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lemonspeed Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2011 Posts: 65 Location: Nelson BC
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 2:28 pm Post subject: A few things Learned Tripping through Banff National Park |
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First of all , if you can find time to do a week in Banff and area ...DO IT !
We had a great time.
Lessons Learned-
1. don't eat out , everything is 25% more
2. check all lug nuts before the journey
3. dont install a light bar on bumper blocking lower radiator
4. be prepared for snow ( yes in june) and bring the lil buddy heater!
5. stay off the trans-canada hwy and explore the secondary roads....amazing
6. if you are staying more than 5 days ( recommended ) be ready to purchase a park pass for 1 year ( 140.00 CAD)
7. pre reserve ALL camping you require
Van ran very well and other than a lug missing and some cooling issues early on. We returned to the kootenays and went straight to davis creek to end off the trip....no matter where i go i always say home still has the best camping around!
More pic found on Instagram @overland_van
_________________ Instagram : @overland_van
90 Vanagon Carat "domino"
81 Westfalia (sold) "clemintine"
73 Transporter (sold) "chloe"
80 Vanagon (sold) "brownie" |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16504 Location: Brookeville, MD
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61Scout Samba Member
Joined: November 06, 2011 Posts: 1297 Location: Shoreline/Yakima WA
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joetiger Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005 Posts: 5078 Location: denver
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 7:43 pm Post subject: Re: A few things Learned Tripping through Banff National Park |
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Headed that way in a couple of weeks, thanks for the tips and great photos.
One question, how do you like the Gowesty front door screens? Good, bad, otherwise? _________________ Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present
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Noblecr Samba Member
Joined: September 14, 2011 Posts: 103
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 10:01 pm Post subject: Re: A few things Learned Tripping through Banff National Park |
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A national park pass bought this year is good for 2 years.
The icefield parkway us a must if anyone has the time....even just from Banff to Saskatchewan crossing....or take it all the way to Jasper!!
Enjoy your travels...its a beautiful area! ! |
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IdahoDoug Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010 Posts: 10251 Location: N. Idaho
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 11:45 pm Post subject: Re: A few things Learned Tripping through Banff National Park |
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Second the Icefield Parkway to Jasper. When you get there, drop your kayak or canoe in the "no motorized boats" stunner of Lake Maligne and go see the eerie stalagmites reaching up out of the clear dark depths....
Really something up that highway for views. We started joking "Oh look honey, another achingly perfect mountain with green flanks, a hanging blue glacier on top, and a couple trout streams in the meadow below with a Moose eating there." Over and over.... _________________ 1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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240Gordy Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2008 Posts: 2354 Location: Vancouver, BC
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Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 12:18 am Post subject: Re: A few things Learned Tripping through Banff National Park |
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Yes the Icefields Parkway is stunning. See the glaciers before they are gone. Been there at least 30 times, going again on Friday. It never gets old. The traffic sure does though. Maligne Lake is also pretty amazing. _________________ Tencentlife said,
"So, now that you know what you're doing, go to town."
2010 GOLF TRENDLINE 2.5
1985 GL now with more! a 2.1L
H&R SPORT(RED) Springs FRONT , SLAM SPECIALTIES RE6 AIRBAGS REAR |
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lemonspeed Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2011 Posts: 65 Location: Nelson BC
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Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 9:23 am Post subject: Re: A few things Learned Tripping through Banff National Park |
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joetiger wrote: |
Headed that way in a couple of weeks, thanks for the tips and great photos.
One question, how do you like the Gowesty front door screens? Good, bad, otherwise? |
Be sure to do the Icefield Parkway ( we only hit the lower half ) ::: Ive been super happy with these GOWESTY screens , the tiptop doesn't have any mesh windows so with both open you have the bug security and decent air flow when sleeping! _________________ Instagram : @overland_van
90 Vanagon Carat "domino"
81 Westfalia (sold) "clemintine"
73 Transporter (sold) "chloe"
80 Vanagon (sold) "brownie" |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16504 Location: Brookeville, MD
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bluebus86 Banned
Joined: September 02, 2010 Posts: 11075
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MidwestDrifter Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2012 Posts: 769 Location: Kicking Around Australia
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Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 10:04 am Post subject: Re: A few things Learned Tripping through Banff National Park |
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It may in fact be the most scenic 150 mile stretch in north america.
We drove it at the end of the season a few years back. Last week of September IIRC. It was not very busy and the weather was fantastic. Of course now I want to go back after reading this thread!
_________________ 2004 Dodge/Mercedes Sprinter (Custom Camper)
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Epic Road Tripping since 08/05/12 | http://VagariesAbound.blogspot.com/
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Last edited by MidwestDrifter on Wed Jun 22, 2016 10:59 am; edited 1 time in total |
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lemonspeed Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2011 Posts: 65 Location: Nelson BC
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Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 10:39 am Post subject: Re: A few things Learned Tripping through Banff National Park |
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It sure could make an amazing meet up / vanagon trip in the future. Truly is the most scenic drive I've done in N. America and some of the best group camping you can find anywhere! The only thing we had wished for was a crew of vans with us to share the experience ....
_________________ Instagram : @overland_van
90 Vanagon Carat "domino"
81 Westfalia (sold) "clemintine"
73 Transporter (sold) "chloe"
80 Vanagon (sold) "brownie" |
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danfromsyr Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 15144 Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 11:20 am Post subject: Re: A few things Learned Tripping through Banff National Park |
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it's easy set a date & location and have some decals made
I'd love to go but being on the east coast and work not allowing the time I'd require myself to be there.. sometime though.. I will explore the west as I have/am the east.. and this looks like a sure thing. _________________
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32625 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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shadetreetim Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2011 Posts: 1994 Location: Riverside, California
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Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 4:45 pm Post subject: Re: A few things Learned Tripping through Banff National Park |
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Looks like an incredible place to wander around. I'll need to put Banff on my bucket list. _________________ Tim Potts
Doing my best every time I drive it to dispel the myth these Vanagons have to be slow!
'89 Vanagon Bluestar/Country Homes 1.8T & .77 4th
'74 Jeep CJ5 |
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tjet Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2014 Posts: 3533 Location: CA & NM
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Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 4:58 pm Post subject: Re: A few things Learned Tripping through Banff National Park |
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lemonspeed wrote: |
joetiger wrote: |
One question, how do you like the Gowesty front door screens? Good, bad, otherwise? |
Be sure to do the Icefield Parkway ( we only hit the lower half ) ::: Ive been super happy with these GOWESTY screens , the tiptop doesn't have any mesh windows so with both open you have the bug security and decent air flow when sleeping! |
Do you have a link for the screens?
MidwestDrifter wrote: |
It may in fact be the most scenic 150 mile stretch in north america.
We drove it at the end of the season a few years back. Last week of September IIRC. It was not very busy and the weather was fantastic. Of course now I want to go back after reading this thread!
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thats an awesome pic. I have a new wallpaper now |
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leathersmyth Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2012 Posts: 122 Location: Calgary,Alberta
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Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 5:07 pm Post subject: Re: A few things Learned Tripping through Banff National Park |
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Have spent Many days/weeks/months exploring the whole area,
It is All beautiful area to explore. Helps only a couple hours from house so not To epic to pack up and head off to explore...
Might be Bias but pretty nice place to hang out.... |
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lemonspeed Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2011 Posts: 65 Location: Nelson BC
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Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 5:18 pm Post subject: Re: A few things Learned Tripping through Banff National Park |
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tjet wrote: |
lemonspeed wrote: |
joetiger wrote: |
One question, how do you like the Gowesty front door screens? Good, bad, otherwise? |
Be sure to do the Icefield Parkway ( we only hit the lower half ) ::: Ive been super happy with these GOWESTY screens , the tiptop doesn't have any mesh windows so with both open you have the bug security and decent air flow when sleeping! |
Do you have a link for the screens?
MidwestDrifter wrote: |
It may in fact be the most scenic 150 mile stretch in north america.
We drove it at the end of the season a few years back. Last week of September IIRC. It was not very busy and the weather was fantastic. Of course now I want to go back after reading this thread!
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thats an awesome pic. I have a new wallpaper now |
GOWESTY LINK - Pretty happy with these ::http://www.gowesty.com/product-details.php?v=&id=23551 _________________ Instagram : @overland_van
90 Vanagon Carat "domino"
81 Westfalia (sold) "clemintine"
73 Transporter (sold) "chloe"
80 Vanagon (sold) "brownie" |
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jackbombay Samba Member
Joined: October 19, 2007 Posts: 2723 Location: Eastern Idaho
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Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 5:59 pm Post subject: Re: A few things Learned Tripping through Banff National Park |
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MidwestDrifter wrote: |
It may in fact be the most scenic 150 mile stretch in north america. |
It may well be, stunning by anyone's standards.
I was through there a few weeks ago, some sun, but some clouds and rain too.
Couple pics from the Dolomite trail,
I did also ollie from a national park and landed in a completely different national park!
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jimf909 Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014 Posts: 7472 Location: WA/ID
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Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 6:14 pm Post subject: Re: A few things Learned Tripping through Banff National Park |
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I just hiked the 9 mi trail from Goat Haunt, Glacier NP USA to Waterton NP Canada and at one point I straddled an international border! Crandell campground in Waterton is beautiful today with a number of vacant sites. Banff tomorrow (pics when there's a better connection). _________________ - Jim
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
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