Alberta Bound & Beyond

Holy Hell that is one big piece of unusable metal now...

Congrat to Ben and Kirsten (don't personally know them but Congrats is the customary thing to type)

That glacier, with the wind formations at the base, would be a bucketlist item...

 

@Tsumara

 

My new screensaver at work, amazing photos and looks like a badass trip!

 

I love your trip reports! Thanks for taking the time to put it together. I can't wait to see how it turns out.

And congrats Ben!

 

Lake Louise, good choice.

 

thats a crazy trail repair, fortunately you and your friends had sufficient tools to get the job done!

 

Yea it was quiet the event!

Thanks for reading!

Yes we have been around the block on this haha I'm grateful for their tools and time and camaraderie

 

Where is the final segment of this adventure?

edit: All I had to do was ask for it and it immediately appears. Wow. Powerful.

 

Alberta Bound and Beyond

Chapter 3: Separate Endings​

The following morning we awoke and took some time to enjoy the marvelous lake we had been parked on the edge of. Was a near perfect mirror.



Alberta Bound!-59.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Alberta Bound!-60.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

IMG_0242 by Benjamin Springli, on Flickr

IMG_0245 by Benjamin Springli, on Flickr

Alberta Bound!-61.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


But the morning had a sadness about it. I was leaving my friends now as I felt continuing on with the current state of Frankenstein was not safe. We said our good byes and packed up and I hit the road south to the US border.


IMG_0249 by Benjamin Springli, on Flickr



Ben and Mike were not done however. They had other places to be, things to see!


I ask Ben to write about their ending as I was not there and they went and saw many more beautiful things. Here is his contribution and ending:



We were now down to two rigs. Mike and I worked our way over to Toby Creek to have a leisurely day of exploring.















Stopped by a washout





We even saw a bear!





Eventually we worked our way back to the creek where we set camp at the waters edge.








Then next morning we headed north. An important stop we made was the iconic Lake Louise. Incredible place but tourist central!







We continued north on93 toward Jasper and were met with spectacular views from the pavement.













As the sun sagged lower in the sky we knew it was time to start working our way south. We headed through Golden and conceded to a campground at Canyon Hot Springs





The next day it was a short hop and a skip to the ferry that took us across Kootenai Lake.











We then hit the first dirt highway ive ever driven and it took us around Trout Lake.







We then made it to the boarder crossing late in the day and made it back in the country without incident. With the sun setting we scavenged a campsite in the Colville National Forest and enjoyed a calm quiet evening where we soaked in the moments from the past week. Sadly it was al coming to an end.







And with that it was over. The next morning we hit pavement. Us heading East and Mike heading West.




They had a jolly good time even without me. I am still jealous I didn't get to see some of the places they went.


Devin and I were not about to totally throw in the towel though. We came up with the plan to get back to Wyoming and swap rigs. We still had the time off and damn it we were going to use it!

Igor, my daily driver double cab tacoma, would get the tent and gear slapped over and we would go camp somewhere.


First we had to make it there though.


I stopped at a car wash this time before leaving town and washed off Frankenstein, not wanting a repeat of the year before as we would be going through the exact same border crossing. Topped of the oil and hit the road hard.


We made it through no problems and thought we would be at camp with time to spare! We were wrong. Rock Creek was a zoo. All the free sites were gone. So decided to just drive down the road until we found some thinking we would eventually.


We were wrong again. It was ALL private a long the river. Sucked. After passing a few campgrounds, we caved and paid the 5 or 7 bucks to camp for the night. The first time in a LONG time i've paid for camping..


Albertabound.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


The next day we just drove all the way home. Stopped at the house and explained the trip to my parents. Swapped the RTT over and all the gear to my other truck and drove up to the Big Horn's. We got there in the dark and man was it COLD. Way colder then Canada had been. We were in for a rough night.


It rained. Then snowed, Then blew ice everywhere and constant wind. We damn near froze in the 28º F weather storm. It sucked.


We survived though.


AlbertaBound-2.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


All the ice that was left by the time we crawled out of our warm beds. We slept in that morning as the wind had kept us up most the night.


AlbertaBound-3.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


But the morning was beautiful. We were camped on top of a hill at 9200'. the valley below sure was pretty.


AlbertaBound.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


Thats actually the highway and an old ski hill that hasn't run in years and years.


I went for a short stroll looking for another nice over look and instead found this cool little site.


AlbertaBound-4.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

AlbertaBound-5.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


One hell of a memorial site.


AlbertaBound-6.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


Breakfast done, we packed up to finish the road we had come in on to go on a hike to one of my favorite spots, Copeman's Tomb.


Road was easy enough, thank god, as Igor had basically just car tires at the time. He did just fine and happily took us there.


AlbertaBound-7.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


Sadly, you can't drive there anymore.


AlbertaBound-8.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


But not because people tore it up. Because of downed trees. And thats treeS. Probably 30-40 downed trees past the marker post till you break out of the trees.


At only a Mile hike though. We huffed it there no problem.


AlbertaBound-9.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


This place is always cool to me. I swear ever time I go here there are no animals or bugs. Just quite peace.


Copeman was a sheep herder and we wanted to be buried up here. But the FS wouldn't allow it. Local's however started calling it Copeman's Tomb and over time, it stuck.


I am not exactly sure how tall this cliff face is. But I can tell you it takes about 10-11 seconds for a rock to hit the bottom...its high.


