Blackdawg
Dr. Frankenstein
We continued north on93 toward Jasper and were met with spectacular views from the pavement.
As the sun sagged lower in the sky we knew it was time to start working our way south. We headed through Golden and conceded to a campground at Canyon Hot Springs
The next day it was a short hop and a skip to the ferry that took us across Kootenai Lake.
We then hit the first dirt highway ive ever driven and it took us around Trout Lake.
We then made it to the boarder crossing late in the day and made it back in the country without incident. With the sun setting we scavenged a campsite in the Colville National Forest and enjoyed a calm quiet evening where we soaked in the moments from the past week. Sadly it was al coming to an end.
And with that it was over. The next morning we hit pavement. Us heading East and Mike heading West.
They had a jolly good time even without me. I am still jealous I didn't get to see some of the places they went.
Devin and I were not about to totally throw in the towel though. We came up with the plan to get back to Wyoming and swap rigs. We still had the time off and damn it we were going to use it!
Igor, my daily driver double cab tacoma, would get the tent and gear slapped over and we would go camp somewhere.
First we had to make it there though.
I stopped at a car wash this time before leaving town and washed off Frankenstein, not wanting a repeat of the year before as we would be going through the exact same border crossing. Topped of the oil and hit the road hard.
We made it through no problems and thought we would be at camp with time to spare! We were wrong. Rock Creek was a zoo. All the free sites were gone. So decided to just drive down the road until we found some thinking we would eventually.
We were wrong again. It was ALL private a long the river. Sucked. After passing a few campgrounds, we caved and paid the 5 or 7 bucks to camp for the night. The first time in a LONG time i've paid for camping..
Albertabound.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
The next day we just drove all the way home. Stopped at the house and explained the trip to my parents. Swapped the RTT over and all the gear to my other truck and drove up to the Big Horn's. We got there in the dark and man was it COLD. Way colder then Canada had been. We were in for a rough night.
It rained. Then snowed, Then blew ice everywhere and constant wind. We damn near froze in the 28º F weather storm. It sucked.
We survived though.
AlbertaBound-2.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
All the ice that was left by the time we crawled out of our warm beds. We slept in that morning as the wind had kept us up most the night.
AlbertaBound-3.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
But the morning was beautiful. We were camped on top of a hill at 9200'. the valley below sure was pretty.
AlbertaBound.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
Thats actually the highway and an old ski hill that hasn't run in years and years.
I went for a short stroll looking for another nice over look and instead found this cool little site.
AlbertaBound-4.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
AlbertaBound-5.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
One hell of a memorial site.
AlbertaBound-6.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
Breakfast done, we packed up to finish the road we had come in on to go on a hike to one of my favorite spots, Copeman's Tomb.
Road was easy enough, thank god, as Igor had basically just car tires at the time. He did just fine and happily took us there.
AlbertaBound-7.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
Sadly, you can't drive there anymore.
AlbertaBound-8.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
But not because people tore it up. Because of downed trees. And thats treeS. Probably 30-40 downed trees past the marker post till you break out of the trees.
At only a Mile hike though. We huffed it there no problem.
AlbertaBound-9.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
As the sun sagged lower in the sky we knew it was time to start working our way south. We headed through Golden and conceded to a campground at Canyon Hot Springs
The next day it was a short hop and a skip to the ferry that took us across Kootenai Lake.
We then hit the first dirt highway ive ever driven and it took us around Trout Lake.
We then made it to the boarder crossing late in the day and made it back in the country without incident. With the sun setting we scavenged a campsite in the Colville National Forest and enjoyed a calm quiet evening where we soaked in the moments from the past week. Sadly it was al coming to an end.
And with that it was over. The next morning we hit pavement. Us heading East and Mike heading West.
They had a jolly good time even without me. I am still jealous I didn't get to see some of the places they went.
Devin and I were not about to totally throw in the towel though. We came up with the plan to get back to Wyoming and swap rigs. We still had the time off and damn it we were going to use it!
Igor, my daily driver double cab tacoma, would get the tent and gear slapped over and we would go camp somewhere.
First we had to make it there though.
I stopped at a car wash this time before leaving town and washed off Frankenstein, not wanting a repeat of the year before as we would be going through the exact same border crossing. Topped of the oil and hit the road hard.
We made it through no problems and thought we would be at camp with time to spare! We were wrong. Rock Creek was a zoo. All the free sites were gone. So decided to just drive down the road until we found some thinking we would eventually.
We were wrong again. It was ALL private a long the river. Sucked. After passing a few campgrounds, we caved and paid the 5 or 7 bucks to camp for the night. The first time in a LONG time i've paid for camping..
Albertabound.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on FlickrThe next day we just drove all the way home. Stopped at the house and explained the trip to my parents. Swapped the RTT over and all the gear to my other truck and drove up to the Big Horn's. We got there in the dark and man was it COLD. Way colder then Canada had been. We were in for a rough night.
It rained. Then snowed, Then blew ice everywhere and constant wind. We damn near froze in the 28º F weather storm. It sucked.
We survived though.
AlbertaBound-2.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on FlickrAll the ice that was left by the time we crawled out of our warm beds. We slept in that morning as the wind had kept us up most the night.
AlbertaBound-3.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on FlickrBut the morning was beautiful. We were camped on top of a hill at 9200'. the valley below sure was pretty.
AlbertaBound.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on FlickrThats actually the highway and an old ski hill that hasn't run in years and years.
I went for a short stroll looking for another nice over look and instead found this cool little site.
AlbertaBound-4.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
AlbertaBound-5.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on FlickrOne hell of a memorial site.
AlbertaBound-6.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on FlickrBreakfast done, we packed up to finish the road we had come in on to go on a hike to one of my favorite spots, Copeman's Tomb.
Road was easy enough, thank god, as Igor had basically just car tires at the time. He did just fine and happily took us there.
AlbertaBound-7.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on FlickrSadly, you can't drive there anymore.
AlbertaBound-8.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on FlickrBut not because people tore it up. Because of downed trees. And thats treeS. Probably 30-40 downed trees past the marker post till you break out of the trees.
At only a Mile hike though. We huffed it there no problem.
AlbertaBound-9.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
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