Cross Canada and Back Part 1

Victoria, British Columbia to Jasper, Alberta.

The plan for our adventure is to drive swiftly across Canada and spend most of the summer and early fall exploring the East Coast of Canada, and then work our way back west before the snow flies.

Cruise ship coming in to dock in Victoria, BC

A day before leaving on our cross Canada trip, we added our website decals to the trailer

We started our trip across Canada, leaving Victoria, BC, on the West Coast of Canada, the 15th of May 2011. As we boarded the 7 am ferry, leaving Vancouver Island for Vancouver, the fog was so thick that you could cut it in to cubes, freeze it and make ice cubes.... a real West Coast mist.



View Cross Canada - Victoria to Jasper in a larger map


The voyage across the Strait of Georgia or more recently called the Salish Sea was uneventful and calm. We arrived on time in Tsawwassen terminal on the main land of British Columbia. We drove up through the lower mainland to number 1 Trans Canada Highway.

Getting ready for the climb over the Coquihalla

After about an hour and a half drive through the Fraser Valley we turned onto number 5 Yellow -head Hwy and started the climb up the Coquihalla Highway and hit the summit around 11:30 am. The clouds started to lift as we descended on Merritt, and almost clear skys awaited us as we approached Kamloops.


In Kamloops we set direction north west to Jasper following number 5 Hwy. It is a very scenic drive, and you can be sure to see some wild life this time of year.

Town of Valemount

This drive has not yet let us down, just south of the town of Valemount a young Grizzly bear was grazing along the highway, you just have to love it. Liz snapped a bunch of pictures and off again we went.

Young Grizzly grazing by the road south of Valemount

Mount Robson Provincial Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site is another beautiful BC Park and is located just west of the Alberta border. Mount Robson Park covers 224,866 hectares or 555,655 acres, and it dwarfs me every time I pass by the majestic Mount Robson.

Mount Robson Provincial Park, BC.

By 7pm Alberta time we arrived in Jasper National Park and set up camp in Whistlers campground just 4 km south of the town of Jasper. We were told, a LARGE Grizzly bear has been patrolling the campground looking for something worth eating, and has not yet found a good snack, in other words, he is still looking.

Bear trap in the campground.

Almost ready to BBQ in Whistlers Campground, Jasper National Park

This is a massive campground with over 700 sites, well maintained and tidy. Elk wandering around every where, just a fantastic place in the middle of the Rocky Mountains. Jasper National Park has over 1,700 campsites in  various campgrounds, however it is a very popular place in the summer months, so making a reservation is a must.

Elk grazing on the meadows

Time to fire up the BBQ and cook up some burgers and have a glass of wine.... Life is good, "wine a bit, it helps".


Cheers, Anders and Liz

Here are some shortcuts to all the blogs from our Cross Canada Trip. Just hover over the number to see where it will take you

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