REVscene - Vancouver Automotive Forum

TypeRNammer · 07-11-2009, 06:37 PM

I did a quick search but I couldn't really pull up any good threads on tackling the road trip to Edmonton.

Looks like I'll be taking this route going through Kamloops and Jasper Park.

I'm going there solo to meet up with some friends there near the end of July.

And I'll be driving my Del Sol there

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Just a few quick questions.

-What time do you guys recommend leaving Vancouver for this trip?

-Any specific maintenance I should do before the trip? I plan to change all the fluids.

-Any key items I should bring along?

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If yous have any other tips, it would be greatly appreciated, thanks

sebberry · 07-11-2009, 10:24 PM

I usually make Edmonton by ~11PM when leaving Victoria on the 7AM ferry. Now if you left Vancouver around 7AM it would give you an extra couple of hours to make some stops and enjoy the scenery.

What to take?

GPS if you don't know the way
Music: CD's Satellite Radio, Apple iSomething or whatever you have.

Camera

Snacks, drinks

I like to carry basic tools for the car, fix-a-flat (crappy for your wheels if you need to use it but valuable to have if you do), other "roadside emergency" items.

Mudslides while rare and improbable CAN happen and the road CAN be closed for several hours/overnight. Prepare for this, although you can usually turn back.

Snow is rare in July in Jasper but not unheard of. Tires in good condition are recommended.

Make sure your wipers work well.

Paper towels, wet-wipes, simple first aid kit. (boring stuff I know but after doing this trip several times it does come in handy, especially when you have chip grease all over your fingers and you don't want it on the steering wheel.

Remember the "slow down and move over law" in BC and Alberta. (I hear Alberta enforces the shit out of this too...)

Watch out for animals, especially through Jasper park. A moose is no match for a Del Sol. Slow down and enjoy the park.. It's a national treasure, no need for speed or agression there. You definately want to go into the Jasper townsite (not the highway that bypasses it) and have dinner, wander around for a bit. I usually don't have time but that's because I have to take the ferry.

Enjoy the trip!

FS1992EG · 07-11-2009, 10:32 PM

Maybe you haven't found any threads is because that Edmonton is a hole, and Alberta sucks, too flat and boring.

BUT, there is a endless stable of women and jailbait. enjoy

TypeRNammer · 07-12-2009, 02:25 AM

Thanks sebberry, I'll be sure to keep that in mind!

The Garmin Nuvi 255w will be guiding me.

I'll also be carrying my SLR to take pictures of the whole trip.

And got 12gb of music to take also!

This should be an interesting trip =)

nabs · 07-12-2009, 02:56 AM

i suggest driving through the night. less cops, or more leanient cops. so leave say 10PM drive all night get there before Noon.

This is what i usually do. Less traffic on the highway too so you can rip it all the way.

saucywoman · 07-16-2009, 11:25 AM

^^ yes but driving through Jasper National Park at night is hazardous because there is more likelihood of hitting an animal. I did this about 4-5 years ago and since there was an oncoming car I had to turn my high beams off and as soon as I turned them back on there was an elk or moose right on the road. Luckily I had good reflexes and was able to swerve or that would've been a head on collision with the passenger side of my car. It was kind of funny because my boyfriend at the time was looking out his window in the passenger side and the next thing he sees is the face of the animal almost right beside him.

asahai69 · 07-16-2009, 11:35 AM

me and my buddies did this exact same route for another buddys wedding a couple years back. the drive from kamloops to jasper is pretty fun. we took alot of chronic with us aswell. so if ur into that. i definatley suggest u take some with you. makes the entire trip like 10x better. because on the way back we ran out and holy fuck was that long and boring.

sebberry · 07-16-2009, 11:48 AM

Speed on the Coquihalla, not through the national parks. Come on, get a grip.

sebberry · 07-16-2009, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nabs

i suggest driving through the night. less cops, or more leanient cops. so leave say 10PM drive all night get there before Noon.

This is what i usually do. Less traffic on the highway too so you can rip it all the way.

According to one report from ICBC, fatigue, not speed, was the leading cause of collisions on the Coquihalla.

Nothing wrong with doing the trip during the day and enjoying the views. He'll get there in one day and have some great scenery along the way, and won't need to drive like a stoned wild banshee to do it.