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View Full Version : Road Trip: San Francisco, CA, USA to Athabasca Glacier, BC, CANADA



mrslomo
01-15-2010, 08:59 PM
After admiring all the wonderful roadtrips fellow members have posted, I would like to share one of my recent drives. Actually, my husband does all the driving while I navigate, entertain, and offer constructive advice (not quite back-seat driving since I'm sitting next to him). Also, our two dogs always join our jaunts... why else would we have 3 Volvo wagons if we don't include the family?

On this May, 2009 4,000-mile trip, the car of choice was our 1998 V70 T5. Since we were heading towards "XC70" country, I hope this qualifies to be on the forum. Driving north and east to Spokane, Washington, and then north to the Idaho/Canada border, we crossed at Kingsgate without a hitch.

http://www.volvoxc.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=36&pictureid=137

http://www.volvoxc.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=36&pictureid=138



Not far from the border is the beautiful 249 acre marsh, Elizabeth Lake in Cranbrook, BC. situated in the Rocky Mountain Trench Migration Corridor, it's an important waterfowl nesting and staging area.

http://www.volvoxc.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=36&pictureid=139



Next stop is to visit the largest tandem-axel offroad dump truck in the world. It's not something I can even park on the driveway not matter how much hubby wants to take it home!

Height = 6.88m (22'7")
Height With Box Raised = 17.07m (56')
Length = 20.09m (65'11")
Width = 7.57m (24'10")
Weight = 260 tons
Payload = 350 tons

http://www.volvoxc.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=36&pictureid=153



We then spent the next day in Calgary, Alberta. It had been 8 years since our last visit (driving our now-past 1990 740 turbo wagon). MY, has it grown! Still a fantastic city to visit.

No visit to Calgary is complete without a trip into the past via the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology. Located about 1.5 hours from Calgary, you can't help but feeling you're in dinosaur-country with their life size reproductions... and no one can miss the oil wells on the back roads either. Our car got a free ride on a ferry a few miles from the museum.

http://www.volvoxc.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=36&pictureid=141



Located 1.5 hours east of Calgary, beautiful Banff National Park was our next stop.

http://www.volvoxc.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=36&pictureid=142

http://www.volvoxc.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=36&pictureid=154



Since we've previously visited the famous Lake Louise twice in the past, it was due time to see the frozen "wild" Moraine Lake. Have you ever noticed that Volvos tend to all park together?

http://www.volvoxc.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=36&pictureid=143

http://www.volvoxc.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=36&pictureid=144

http://www.volvoxc.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=36&pictureid=152



Then, it was northbound to the Columbian Icefields to visit Athabasca glacier in Jasper National Park. Dozens of smaller glaciers as well as many waterfalls can be seen all along the way.

http://www.volvoxc.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=36&pictureid=155

http://www.volvoxc.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=36&pictureid=150



Finally, Athabasca Glacier. One of the largest accumulations of ice and snow south of the Arctic Circle, it covers an area of nearly 325 square kilometres, sometimes reaching a depth of 300-360 metres. The alternative to walking up to the glacier was to hop onto the Brewster Ice Explorer snow bus for a more extensive visit since walking beyond the posted barrier is treacherous.

http://www.volvoxc.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=36&pictureid=151

http://www.volvoxc.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=36&pictureid=156


This visit held us in awe because of how much the glacier had receded since our last visit 8 years ago. It used to be snow covered practically from just beyond the parking lot to the main body of the glacier. Back then, climbing up to the glacier was quite scary because of all the visible fissures. Now, it's just essentially walking on a bit of ice and lots of rock.

http://www.volvoxc.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=36&pictureid=157

http://www.volvoxc.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=36&pictureid=160

http://www.volvoxc.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=36&pictureid=159



After this incredible drive, we headed towards home. Our route took us westbound on Canada Hwy. 1 to Vancouver, BC. After crossing the border back into the US, I had a craving for Tillamook Creamery anise ice cream (a flavor I've only found at the factory). Hubby then veered off from Portland, OR to coastal Tillamook, OR and made it just in time for our treat. After meandering halfway down the Oregon coast to, we turned east to reconnect with Hwy. 5 southbound to home.

Thanks for looking.

tolgatt
01-30-2010, 10:53 PM
these pictures are awesome! thanks for posting these...that truck is huge, i was wondering what these tires that ive seen in calgary were for! :D

mrslomo
01-31-2010, 06:14 PM
That's quite a delivery of new tires! They must be heading for the coal mines. How do you think they mount these? Or do they even rotate them?

Charley
02-01-2010, 06:47 AM
nice prictures, thanks for Sharing.

XCovlov70
03-14-2010, 03:08 PM
Fabulous pictures, thanks for sharing.

My wife and I along with some friends set off shortly for an 8000 Mile 75 Nights tour of Scandinavia & the Arctic Circle.
We will however be towing a caravan for our accomodation en route and not expecting to do any 'off road' driving even with our XC70.

I also wondered if this trip would qualify for a 'Cross Country Drive Report' as we will be 'crossing' 7 countries (I think) in total. :eek:

mrslomo
03-15-2010, 07:19 PM
Fabulous pictures, thanks for sharing.

My wife and I along with some friends set off shortly for an 8000 Mile 75 Nights tour of Scandinavia & the Arctic Circle.
We will however be towing a caravan for our accomodation en route and not expecting to do any 'off road' driving even with our XC70.

I also wondered if this trip would qualify for a 'Cross Country Drive Report' as we will be 'crossing' 7 countries (I think) in total. :eek:

IMHO, should you decide to post your photos, it'll be an inspiration to anyone who have ever thought of taking a road trip. Your trip sounds fantastic! I'd happily ride in your 3rd seat if you have room!

