of conflicts, and the east has a much longer history in the initial immigration and settlement from Europe. I grew up in Minnesota, so some of my early education included a little bit of Canadian history too, as the Great Lakes were part of early transportation network, early exploration included the beaver trapping era, Hudson Bay Company role in expansion to the west, etc. But, I did not know much about Canadian government history and confederation history until I was in Charlottetown on Canada Day weekend. And I was only there because I saw a long stretch of rain in the forecast and decided to stay indoors at a hostel, Charlottetown had a convenient hostel.

White Rim, there are only a few campsites, you can only camp at official campsites. And you need a permit to camp there. So, if you wanted to do it solo, you would be getting a permit early. And, there is no source of water there. Before I went, I read a few Crazy Guy on a Bike posts by others, if you are not there with an outfitter, water will be your big headache. I read of people renting a vehicle and placing water caches ahead of a trip and later finding that animals or other people got into their water caches. Outfitters have a very dim view of people doing the trip on their own and begging for water from outfitters, the outfitters do not see their role as bailing out those that were ill prepared when they have paying clients to tend to.

When we were planning a group trip for ten of us friends, we initially were talking about renting a 4X4 to haul food, luggage and water, and we ended hiring an outfitter to haul our stuff, etc. And we saw that as a great decision on our part. Outfitter even provided collapsible chairs.

If I was going to go back, i would automatically plan on using the outfitter.

But, if I was going to try it solo, I would be hauling enough water that I would probably pull a trailer, and it would have to have a wider tire, I do not remember the brand but there is a trailer that uses a full size bike wheel and uses pannier mounts. And I would read up on how Australians tour their outback, as they have experience in hauling water. Besides Crazy Guy trip logs, there are articles in Adventure Cycling by people that traveled dry areas.

If you get a second wheel set, maybe that trailer (I do not recall brand) that uses a full size bike wheel is also sold as a trailer without a wheel? If so, you could provide your own.

Good luck on your White Rim trip. A few photos from mine: