Author Topic: Great Divide, Canada Section - Flooding - June 2013  (Read 44981 times)

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Offline mmoser

Great Divide, Canada Section - Flooding - June 2013
« on: June 24, 2013, 12:14:16 pm »
There is major flooding in Alberta and British Columbia on and near the Great Divide route.  For general information, see http://environment.alberta.ca/forecasting/advisories/ for Alberta and http://www.embc.gov.bc.ca/em/floods/index.html for British Columbia.  For more local information, contact municipalities and National Parks.

If you have more information about specific route closures or suggested reroutes, please post. I will update this discussion if I receive further information.
**********************
Melissa Moser
GIS Analyst/Cartographer
Routes Dept.
Adventure Cycling Association
Inspiring and empowering people to travel by bicycle.
www.adventurecycling.org

Offline ntaylor

Re: Great Divide, Canada Section - Flooding - June 2013
« Reply #1 on: June 24, 2013, 03:53:28 pm »
This was response to a couple looking to begin cycling the GDMBR on Banff National Park's Facebook page:
"At this point we know there is significant damage to bridges in backcountry areas but until the waters recede and assessments are made it's difficult to say what will be open. However, plan for alternatives to all pre-planned backcountry trips." (6/24)

You can keep abreast of further changes yourself: https://www.facebook.com/BanffNP. Note that this only covers Banff National Park, but you could probably apply this logic to many areas from Banff to Glacier (US) right now.

In the meantime, we suggest current riders modify itineraries to start further south. But also note that Montana isn't immune to this recent rainfall, and there may be washouts/slides/trail damage to deal with down here. Keep safe out there.

Offline JayH

Re: Great Divide, Canada Section - Flooding - June 2013
« Reply #2 on: June 24, 2013, 06:45:17 pm »
As a member of a group planning a July 7th departure, we're interested in conditions and alternatives at least I've been investigating picking up the route in Sparwood, B.C. via a route from Banff to Calgary which is somewhere around 221miles but don't know the route conditions in Calgary or TransHighway1 between Banff and Calgary.  According to what I've read, buses with a permit are allowed to go to Banff/Canmore/Calgary but I presume biking from Banff might not be allowed.  If we can't take the road detour, I certainly am not familiar enough with the area to know if there are actual off-road alternatives to the Spray River and other trails that are washed out.

But worst case scenario, does anybody know the conditions of TransCanada#1 to Rt 22 to rt 3 through Crowsnest Pass??? 

Is there a better route? 

Jay

Offline ntaylor

Re: Great Divide, Canada Section - Flooding - June 2013
« Reply #3 on: June 24, 2013, 07:33:33 pm »
Trail Conditions Report for Banff National Park: http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/tcond/cond_e.asp?oPark=100092.
Both Spray River and Goat Creek trails (first trails on route south of town) are closed due to bridges being washed out.

Nathan Taylor
Cartographer/GIS Specialist
Adventure Cycling Association

Offline JayH

Re: Great Divide, Canada Section - Flooding - June 2013
« Reply #4 on: June 25, 2013, 07:37:28 am »
Thanks Nathan, I'm aware of the washed out bridges and the closed trail.  It appears that the reroute for Great Divide riders is to head up Highway 1 towards Jasper but then pick up 93 towards Radian Hot Springs and follow that down towards Elko and pick up the GD route there....   

As of right now, that is the plan...

Jay

Offline JayH

Re: Great Divide, Canada Section - Flooding - June 2013
« Reply #5 on: June 25, 2013, 11:46:27 am »
"***New*** The Bow Valley Parkway (Highway 1A) is open from Lake Louise to just west of Baker Creek.
"
that is from Banff NP's facebook page and looks like a nice alternative to TCH1 north out of Calgary.... Except I know where Lake Louise is but I am not familiar with Baker Creek...   Does anybody know whether we can utilize 1A versus TCH1 to get to 93 towards Radian HS?

Jay

Offline ntaylor

Re: Great Divide, Canada Section - Flooding - June 2013
« Reply #6 on: June 25, 2013, 12:20:56 pm »
Baker Creek is about 8.5 miles west of Lake Louise. The statement reads "from Lake Louise to just west of Baker Creek", so you would not be able to go through to Hwy 93 on Bow Valley Parkway in this direction right now. Also, you should check if this reopening will allow cyclists, as other roads have reopened to non-commercial traffic only and cyclists are still prohibited.

Nathan Taylor
Cartographer/GIS Specialist
Adventure Cycling Association

Offline JayH

Re: Great Divide, Canada Section - Flooding - June 2013
« Reply #7 on: June 25, 2013, 12:26:13 pm »
I got word from a company who runs the shuttle I'm taking to Banff from Calgary that some GD riders took the same route towards Radian HS... (though I don't know if they took TCH1 or 1A, but from your response, I presume TCH1.  TCH1 is open to passenger vehicles to get out of Banff towards Radian from what I've read and what 511 reports...

