Crowsnest Pass- what can we learn?

[Kakato]

I was a youngster when I was last there in the Pass, but aren't there 3 towns in a row there? Hillcrest, Bellevue, and ? Maybe I just am imagining that...

Bellevue is the first one,hillcrest is off on its own a mile away,continue on the highway through the frank slide and you hit the village of Frank(where I live) then you hit Blairmore and Coleman.The highway now bypasses all these towns but if you continue on to the BC border theres also Sentinel which isnt much but some old houses.
Thats where the old CP train went in the crowsnest lake and on a good day you can see it down there hanging off the edge.
Rumour has it that there is kegs of rum in it still but I think thats just a story like the lost lemen gold mine.

 

[Kakato]

Yep and then there's Frank about a mile to the west and then the two metropoli of Blairmore and Coleman, another three or four miles toward the pass and finally Sentinel (pretty quiet on a Saturday night).

There also was a bar at the hamlet of Crowsnest on the Alberta BC border called shortys back in the old days.as it was right on the border it had 2 different liquor licences.

My family bought it years ago and turned it into a bed and breakfast,long distance to phone the kitchen from the dining room.:smile:

It also has a colorfull history and even had a zoo complete with pet black bear that used to hang in the bar.
As the border was decided by which way the water flows(continental divide) they used to divert the creek to flow into what ever province they wanted to depending on the booze laws at the time.
One guy even tried to make his own country there claiming that the little piece of land between the 2 creekbeds was unclaimed and he called it Turners kingdom.
I had a field day exploring the basement of that building,antiques and magazines from the old days were all over the place.
The Chinese railroad workers also had a community behind that on the hill but theres only some old foundations left.

 

[JLM]

There also was a bar at the hamlet of Crowsnest on the Alberta BC border called shortys back in the old days.as it was right on the border it had 2 different liquor licences.

My family bought it years ago and turned it into a bed and breakfast,long distance to phone the kitchen from the dining room.:smile:

It also has a colorfull history and even had a zoo complete with pet black bear that used to hang in the bar.
As the border was decided by which way the water flows(continental divide) they used to divert the creek to flow into what ever province they wanted to depending on the booze laws at the time.
One guy even tried to make his own country there claiming that the little piece of land between the 2 creekbeds was unclaimed and he called it Turners kingdom.
I had a field day exploring the basement of that building,antiques and magazines from the old days were all over the place.
The Chinese railroad workers also had a community behind that on the hill but theres only some old foundations left.

I usually watch for that restaurant driving through (knowing it staddles the boundary), but never did get around to drivng down to it. Wish I had have as where we are living now probably won't be driving Hwy. 3 much anymore.

 

[countryboy]

Yep and then there's Frank about a mile to the west and then the two metropoli of Blairmore and Coleman, another three or four miles toward the pass and finally Sentinel (pretty quiet on a Saturday night).

OK, thanks JLM. I must get back there one of these days and check it all out. Used to travel around Alberta on business but never had reason to go to the Crowsnest Pass...now I have a sister and her husband living there (never remember which town in these days of email...couldn't find her PO address) and she's been bugging me to come down for a visit...and I even have free accommodations there. No excuse...she's promised to take me on all sorts of "tours" so I'd better schedule some time, eh? The only thing I remember about the place is the Frank Slide...that one sort of stays with you.

 

[countryboy]

I usually watch for that restaurant driving through (knowing it staddles the boundary), but never did get around to drivng down to it. Wish I had have as where we are living now probably won't be driving Hwy. 3 much anymore.

JLM - just thought of a question...if I'm driving down from "the north", which route would you recommend (if there are choices) to get to the Pass? Let's say I would be starting from Kamloops...would it be down through the Okanagan all the way to No. 3 and then east?

(Yeah, I should look it up on the map but - as my better half tells me - you've never read a map anyway so why start now?) :lol: And I tell her that the maps are in the same place as all the instruction books for various appliances, etc. - "somewhere" but I can't remember where! :lol::lol:

 

[Kakato]

JLM - just thought of a question...if I'm driving down from "the north", which route would you recommend (if there are choices) to get to the Pass? Let's say I would be starting from Kamloops...would it be down through the Okanagan all the way to No. 3 and then east?

