After escaping the tourist hell of Jasper/Banff, we were a bit hesitant about visiting another national park that was sure to be full of people, especially during a summer weekend, but Greg did some reading and decided that the awe and beauty of the park’s natural features would outweigh the crowds. It certainly was beautiful and the crowd factor was lessened somewhat by vehicle length restrictions on the main road through the park – The Going to the Sun Road. Nothing over 24 feet, so no big buses or RVs.
2 weekends ago, on the 4th July long weekend, parts of the road were still closed because of snow, but it’s all clear now, although it still feels like spring there from the wildflowers in bloom, even though it’s mid-July.
We bought an annual National Parks pass as we’re planning on visiting Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons and a few more in South Dakota and Utah. As we drove through the park’s entrance gates, we noted that quite a few campgrounds were already full, but hoped we’d get a site at the Avalanche Creek campground, at the southern end of the park. And we did – the very last one! We’ve got a system for reserving a site in a popular campground, to make sure we don’t lose it. Once we have found a site, one of us ‘minds’ it while the other goes to register and pay for it ASAP. Nice campground near a cedar forest, and beside a fast-flowing creek. As we were driving to it, I noticed a tract of newly-fallen trees on either side of the road – a recent avalanche, perhaps.
The border post between Canada and USA. It was an hour wait in the car queue to cross the border, with only one staff member manning the border post. The USA is the slowest most difficult country to enter that we have ever experienced.
Tunnel on the Going to the Sun road near Logans Pass
The Going to the Sun road cut into the steep mountain descending from Logans Pass
question why did they tunnel through Logon Pass and not just take the hill away as for the R.V. thats a coach in our terms the only one I have seen in Aust was a Volvo at Canarvon in W.A. much like that one in the pic why the H would you want the ordeal of driving that great thing around Greg has driven trucks he would know did meet a couple camped at Chinciller N.S.W. there bus was there home just keep looking for that remote spot peace nothing like it who needs lots of noise Good Stories
You’re right, Ron. A lot of the time I can’t tell if an oncoming rig is an RV or a tourist bus until we’re passing it. I wonder if drivers of those huge RVs need any special driver’s licence
No ,I have to agree it is safer to camp in a recent avalanche site because if you play the percentages you have to come out a winner. Armed with a can of bear spray and no deodorant for several months and a vault toilet strapped to the bonnet of the car I have a sense that you both mixing in well with the locals.
Great to hear the adventure continues and you both loving it and hope you have not learned to squeal like a hog yet.
Yours
h
Harry, Greg is just ‘researching electric bear-proof fences’ at the moment, to add to our cache of bear repellent stuff. I think that if we want to mix in with the locals, we need camouflage stuff – clothes, Esky covers, camera lens covers … you name it, there’s a cameo version or cover for it! J xx
I agree getting into the USA can be an “experience” but hey, it’s easier than getting out of Russia!
Hahahaa! So true, although I wouldn’t like to take my chances trying to get out of here with a messed-up visa. I think these guys would make our Russian experience look like it was a positive experience! Greg read about a guy who overstayed by a week and ended up in prison for months