I will check the cyclist thing at some point...

Jay

Offline JHamelman

Re: Great Divide, Canada Section - Flooding - June 2013
« Reply #8 on: June 26, 2013, 09:56:45 am »
Alberta and British Columbia also have road conditions websites that may have some useful information for checking status through this time:

Alberta:
http://511.alberta.ca/ab/en.html

British Columbia:
http://www.drivebc.com/

And here's another site:
http://www.albertaparks.ca/kananaskis-country/advisories-public-safety/kananaskis-highways-and-roads-damage-map.aspx


.Jennifer.
« Last Edit: June 26, 2013, 04:34:22 pm by CMajernik »
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*

Jennifer Hamelman

Adventure Cycling Association
Inspiring and empowering people to travel by bicycle.
800/755-2453, 406/721-1776 x205
www.adventurecycling.org

Follow Routes & Mapping on Twitter: @acaroutes

Offline JayH

Re: Great Divide, Canada Section - Flooding - June 2013
« Reply #9 on: June 26, 2013, 06:27:30 pm »
https://www.facebook.com/BanffNP

Banff NP's facebook page is simply awesome with updates, every day, I see about 4-5 updates from them, and most of it is good news!

Jay

Offline bikerevolves

Re: Great Divide, Canada Section - Flooding - June 2013
« Reply #10 on: June 27, 2013, 08:05:57 am »
We have a group traveling down the GDMBT beginning on July 4th.  The information we have collected as of this time is thus:
Most closed trails/roads are closed because their bridges are out.  Water is still high, so fording is not an option.
Both Spray and Goat Creek at the start are closed
The roads in Banff leading south are closed
Banff NP is not answering their phones
Smith-Dorien/ Spray road is closed
Elk Pass trail- unknown because the Ranger station at Lower Kananaskis can't get anyone there to check it- they helicopter evacuated their people
Elk River road may have one bridge out according to the BC roads website listed in a former post
ditto for route 40 throughout almost the entire east side of Kananaskis Country
Route 3 is open to the east over Crowsnest Pass, but this may not be appropriate for bikes
Things get better as soon as you cross the divide
There are numerous bridges out on the regular route between Sparwood and the border
Route 3 from Sparwood to the US border is open
Route 93/95 to the west of Banff is open with delays in some areas.  The shoulder is adequate in most areas.  The Kootenay Provincial Park office is answering their phones
Route 93/95 is reportedly viable for cyclists
There are campgrounds approximately 50 miles apart all the way from Banff to the border; many in Kootenay and then Dry Gulch, Wasa Lake and Baynes Lake
Redstreak CG is very popular and you may struggle to get in, if you are late
Route 1 (Trans Canada) is open between Banff and 93
« Last Edit: June 27, 2013, 10:18:07 am by bikerevolves »

Offline JayH

Re: Great Divide, Canada Section - Flooding - June 2013
« Reply #11 on: June 27, 2013, 10:50:55 am »
Sweet, thanks bikerevolves...   I'm in a group leaving on july 7th... Maybe we can run into you at some point on the trip... good luck to you!

I'm told that the Radium HS route is a lot of the original route before the official Canadian GD map came out..

Jay

Offline CMajernik

Re: Great Divide, Canada Section - Flooding - June 2013
« Reply #12 on: June 27, 2013, 11:13:37 am »
FYI... Going from Banff to Radium Hot Springs and down to the border at Roosville is mapped on the Great Parks North #1 and #2 maps. You will still need to check on the roads to find out if they are open. From all the reports we're hearing you don't want to follow the GD Canada routing at all - there's too many bridge closures and road washouts and damage.
« Last Edit: June 27, 2013, 12:47:11 pm by CMajernik »
Carla Majernik
Routes and Mapping Program Director

Adventure Cycling Association
Inspiring people of all ages to travel by bicycle.
800/755-2453, 406/721-1776 x218, 406/721-8754 fax
www.adventurecycling.org

Follow Routes & Mapping on Twitter: @acaroutes

Offline JayH

Re: Great Divide, Canada Section - Flooding - June 2013
« Reply #13 on: June 27, 2013, 07:49:04 pm »
Well, by going towards Radian HS, there is no route that I know of to cut back east towards the actual route anyway and we'd pick up the "fernie alternative" in elko, BC. From there, it looks like it is a mixture of pavement and trails as you sort of parallel 93 South.

If looks like you can avoid all trails by taking 93S straight to Roosville and the US border?   

Jay

Offline bikerevolves

Re: Great Divide, Canada Section - Flooding - June 2013
« Reply #14 on: June 28, 2013, 07:07:52 am »
The Fernie Alt below Elko is all roads, but does take you off 93 here and there.