(Yeah, I should look it up on the map but - as my better half tells me - you've never read a map anyway so why start now?) :lol: And I tell her that the maps are in the same place as all the instruction books for various appliances, etc. - "somewhere" but I can't remember where! :lol::lol:

South from Kamloops and then you eventually hit #3 and head east on it.
That way you get the scenic route or you can go through Nakusp from Kelowna and south to Creston and continue on.
When I used to vacation i the okanagan we would go straight through to osoyoos that way and come back through Nakusp and Balfour.

 

[countryboy]

South from Kamloops and then you eventually hit #3 and head east on it.
That way you get the scenic route or you can go through Nakusp from Kelowna and south to Creston and continue on.
When I used to vacation i the okanagan we would go straight through to osoyoos that way and come back through Nakusp and Balfour.

Thanks for that, Kakato. If I was driving in say, early Spring (possible snowy time), is one way better than the other, generally speaking?

 

[JLM]

JLM - just thought of a question...if I'm driving down from "the north", which route would you recommend (if there are choices) to get to the Pass? Let's say I would be starting from Kamloops...would it be down through the Okanagan all the way to No. 3 and then east?

(Yeah, I should look it up on the map but - as my better half tells me - you've never read a map anyway so why start now?) :lol: And I tell her that the maps are in the same place as all the instruction books for various appliances, etc. - "somewhere" but I can't remember where! :lol::lol:

No, You can cut off about 30 miles and an hours driving time if you make a left turn onto Highway 33 (to Rock Creek) about 2 miles north of Kelowna City centre and avoid a hell of lot of congestion and bumper to bumper traffic. When you leave Kelowna suburbs just make sure you have at least 1/2 tank of gas.

 

[Kakato]

Thanks for that, Kakato. If I was driving in say, early Spring (possible snowy time), is one way better than the other, generally speaking?

The Salmo Creston road is allways a nice drive but can be icy,most of highway #3 is pretty good,it's just a slower pace then the trans Canada and not many passing lanes but the scenery is worth it as well as the stops along the way,you could also get to rock creek from kelowna or osoyoos depending on what road you take,once your in the mountains it;s fairly consistent as far as conditions go.

EDIT-JLM beat me to it but I would take the shortcut to rock creek,make sure you stop at the bar for a refreshment as theres usually some colorfull people hanging out there.:lol:

 

[countryboy]

No, You can cut off about 30 miles and an hours driving time if you make a left turn onto Highway 33 (to Rock Creek) about 2 miles north of Kelowna City centre and avoid a hell of lot of congestion and bumper to bumper traffic. When you leave Kelowna suburbs just make sure you have at least 1/2 tank of gas.

Thanks for that tip..yeah, Kelowna traffic is a bit much these days...much different than it used to be. Sounds like a bit of a haul between gas stations once I leave Kelowna area...OK, got it. I never let it get below half anyway - an old habit from being a travelling salesman on the prairies and doing a lot of driving at night, when nothing was open for business on the secondary highways and back roads.

I learned early on after moving to BC to ask questions about road routes as I found out that some of the hills we have here cause the roads to be "unstraight"...if we were talking about prairie driving instructions, I'd just go x miles south, and then x miles east, and that would be that. Put 'er on cruise control and go. :lol: But, our scenery out here is very good, and worth the squiggly, up and down driving routes!

 

[countryboy]

The Salmo Creston road is allways a nice drive but can be icy,most of highway #3 is pretty good,it's just a slower pace then the trans Canada and not many passing lanes but the scenery is worth it as well as the stops along the way,you could also get to rock creek from kelowna or osoyoos depending on what road you take,once your in the mountains it;s fairly consistent as far as conditions go.

EDIT-JLM beat me to it but I would take the shortcut to rock creek,make sure you stop at the bar for a refreshment as theres usually some colorfull people hanging out there.:lol:

Jeez, I might fit right in then! Thanks for the help, Kakato (and JLM)...I'm already planning the trip timing. (The local tourism people in Crowsnest owe you guys one!)...

Oh, last question - assuming some normal winter driving conditions, what would I be looking at for driving time from Kelowna all the way to Crowsnest? Trying to figure out if I need to make an overnight stop along the way...I'm already looking at around 5.5 hours to get from here to Kelowna.

