September 17th Southern Alberta Cruise

[Meltdownaverted]

Updated Cruise Itinerary I will keep this on the front page (sorry Brent for all my coping and pasting )


Friday Eve:

-Meeting 4:15 at Empire Sudio 10 (Shawnessy Village 16061 MacLeod Trail S.W.)
- Total distance is ~375kms and usually about 3hr 45mins to border. Time will be more than that as we are stopping a few times though. Also the sooner we get down there the better to maximize the daylight driving,,,, lotsa animals along hwy 93. Or just note that I'll probably be doing 90 once it gets hard to see them.
- South on hwy2 to Nanton
- West on hwy 533 towards Chain Lakes Rec area.
- South on hwy 22
- West on hwy 3
- 1st stop at Frank Slide Interpretive Center, the hwy cuts through the slide debris, once you reach the end of the debris there is a sign to the center. You essentially turn right off the hwy before the Fas Gas as the speed limit changes to 60 kms as you enter the town of Frank. Follow the road up maybe 1.5kms to the parking lot.
- Once done get back onto hwy 3 West and next I think was a stop in Sparwood/Fernie??? to grab a quick fast food A&W.
- After the quick grazing get back on hwy 3 West.
- Just past the town of Elko (or gas station of Elko) you turn South onto hwy 93. This takes you straight to the border. From here the town of Eureka is only about 5 minutes further on. I'd like to suggest after (or before depending on how check in works for wherever people are staying) we have a sit-down at Trappers Saloon. Its on the left about 2 minutes past the border crossing. Outdoor firepit, lots of dead things hanging from the walls, crazy old animal traps and best of all..... BUCK HUNTER at the back of the bar!!
-Graves Creek Cabins 1-406-882-4929 ensure you mention you are with the Camaro Group to book
-back up accomidations Ksanka Motel 1-406-297-3127

Saturday:

- Breaky at Jax
- Total distance for day is ~540kms
- From Jax North on hwy 93 to "Four Corners", basically the edge of town by the Exxon and the Four Corners Restaurant.
- West onto hwy 37
- At the bridge which crosses to the Kootenai side (also the local dragstrip as you will see by the tire rubber) we have a choice to make. Good news is it can be split because they both end up in the same spot. There are roads down both sides of the lake, say ~60kms or so, both of great views, on the East side it is 70mph speed limit and bigger, faster, flowing corners. On the West side is I think a 45mph speed limit but tight, quick, tire eating turns (well both sides are tire eating really). Basically the East side has some engineering, bridges etc, and the West side follows the lay-of-the-land so to speak. Both of these go to the Libby Dam which can be our first stop for pics.
- We then keep on hwy 37 to Libby
- At Libby turn West on hwy 2 towards Troy then to Bonners Ferry
- Hwy 2 essentially turns south just before Bonners Ferry and turns into hwy 95 heading towards Sandpoint
- In Sandpoint which will be about 240kms into the Saturday leg we can have some grub at.....http://www.panhandlerpies.com/ 120 South 1st Ave.
- From Sandpoint we will head S/SE on hwy 200
- Roughly 55kms into hwy 200 turn North onto Bull River Road/hwy 56
- This takes us in a loop back to hwy2 about 1km East of Troy
- At hwy 2 head East towards Libby
- Along this route between Sandpoint and Kalispell we can find a spot to stop and take some pics/break
- Carry on through Libby on hwy 2 towards Kalispell
- In roughly the middle of Kalispell turn South on hwy 93
- At about the 2km mark on your right turn in to McKenzie River Pizza and chow down. Mmmmm pizza.
- Check in to Big Mountain Lodge 1-406-862-4020 (ensure you mention you are with the Camaro group to get a group rate) in Whitefish and go cut a rug at the Northern or Caseys depending on your flavour.

Sunday:

- Hit snooze on alarm
- Hit snooze one more time.
- Eat breaky somewhere....Is included with hotel
- ~470-500 kms depending on which route taken
- South on hwy 93 a few kms
- East on 40 to Columbia Falls which turns into hwy 2
- At East Glacier take hwy 49, Lots of neat spots to stop and snap pics/take a breather all along and for the next while.
- Left onto hwy 89. This is the road that has some crap spots. It's also a dangerous section to go fast on as the road has no real shoulder and drops off steep and deep, for a long ways. The first several kms is the safest and the most fun with no road issues other than it is super tight and twisty.
- Take hwy 89 almost to border just past Babb, turn left onto hwy 16 and go through Chief mtn crossing which then passes by Waterton. We could have a snack break or whatever at Pincher Creek. Could also go through Carway and Cardston on hwy 2 and stop in Cardston or Ft. MacLeod.
- From there could take hwy 3 East to hwy 2 North or hwy 3 East and North up 22.

[Garoad Shenlong]

Either way works for me, but I love the idea of going to Montana. That would be a gorgeous drive.

[Piper]

Sept 17 works for me! Count me in.

[Victory1]

A buddy and I did a run with our wives down through Montana the 7th to the 10th of July. At that time he still had his vette - now upgraded to a Camaro. As Going to the Sun was closed, we ran down through East Glacier then over to Kalispell. Great scenery but the road was crap. Also lots of construction. Kalispell was great - lots of nice rods - those Americans love their rides, good shopping and great restaurants.

So what route would we take if we ran down into Montana on the 17th? Going to the Sun may be snowed under by then.

[fshog]

I / we would be interested in joining along. Would be nice to meet some other owners in the area!!

[bumblebee rules]

Option 2 .... There would be sledding also ?????????? He would let us in on the hotspots ???? I think we could swing it .............. :-)

[Meltdownaverted]

Originally Posted by Victory1

A buddy and I did a run with our wives down through Montana the 7th to the 10th of July. At that time he still had his vette - now upgraded to a Camaro. As Going to the Sun was closed, we ran down through East Glacier then over to Kalispell. Great scenery but the road was crap. Also lots of construction. Kalispell was great - lots of nice rods - those Americans love their rides, good shopping and great restaurants.

So what route would we take if we ran down into Montana on the 17th? Going to the Sun may be snowed under by then.

The route down looks like crownest pass and then south to near Eureka MT. lots of options for a Saturday Day trip from there as well as multiple route choices for getting home, will narrow this down soon with input

Originally Posted by fshog

I / we would be interested in joining along. Would be nice to meet some other owners in the area!!

The more the merrier! sorry I missed you in the original messages

Originally Posted by bumblebee rules

Option 2 .... There would be sledding also ?????????? He would let us in on the hotspots ???? I think we could swing it .............. :-)

HaHa you'll have to take that up with Thump426er

[fshog]

Originally Posted by bumblebee rules

Option 2 .... There would be sledding also ?????????? He would let us in on the hotspots ???? I think we could swing it .............. :-)

OH.....can I play too?....

[Ravirn]

September 17th works for me.

[CruiseControl]

I'm not 100% sure how work will play out it September but we'd definitely be interested - espcially down to Montana

[dragon22]

I'm open for the 17th! And Going To The Sun Road was closed in July? Did they say why? It would be getting tight to get up there in September. I believe they close the road sometime in September...the end of maybe? But yes...we could very well run into snow up there. I've seen snow at the summit in July and August.

But the 17th works. I will set that aside!

[Kray]

Oh boy....I'm going to have to renew my passport....I'm in

[Meltdownaverted]

Originally Posted by Ravirn

September 17th works for me.

I sure hope so............I've seen pic's of your exhaust and thats just not enough for me........wanna hear it!!!!!!!!!!

[Sttt5126]

I think we can make the 17th work. Either option will work for us.