Jasper – Icefield Parkway

Here is my “training” ride for this year’s BC Lung Trek. Starting from Jasper, I covered 720 kms in 6 riding days. Best day was 140 kms, but averaged 120k per day. Climbed a total of 4,700 metres including 2 mountain passes. Most exciting ride was down Kicking Horse Pass, where I was able to use the traffic lanes (no vehicles in sight) and did not touch my brakes all the way down! Fastest was 71 kph without pedaling descending Sunwapta, and I hit this going through a corner with a speed limit sign posted in big black on yellow letters “50 kph” – ah well, that was meant for cars wasn’t it?!

Lots of hill climbs this trip, but biggest surprise was heading out of Vernon – thought the mountains were behind me, but spent a hour in low, low gear to get up that one! From there to Kelowna where I flew to Vancouver, ferry to Nanaimo Duke Point, then my last day pedaling back to Courtenay – Maxine was going to meet me in Nanaimo and drive home, but that plan didn’t quite work out!.

Read on for some photos:


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Loaded up and ready to go!

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First day out – sunshine and great mountain views

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One of my typical campsites – Jonas Creek

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Early morning – I was on the road by 7:30am!

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Approaching the windswept valley before the Columbia Icefield

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Columbia Icefield – I made it!!

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Sunwapta descent – 71 kph without pedaling!

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Bow Lake – the road is 2,067 metres at the top of Bow Pass

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View from the “cockpit”!

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Re-assembling bike and load inside Vancouver Airport

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Maxine couldn’t get time off work – so this was my sole company!