An Escape-free lap of BC

[Catchlight]

We got back home last night from our final road trip without a trailer, to BC's Okanagan, Kootenays, and Mount Robson areas, and Banff, Jasper, and Edmonton in Alberta.

First stop on the journey was the Escape Rally in Osoyoos, where we had a great time with many friendly Escapees, and got some helpful tips for our build list. Next we spent a few days in Rossland and Nelson, two towns that we love, then moved on to Banff (overcrowded), Jasper (relaxing and wonderful), and Mount Robson (spectacular hiking). Edmonton was--well--a big city, but we got to know the two newest recruits in my family--my niece's wonderful daughters, aged four and five.

Let's do the math. On the trip we saw:
-gas prices ranging from $1.52.9 per litre (Vancouver) to $1.17.4 (Edmonton)
-seven black bears
-zero grizzlies
-one fox
-many Rocky Mountain sheep
-several goats
-two elk
-dozens of plains bison, and a few woodland bison (at Elk Island National Park, near Edmonton)
-a kabillion large travel trailers, fifth wheels, and Greyhound-sized motorhomes
-many dozens of rented Class A motorhomes, driven with varying degrees of road awareness
-two Bolers
-one Trillium
-one Casita
-and zero Escapes, except at the Rally.

The good news for Escape is that many of those folks hauling behemoths around will eventually buy or downsize to a smaller TT or 5er, especially as gas prices continue to soar. Still, the lack of Escape sightings after Osoyoos was surprising.

In the mountainous areas we drove thinking "what would this road be like with two tons of Reace's ETI artistry on our hitch?" The only route we thought would not be comfortably manageable was the Duffy Lake Road from Lillooet to Pemberton, but YMMV. We scouted out some promising campgrounds, and look forward to returning to the Rockies in September with our Escape.

Here are a few photos: Mount Robson's peak; sunset on a peak near Jasper; and a van sighted in Lillooet for any Coen Brothers fans in the Escape community.

[rfs]

Enjoyed your beautiful pictures. We hope to make it up to the Canadian Rockies in the next few years. Nothing like that here in Iowa.
Rita & Dave