Journey report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles
Out visiting associates in Kelowna and Vernon, my unique plan was to cycle again to Calgary on the Trans Canada (Nice) Path.
I’d cycled Vancouver to Calgary on this route in 2020 — so properly knew the challenges. 😀
Vernon, Kelowna, Penticton
Right here I’m setting out from Vernon. Clear & eager.
I ended by Solar Nation Cycle in Vernon to have them prime up air within the tires and look over the bike for any potential issues.
The Okanagan Rail Path leaving Vernon is implausible. This isn’t a part of the Trans Canada Path.
As you get nearer to Kelowna, the route isn’t almost so good. I used to be hurting, as properly, and will barely stroll after solely about 60km. I checked into the hostel in Kelowna questioning if I’d be capable of proceed. My muscle groups had been cramping badly.
BUT I did make it to Penticton. Nonetheless hurting, however much less and fewer.
AND was capable of cycle as much as the Myra Canon trailhead — although the 945-meter elevation acquire at by no means greater than 2% grade within the HEAT was powerful!
I crashed that night time.
Myra Canyon Trestles & Tunnels
The 18 trestles and a couple of tunnels are one of many highlights of the complete Trans Canada Path. This was my third time right here and I loved them as a lot as ever.
Click on PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Kettle Valley Rail Path
Myra Canyon is one small a part of the 650 km Kettle Valley Rail Path.
I continued on the KVR in direction of Calgary.
Incredible views — although the floor close to Kelowna may be very sandy & rocky. These on eBikes had been a lot happier than me. A great mountain bike could be higher, as properly, than my gravel bike.
Then again, I had the path to myself most of each mile.
I ended for espresso at Chute Lake, charging my electronics and filling up about 5 lites of water.
Up excessive on the path, this was my brightest fireplace pink sky at night time. I used to be fortunate to keep away from any worse smokey air.
Columbia and Western Rail Path
The KVR ends at Halfway B.C.
I continued on in direction of the Columbia and Western Rail Path. It’s about 162 km connecting Halfway, Grand Forks, Christina Lake, and Castlegar.
Nice sections, however not almost nearly as good because the KVR.
Highlights for me had been sweeping views of the Granby Valley, Christina Lake, and Decrease Arrow Lake.
And it presents splendid wild tenting — although there are usually not all that many water sources.
I loved dinner each night time, rehydrating meals frozen by my niece. A lot tastier than any business tenting dinners I’ve ever tried.
NEW for me is utilizing a toy drone routinely following my bicycle.
Additionally new for me whereas bikepacking, is carrying a transportable tenting chair.
I like it!
Although rehydrating meals is right …
… I finally had an urge for strong meals.
Right here I’m saying goodbye to the Columbia and Western Rail Path.
To Nelson & Crawford Bay
As we had a home in Crawford Bay B.C., I used to be eager to proceed on to Nelson and the outdated homestead. However I used to be pressured on to highways and rural roadways with … HILLS.
Why didn’t somebody warn me there have been HILLS in British Columbia? 😀
After flat rail trails, virtually each ascent appears daunting. And HOT.
I like Nelson and checked into the hostel for an evening. Fortunately, my buddy Tam occurred to be in Nelson on the similar time and we had been capable of catch up for espresso.
Slightly than cycle the harmful vacationer freeway out of Nelson, I put my bike on the native bus to the Kootenay Lake ferry.
In 2020 the home my Dad constructed was in tough form. Six years later it appears even worse.
I’m questioning when anybody really final lived right here.
Like 2020, I ended for lunch on the implausible Kokanee Springs Golf Course.
Busy, Harmful 2-lane Highways
The freeway from Crawford Bay to Creston is a favorite of mine. To drive.
On the bicycle it’s harmful with very slim shoulders in locations.
I ended on the Grey Creek Normal Retailer to inquire whether or not or not cyclists had been taking the Trans Canada Path up and over the Grey Creek Cross — in all probability probably the most difficult part throughout the nation.
Not many, I used to be instructed.
Common of almost 9% grade for 17 km from Kootenay Lake as much as Grey Creek Cross
Common of almost 6% grade for 12 km from Grey Creek Cross all the way down to Parker’s Creek
No service
Tough floor
Not advisable
As I did in 2020, I chickened out and cycled the freeway to Creston.
My first flat tire EVER on this bike. After attempting so as to add air with my (crappy) hand pump, I noticed there was a motorcycle store solely 4km distant. Rolling my bike there, the road was shut down by police.
This was a criminal offense scene. Stabbing, I used to be instructed. Presumably homicide.
The bike store proprietor occurred to drive previous, informing me it was nonetheless potential to enter the store from the again. With no prospects coming within the entrance door, they mounted the flat instantly and at low value. Whew.
Creston to Cranbrook
Principally freeway. No photographs.
Crawford Bay to Cranbook was the least attention-grabbing part.
Journey Ends in Fernie
I bought espresso in Cranbrook. After which tried to seek out the path out of city.
It’s complicated. And I by no means discovered even one good navigation app for the Trans Canada Path.
The tip of my journey on day 11. My rear rack broke off fully going over a kind of bumpy cattle guards just a few hours after leaving Cranbrook.
GMoney, a ski store proprietor in Fernie — who’s a punk musician in his spare time — picked me up whereas I used to be hitchhiking.
A giant time hiker and bike owner, GMoney hosted me at his home and gave me recommendation on the place I’d get the bike mounted.
Seems not one of the 4 bike retailers in Fernie had the sort of instruments to restore the rear rack.
I stayed on the wonderful Indignant Elk Hostel, as properly, for a few nights — having fun with Fernie for the first time — till my brother & his spouse got here to my rescue.
(Identical day GMoney collected me, he and a girlfriend had been 2 yards away from an offended Black Bear with cubs. Needed to bear spray to cease her. That’s the closest bear encounter of anybody I’ve ever recognized. )
Ultimately, my biking distance over the 11 days was round 750 km.
I Missed Fernie to Calgary
I broke down on the finish of the worst freeway sections, and the start of top-of-the-line path & gravel street elements of the complete Trans Canada Path.
Right here’s how Fernie to Calgary went for me in 2020.
I may need to return to Fernie and end the job.
As soon as completed, I experimented with completely different navigation apps. NONE are good.
Better of the worst …
Gaia GPS depends on structured map layers and community-recorded tracks.
Methodology 1: Use the BRMB Canada Trails Overlay (Beneficial)
Open the Map Layers menu (the stacked squares icon).
Faucet Add Map Layers and navigate to the Canada class.
Choose and add the BRMB Canada Trails Overlay (requires a premium subscription).
This overlays the complete 11,635-mile Trans-Canada Path immediately onto your base map in colour-coded paths.
