Travel Tips for British Columbia
Really, travel to this "international" destination is quite simple... folks speak English, the Whistler / Squamish / Banff / Jasper are very touristy so logistics are easy. Plenty of gas stations or stores, plenty of camping to pay for or poach, and there are plenty of boaters to meet up with for day runs, or you can just bring a bike and shuttle most of the classics that way.
On Line Resources: For write-ups and info... www.LiquidLore.com is the go to resource with links to gauges where available. More recently, www.paddlingmaps.com has become an excellent resource. For networking or questions to people... try joining the "Whistler Whitewater" page on facebook. They were very helpful providing info on flows. Other groups that are useful if you are in the interior are Elk Valley Kayakers, Golden Kayakers, and Revelostoke Whitewater.
Internet: We did not struggle to find internet... across highway 99 from the Cheakamus river (Function Junction)... there was a auto parts shop 100 yards down the road that had unsecure internet... plus places like Starbucks or Burger King also had it. If you have Verizon, it is only $2 a day to use your data and phone plan from the US.
Phone: If you use roaming, make sure you arrange with your provider before you leave. Plans ran like $15 for 250 minutes and $25 for 200 mb with Verizon if I recall correctly. Or just activate international travel (call them) and it is only $2 a day to use your data and minutes and texting in Canada.
When to Go: I depends on what you want to get on or where you want to go... In the Whistler area runs start going in July tapering off into August depending on the rain, though stuff like the Tatlow tends to go near the end of that window. Clendenning you want September though... Stikine usually even later.
Entry into BC: We drove, we entered on highway 5 which turns into 99. Lots of traffic getting through Vancouver on the other side. we would have taken an off shoot onto 543 which quickly hits the border and turns into 15, avoids downtown. For international travelers, Vancouver has a large airport.
Water: OK to drink from faucets etc...
Vaccinations: No extra needed.
Money: In the Whistler area most places actually took US dollars... at a bad mark up. Our credit / ATM cards worked just fine as well.
Boats: We brought out own... I imagine Vancouver or Whistler have a kayak shop to rent in.
Accommodations: We camped... several mid-week nights at the take-out for the Callaghan (they didn't charge midweek). There is also free camping at the Cheakamus take-out. We also camped along the Lillooet lake near Rogers.
Weather: The weather can be all over the place... we had nice 60 degree low and 80 degree high days for our entire stay... then we left and it poured rain for several days.
Random Thing to do: There is a hot springs just downriver from Rogers Creek at a campground (like 3 km downstream). It is $10 per car and per person to camp and hot spring.
Travel Tips for Alberta
Really, travel to this "international" destination is quite simple... folks speak English, the Whistler / Squamish are very touristy so logistics are easy. Plenty of gas stations or stores, plenty of camping to pay for or poach, and there are plenty of boaters to meet up with for day runs, or you can just bring a bike and shuttle most of the classics that way.
On Line Resources: For write-ups and info... www.paddlingmaps.com is the go to resource. Also, there are some other nice facebook groups... Elk Valley Whitewater, Golden Kayakers, and Revelstoke Whitewater. Note, those are all in BC, but are close enough to help!
Internet: So many places have internet now, just go to a fast food place. If you have Verizon, it is only $2 a day to use your data and phone plan from the US.
Phone: If you use roaming, make sure you arrange with your provider before you leave. Plans ran like $15 for 250 minutes and $25 for 200 mb with Verizon if I recall correctly. Or just activate international travel (call them) and it is only $2 a day to use your data and minutes and texting in Canada.
When to Go: Depends on the year, normally May-July is when the snow is melting. We got lucky and just got the end of the snowmelt on our trip. Though we missed the steep creeking by several weeks in Alberta.
Entry into Alberta: We drove in, from the west. Diane flew out from Calgary. I drove out through the south. Honestly, it is an easy border crossing, and lots of options.
Water: OK to drink from faucets etc...
Vaccinations: No extra needed.
Money: Cheaper than BC! Woohoo! Bring Canadian dollars.
Boats: We brought out own... I imagine Calgary or near the Kananaskis might have a shop. But I do not know for sure.
Accommodations: WWe camped and stayed with a friend. If you are boating in the Banff/Jasper corridor, camp sites during tourist season are hard to come by, we found a few places to pouch, but that is also illegal apparently. Jasper had a huge overflow campground, Banff did not.
Weather: We had generally nice weather, though a few were colder/rainier than others. I think we did not use drysuits though as each day warmed up for us. The water can be very cold on several of the runs as they are glacier melt.
Random Thing to do: Drive the dang Icefield Parkway. So awesome! It is the best 3 hours (1 way) you will spend in a car. So so pretty.
Travel Tips for Quebec
Not as easy as BC or Alberta since in Quebec they speak French... not English. And outside of the cities, English is not widely spoken as a second language. However, thanks to its proximity to the East Coast of the US, what better way to get a first world international experience with language barrier? It is certainly cheaper to come here than to fly to France! And of course the boating is fantastic!
On Line Resources: For gauges and some river info... "Quebec Whitewater" is the go to resource with links to gauges where available. It will take some time to find the regions that you are looking for. A few hints:
Malbaie - Chamonix
Tauraue - Quebec
Nielson - Quebec Pontneu
Valin - Saguenay
Mistassibi - Lac St Jean
For networking or questions to people... try joining the "Quebec Whitewater" page on facebook. They were very helpful providing info on flows.
Internet / Phone: If you have Verizon, it is only $2 a day to use your data and phone plan from the US.
When to Go: I depends on what you want to get on or where you want to go... In the Whistler area runs start going in July tapering off into August depending on the rain, though stuff like the Tatlow tends to go near the end of that window. Clendenning you want September though... Stikine usually even later.
Entry into Quebec: We drove in through Western New York (Ogdensburg-Prescott) and breezed through the border. Check the A Wet State map for the location and links to traffic times. For international travelers, Montreal has a large airport, Ottawa has a good size one too. I am not sure about how easy it would be to fly a boat into Quebec City.
Water: OK to drink from faucets etc...
Vaccinations: No extra needed.
Money: The only time we used US Dollars was to pay a shuttle... because it was our first day and we forgot that we hadn't picked up Canadian yet. So I am unsure if it is like Whistler with that regard.
Boats: We brought out own... I imagine Montreal may have a kayak shop to rent in.
Accommodations: We camped... had to pay for it near the Ottawa, but found ok places to poach everywhere else.
Weather: We had unseasonably warm weather in the 70s and 80s in Fall. You are pretty far north, so if you are coming for Spring or Fall plan on cold nights and cold weather. During the summer it is in the 80s typically.
Random Thing to do: Find a place to eat Poutine!
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