 

[Kakato]

Jeez, I might fit right in then! Thanks for the help, Kakato (and JLM)...I'm already planning the trip timing. (The local tourism people in Crowsnest owe you guys one!)...

Oh, last question - assuming some normal winter driving conditions, what would I be looking at for driving time from Kelowna all the way to Crowsnest? Trying to figure out if I need to make an overnight stop along the way...I'm already looking at around 5.5 hours to get from here to Kelowna.

It used to take us a day to get to Kelowna so I would overnight there or somewhere.
It's maybe an 8 hour drive if your just taking it easy.

 

[countryboy]

It used to take us a day to get to Kelowna so I would overnight there or somewhere.
It's maybe an 8 hour drive if your just taking it easy.

OK, thanks. Probably would overnight then...more time to stop and look around here and there...thanks again!

 

[talloola]

Interesting stuff, I love learning about different areas
of the province, and I haven't been along that route, so
maybe one of these days, I'll have to do it.
Travelled through the yellowhead pass last fall by train,
then all the way to prince george, overnight there, then
on to Prince Rupert next morning, great trip.
We have driven from the island before, and did the round
trip to prince rupert, then on the boat back to the
island, lots of fun, unless the ocean is too rough
coming back, I hate that.

Have travelled through the Banff area a couple of times,
but hate the crowds and congestion, but love the travel,
then on to calgary and back to the island.

 

[JLM]

OK, thanks. Probably would overnight then...more time to stop and look around here and there...thanks again!

Yep, Kakato has it pegged pretty close, I might allow 9 hours sensible driving and time to stop for a piss.

 

[YukonJack]

I lived in Fernie, B.C. in 1973/74 while I worked at the Kaiser Resources Minesite in Sparwood on behalf of my company who manufactured the tires for the big trucks there.

Had a house in Blairmore (for investment - paid off quite well when I sold it upon returning to our company's Head Office in Toronto) just about next to the "World's Largest Piggy Bank", a narrow-gauge locomotive, decommissioned.

For scenery, I would rate #3 ahead of #1, for the MUCH greater variety.

 

[JLM]

I lived in Fernie, B.C. in 1973/74 while I worked at the Kaiser Resources Minesite in Sparwood on behalf of my company who manufactured the tires for the big trucks there.

Had a house in Blairmore (for investment - paid off quite well when I sold it upon returning to our company's Head Office in Toronto) just about next to the "World's Largest Piggy Bank", a narrow-gauge locomotive, decommissioned.

For scenery, I would rate #3 ahead of #1, for the MUCH greater variety.

On THAT we agree Y.J. - you're gaining sense in your old age..................:lol::lol::lol:

 

[YukonJack]

"On THAT we agree Y.J. - you're gaining sense in your old age.............."

Same to you, JLM, for finally realizing it!

Could your idol, SirJosephPorter be far behind?

 

[JLM]

"On THAT we agree Y.J. - you're gaining sense in your old age.............."

Same to you, JLM, for finally realizing it!

Could your idol, SirJosephPorter be far behind?

???????? S.J. has his unlucid moments alright and sometimes he don't listen well, but I don't see much of him around today, so maybe we should just Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Maybe threads not involving Ottawa or Washington D.C. don't interest him much.. :lol::lol:

 

[JLM]

Interesting stuff, I love learning about different areas
of the province, and I haven't been along that route, so
maybe one of these days, I'll have to do it.
Travelled through the yellowhead pass last fall by train,
then all the way to prince george, overnight there, then
on to Prince Rupert next morning, great trip.
We have driven from the island before, and did the round
trip to prince rupert, then on the boat back to the
island, lots of fun, unless the ocean is too rough
coming back, I hate that.

Have travelled through the Banff area a couple of times,
but hate the crowds and congestion, but love the travel,
then on to calgary and back to the island.

Yep, it's been many many years now since we travelled Highway 16 west of Prince George, but beautiful country to be sure, will always remember the time we spent at Old Hazelton, BAbine Lake, Stuart Lake, Terrace etc. Beautiful in the fall when the leaves are changing.