Gold Wing Road Riders Association
Chapter AB-A Calgary, Alberta, Canada

THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE - PAGE 4


We rode down through Kootenay National Park, through Radium, then up highway 95 to Golden. Left Golden and headed East on the Trans-Canada highway and immediately got involved in traffic, including large trucks. When first heading out of Golden, the road has lots of curves and ups and downs. Loaded trucks travel very slowly, both up and down hill. Mountain Goats frequent the area. Rocks can be found around just about every corner. Tar snakes aren't too bad but do appear in various areas. Gravel from the shoulder finds its way onto the road. Some curves are switchbacks with "slow to 25KPH signs" and long tractor trailers have great difficulty in not coming over the line a bit. In summer "MonsterBagos", driving by people who normally drive tiny cages are all over the road!

But, on a nice sunny day with low traffic, it is a glorious ride!

So, back to the final page of pictures and the ride:
 

We have just left the passing lane and crested this particular section of road. There is a road off to the left that goes into Emerald Lake - a VERY worthy side trip that I didn't do on this day.

The town of field is in a long valley. There is an information center here that is very interesting! If you are interested in the "Burgess Shale", stop in. If you aren't into old fossils, the animal "stuff" is still interesting.

At the opposite end of the valley from Field is the turn off to Takawaka falls. I've turned off on that road! You can see it is well paved but is now much narrower. Lots of curves and some REAL interesting switchbacks - you'll cross the center line on these suckers.

 

This is Takawka falls. Fed by a Glacier on top, falls for a good distance then hits a solid hunk of rock and shoots out and down into the valley.

Lots of parking at the falls and as you can see, lots of mountains surrounding the area. There is even a Youth Hostel located here if you choose to stay overnight. Just make sure you book ahead.

Heading back down the road to the main highway, you have to keep your speed down. Steep grades, tight corners, potential for animals AND there are tour buses. In winter, this whole road is a cross country ski track and the snow is easily 8 feet deep where this picture is taken.

After getting back on the Trans-Canada highway and riding up the hill by Tunnel Mountain (really interesting if you are into trains), we head into Lake Louise. GO UP to the lake and check it out. After leaving Lake Louise, take the Bow Valley Parkway back. These chalets are at Baker Creek - a real pretty spot.

At the end of the Bow Valley Parkway, you are back onto the Trans-Canada. Banff has an Airport "sort of". This is it, you can see the windsock off to the left. There are Elk on the grass runway. If you fly into the area, you fly into Calgary and Bus into Banff, there are no commercial flights.

Heading past Banff, you exit the park gates and ride past Canmore. These three mountains are named the "Three Sisters" and if you stop in Banff or Canmore, you can get paintings of these mountains.

Heading back towards Calgary on the Trans-Canada highway. You can see how the landscape changes as we pass through the foothills. A 1/2 hour or so ride from here and you are into the plains but even at this point you can see quite far. Obviously time to "debug" that windscreen.

Back in Calgary and what do I see - another Winger.

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Click Here for a Map of the trip.

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