20 replies to this topic

[goinoregon]

thx for the posts. very interesting, and informative. much appreciated

[ckent323]

The Stewart-Cassiar highway (hwy 37) was signed as closed when we passed the turnoff on our way to Watson Lake. No idea why it is closed. 

We spent the night at Watson lake (not much open) and yesterday drove to Muncho Lake.  It was Wendie's birthday and I got us a room at the Northern Rockies Lodge at Mucncho Lake.  We had a nice birthday dinner for her in the lodge.    It was cloudy all day and was snowinhg lihtly on the pass just north of Muncho Lake.  Wendie wished for snow on her birthday and got it!  Along the way we saw Wood Bison close to the highway in four different herds ranging from 6 or 7 animals up to about 40 animals. They are smaller than the Plains Bison and beautiful animals.

Today we will drive to Pink Mountain.  Wednesday we will drive to the Summit lake area North of Prince George.  We are taking our time and will probably lay over at one of these places so we can make the drive to Jasper and Banff in good weather that is forecasted for Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Seeing the "wood bison" that's nice.

We saw some at the wildlife center near the turnoff for Whittier.

They do a breading program there. Cool animals.

 

No telling why the Cassier is closed.Time of year but they usually

try to keep it open during the winter.

 

The road is very prone to mud slides in several areas especially south of Dees Lake.

 

How does the Ak railroad schedule your rail car tours around normal rail traffic?

Thanks.

Frank

[ckent323]

Frank,

 

Our rail car group is treated just like a train when we are on the rails.  The hy-rail pickup in front has a railroad radio and is scout for track issues (rocks, mud, animals, etc)  and the Hy-rail that follows us is in contact with dispatch by radio.  Dispatch treats us like a two mile long train.  We go into a siding for passing passenger traffic and for some freight trains.  We often passed work crews and work trains and occasional freights who have been put into the sidings.  

The rally cool part is that our 15 cars spread out over  1-1/2 to 2 miles of track so we are widely separated while underway.  We bunch up for grade crossings and when we go into sidings.  Our cars do not set the crossing signals so grade crossings can be very dangeous.  We flag each other and will put flaggers out on each sid e of a busy crossing.  In some cases for multi lane highway crossings the railroad will "shunt" the signals to close the crossing gates for us to pass safely.

Edited by ckent323, 30 September 2021 - 12:16 AM.

[ckent323]

Last night we stayed at Pink Mountain RV camp (not so noce but adequate).

 

Toinight we are in Dawson Creek at the Mile 0 RV park.  Nice park!

The fall colors since we left Anchorage about 1500 miles ago have been spectacular!  (except for the afternnon we left Anchorage and the morning after.  We were in snow.

We saw Caribou in both Mucnho Lake Provincial Park and in Stone Mountain Provincial Park.  We also saw a single Rocky Mountain Sheep ewe as we were exiting Stone Mountain Provincial Park.  We saw a single cow Elk in a field just before entering Ft Nelson yesterday. This morning we saw three deer by the side of the road as we left Pink Mountain. 

We think that because it is hunting season that may be a big reason we have seen few animals outside the parks.
 

Edited by ckent323, 30 September 2021 - 12:35 AM.

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Frank,

 

Our rail car group is treated just like a train when we are on the rails.  The hy-rail pickup in front has a railroad radio and is scout for track issues (rocks, mud, animals, etc)  and the Hy-rail that follows us is in contact with dispatch by radio.  Dispatch treats us like a two mile long train.  We go into a siding for passing passenger traffic and for some freight trains.  We often passed work crews and work trains and occasional freights who have been put into the sidings.  

The rally cool part is that our 15 cars spread out over  1-1/2 to 2 miles of track so we are widely separated while underway.  We bunch up for grade crossings and when we go into sidings.  Our cars do not set the crossing signals so grade crossings can be very dangeous.  We flag each other and will put flaggers out on each sid e of a busy crossing.  In some cases for multi lane highway crossings the railroad will "shunt" the signals to close the crossing gates for us to pass safely.

Thanks Craig.This has been a great adventure you are sharing with us.

Continue to have a great and safe trip.

Frank

[ckent323]

We are in Hinton, AB after a beautiful day of driving over from Prince George B.C. where we spent last night.   The fall colors are still vivid and the peaks are covered in snow. It is absolutely gorgeous here right now.

Tomorrow we drive to Banff and then down to Radium Hot Springs where we will spend the night.  If the weather continues to hold we may linger in the Banff area another day.

We have travelled about 2,000 miles since leaving Anchorage and the fall colors the entire journey have been spectacular, better than we saw in 2018 when driving back.

I will upload some photos when I get time.  Our travelling companions who also have a 1993 Dodge W250 Diesel with an older 1984 FWC Keystone have developed a transmission problem (he has an NV4500 in his truck).  The transmission shop mechanic in Prince George who looked at the truck and drove it this morning thinks the transmission will get them home so we are pressing on.  FIngers crossed.

Edited by ckent323, 02 October 2021 - 04:52 AM.

[ckent323]

We had a lovely drive yesterday from Hinton, Alberta through Jasper, Banff and Kootenay Parks to Radium Hot Springs, where we spent the night last night.

It was sad and sobering to see the long lasting damage from the fires of 2003 in Kootenay Park.

We saw a large flock of Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep just before reaching the hot springs and Sinclair Canyon.  We saw a another flock in town at the traffic circle (a regular occurrance we were told) while we were having breakfast.

We took hwy 93 from Radium Hot Springs to Whitefish, MT then hwy 2 around the bottom of Glacier Park following the old Great Northern Railroad hi-line route now operated by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF is the combination of the Burlington Railroad, Great Northern Railroad and Northern Pacific Railroads which later merged with the Atcheson, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad). 

We waved goodbye and parted with our travelling companions of the past 62 days at the "Y" of hwy 93 and Hwy 95 in British Columbia.  They went southwest toward Idaho and we went southeast toard Montana.

 

Tonight we are in Browning, MT (middle of the Blackfeet reservation) on our way to Billings to see my cousin and then onwards to see Wendie's Daughter, who is pregnant with twins, Janessa's husband and their 3 yr old son (Wendie's only - so far - Grandson).

It is in the 70's here in Montana and usually there is snow on the ground by now.   In the meantime winter has arrived in Alaska and the Yukon a month early.  The weather is wacky this year.

 

 

We are on day 63 of our Alaska Adventure.

Someday we will drive home.

Edited by ckent323, 04 October 2021 - 04:30 PM.

[Lighthawk]

Thanks for all the posts.  Now that you are south of Jasper I have a passing acquaintance with the area.

[ski3pin]

 

<snip>

 

 

We are on day 63 of our Alaska Adventure.

Someday we will drive home.

 

 

This is a great trip, thanks for sharing with us!