My husband and I have driven to Alaska twice. The first time was in our (now past) 1990 740 turbo wagon. On the second Alaska drive, we made it to the Arctic Circle in our 1999 V70XC via the "infamous" Dalton Highway. Have a fabulous time! Volvos can make it anywhere!

P.S. My avatar shows the Alaskan pipeline in the background. This photo was taken near the Yukon River in Alaska.

XCovlov70
03-18-2010, 12:36 PM
Hi,
Not sure what 'IMHO' stands for? I have difficulty with 3 Letter & 4 letter abbreviations as there are that many of them and one lot can mean sumat else totally different!

Thanks for your good wishes for this trip, it has been over 2.5 years in the planning and it's still being tweaked as we speak!

I already have a Blog going on this trip as I was asked to 'write this up' after I did a couple of other Blogs on previous trips we made, one 'Around Europe in 80+ Days' and a recent 'Snowbird Run to Spain & Portugal' (Escaping the UK winter last year!)
However in looking for a bit of privacy there are no pictures of our XC70 or caravan just some nice pictures of the trip.

I think if no one objects I will post the Blog site link in a new Cross Country Drive Report and you will be able to take that 3rd Seat from the comfort of your armchair.

Best wishes

myzomela
03-18-2010, 06:35 PM
"IMHO" means "in my humble opinion".

Look forward to seeing the blog. A pity we won't get to see your XC, but I imagine you'll be having to much fun to waste time blotting out number plates (aka license plates) on the road.

To go off on a tangent, I notice our North American colleagues are quite conscientious about blotting out number plates. I'm sometimes curious why. Are motor vehicle registers publicly accessible? Can someone really track you down from a number?

Down here we're rather laid back about it. Registers aren't publicly accessible, and some even use their number plate as a forum name.

And mrslomo: what a trip. Terrific landscape, makes me a bit envious. I don't often see mountains like that - except from a plane on an overseas flight!

XCovlov70
03-19-2010, 10:15 AM
"IMHO" means "in my humble opinion".

Look forward to seeing the blog. A pity we won't get to see your XC, but I imagine you'll be having to much fun to waste time blotting out number plates (aka license plates) on the road.

To go off on a tangent, I notice our North American colleagues are quite conscientious about blotting out number plates. I'm sometimes curious why. Are motor vehicle registers publicly accessible? Can someone really track you down from a number?

Down here we're rather laid back about it. Registers aren't publicly accessible, and some even use their number plate as a forum name.

And mrslomo: what a trip. Terrific landscape, makes me a bit envious. I don't often see mountains like that - except from a plane on an overseas flight!

Thanks for your explanation & comments 'myzomela'.
I will get at least 1 picture of the XC70 and caravan into the Blog, just for you, but yes the number plate will be blotted out as it is possible to track and then you come back home and find the place empty with a door open! Trust me it has happened. So any picture with suitable software can be erased where required so not to provide tracability.

I will set up a new thread and you and anyone else can follow the trip as we go I just hope the initial bit works with the pictures.

mrslomo
03-19-2010, 08:09 PM
I think if no one objects I will post the Blog site link in a new Cross Country Drive Report and you will be able to take that 3rd Seat from the comfort of your armchair.

Thumbs up for a new thread for your blog! [thumbup][thumbup] Also, I'm glad a photo of your XC and caravan will be posted. It'll help create an identifying image in our minds as we follow you on your drive. Have a great trip!



To go off on a tangent, I notice our North American colleagues are quite conscientious about blotting out number plates. I'm sometimes curious why. Are motor vehicle registers publicly accessible? Can someone really track you down from a number?

hello myzomela... as XCovlov70 explained, erasing the license number provides a cloak of privacy. My husband's face was blurred as well since should we attempt a not-so-smart maneuver during one of drives, I can still share the experience without being identified. : ) But, the dogs are much too adorable to be placed under the witness protection program...

Aren't there any high mountains in Oz?

Trombles
05-08-2010, 11:35 AM
Glaciers are not theme parks.

mrslomo
05-09-2010, 12:02 AM
Glaciers are not theme parks.

Please accept my apologies if my post seem to spotlight the beautiful and endangered glacier as a "theme park". Due to limited space, I couldn't post additional signage describing the shrinkage due to global warming. During the times I've visited the site, no one is allowed to walk on the actual glacier. And I have never boarded the snow bus which takes tourist directly onto the glacier body.

In the several times we've driven past glaciers in Alaska, the US government builds the highways well away from them to keep tourist like me at safe distance. Canada allows more access, but everyone I've observed were always respectful and walked only on designated paths. Your country has much beauty to share and that limited "accessibility" heightens awareness.

XCovlov70
05-11-2010, 05:47 AM
Please accept my apologies if my post seem to spotlight the beautiful and endangered glacier as a "theme park". Due to limited space, I couldn't post additional signage describing the shrinkage due to global warming. During the times I've visited the site, no one is allowed to walk on the actual glacier. And I have never boarded the snow bus which takes tourist directly onto the glacier body.

In the several times we've driven past glaciers in Alaska, the US government builds the highways well away from them to keep tourist like me at safe distance. Canada allows more access, but everyone I've observed were always respectful and walked only on designated paths. Your country has much beauty to share and that limited "accessibility" heightens awareness.

Interestingly when we were in New Zealand in 2008 the Franz Joseph Glacier had GROWN by 15feet in the year, so maybe there are some differences in other places!