AlbertaBound-10.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

AlbertaBound-11.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

AlbertaBound-12.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


We sat at the edge for some time before hiking back to the truck. From here I decided to go camp at one of my favorite sites in the Big Horns.


AlbertaBound-14.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


First though, we stopped at Granite Pass. The wind and water have eroded the stone into tall towers.


AlbertaBound2-35.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

AlbertaBound2-36.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


We continued on to Morran Creek.


AlbertaBound-15.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


Set up camp and proceeded to freeze again. Was still pretty here though.


AlbertaBound-16.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

AlbertaBound-17.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

AlbertaBound2-37.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

AlbertaBound-18.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


For some stupid reason I had forgotten to grab the axe. So I had nothing to chop wood. I also didn't bring any dry wood thinking we could just find plenty. Except that everything was soaking wet. It took me 3 hours to finally keep embers going long enough to dry out some sticks before we had a small fire going. Just in time to eat our corn cowder. After dinner. We promptly went to bed.


We awoke early because I had to be in MT for the week to work at Tippet. The frost was incredible in the morning.


AlbertaBound2-38.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


We hit the road for Fishtail MT were I had spent the summer as a recording engineer at Tippet Rise. They were doing another speacial event concert and I had been asked to record it as well. So we made a weekend of it.


Tippet Rise is a very interesting place and if you're ever in the neighborhood of the area I strongly suggest checking it out. Photos don't do the huge art sculputres justice.


Here is Tippet's site: http://tippetrise.org/


And some cool photos of the place.





But even cooler, here are some videos of things that I recording the music for.






It is an interesting place. And I know this isn't normal for an overland/offroad post. But hey. In your adventures out here, come get a little art culture too


After our weekend there I wanted to show Devin the famous Beartooth highway. Plus I hadn't driven it from the Red Lodge side in years.


It is stellar.


AlbertaBound-19.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


Sadly at the time we were there there was also 5 fires going on in Yellowstone Quite smokey.


AlbertaBound-20.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

AlbertaBound-21.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


Didn't totally impede on the beauty though.


AlbertaBound-23.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

AlbertaBound-24.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

AlbertaBound-25.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


But the sun was setting and our trip was coming to an end. We were just happy that Igor had been there to pick up the pieces for us.


AlbertaBound-26.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


I sprinted up to the top of Dead Indian pass to catch the fading light..


AlbertaBound-27.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

AlbertaBound2-39.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


And that was the end of our all but too short of trip for the the fall.


Kind of an aburt ending for what we usually do, it was so short. But a lot had still happened. Hell my truck was half dead.


We had no regrets though. Canada had treated us well and I hope to go back still to explore more of its vast backcountry.


Again a huge congratulations to my good friend Ben and his Fiance Kirsten. May life bring you many blessings. I'll be there on the trail with you I'm sure to share some of them.


Thank you everyone for reading, I hope you're a little inspired to get out and enjoy some of the places not everyone gets to see.


Tread lightly, bring spare parts, take photos. Have a ball.



Thank you all.














Mike, “man that was too short. Need to get back out again.”


“tell me about it.” I said.


Mike, “I still have vacation time you know. What are you doing this fall?”


“Me? I'm free, basically unemployed after September.”


“Well, I've been thinking of returning to Moab and exploring some of UT.”


“Lets do it. When do we leave?”.




Keep an eye out for our Utah trip report!

 

Credits:

Narration, Photos by Monte

IMG_0238 by Benjamin Springli, on Flickr

Additional Narration and Photos by Ben

Alberta Bound!-21.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Photos by Mike

Alberta Bound!-22.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Photos by Kirsten

Alberta Bound!-38.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


Additional People


Devin

Alberta Bound!-35.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr




Other Trip Reports:
August 2014: The SOS Report
August 2015: Fires, Tires, 'n Bears. OOH YAAH!
October 2016: The M~D~U Report: 1000 Miles of Dirt in Utah
March 2017: ImpromptU-Ah! Back to Utah We Go!​

September 2017: The DeTour

​

 

Our Utah trip report has started! https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-m-d-u-trip-report-a-thousand-miles-of-dirt-in-utah.476285/

 

Awesome write-up and photos Monte. Too bad I couldn't join you, looks like you hit a lot of my suggestions. Let me know if your ever up this way again!

Addison

 

Addison! Yea it was a blast. Certainly would have loved to have had you with us.

Same to you! I'd love to go again this year..but probably won't happen, two years in a row was a lot.

 

You came north of the border and you didnt get in touch.... PFFFTTT

friends off lol, granted im pretty sure i blew my motor around that time......

 

Sweet jesus haven't seen you around if forever!

Shoulda thought to contact you..but half figured you disappeared from here. haha

 

That was awesome. Read it front to back. Great pics, friends scenery, trail trouble, awesome.
I have traveled a bit of Alberta and BC, but not to the extent you guys did.
Cheers, thanks for sharing.

 

Thanks man! glad you liked it. We had a blast.

 

I think both of you have me on crackbook and i attend rock therapy

I tend to poke my head on here once a month or so

I spend more time on mud or my own forum

 

you and your damn lexus..lol

i avoid crackbook..not a fan of it really. And we havn't done rock therapy since...well last time we saw you! haha

 

Hi Guys! Where have you been?