After tomorrow morning

[cheesysusie]

So. Jasper is spectacular. The perfect mountain town. Except for the Canadians. We really had a great time there. I'll post pictures when I get some uploaded, but for now I'll say jaw-dropping views in every direction and incredible wildlife everywhere.

The approach road to the Bugaboos is 28 miles of rough dirt road, which would have been fine, except for the guerrilla potholes. I've driven a lot of dirt roads in my life, all over North America, and never encountered this before. You just couldn't see them until you were almost in them. And even that would have been fine, except for that one rock sticking up that was just high enough to nail the oil pan...which cracked. We didn't realize it until we were in the parking lot and had gotten our gear all packed and were about to wrap the chicken wire around the car and take off, which was when we discovered the puddle of oil...

Of course you can't hike into the backcountry for four days and let all the oil drain out of the car. So we went to the Bugaboo Lodge where Vince the maintenance guy gave us a couple quarts of oil and dragged the shredded plastic under the front end back down the road to Radium Hot Springs where Brent at Radium Esso was more than happy to take care of the oil pan--he keeps them in stock, apparently--and headed home the next day.

So no climbing in the Bugaboos for us. But we have the trip all scouted now and learned that it's only a ten hour drive from here...a long weekend trip...

Wrap the chicken wire around the car? I'm lost.

Sorry your trip got cut short.

 

[littleninja]

So. Jasper is spectacular. The perfect mountain town. Except for the Canadians. We really had a great time there. I'll post pictures when I get some uploaded, but for now I'll say jaw-dropping views in every direction and incredible wildlife everywhere.

The approach road to the Bugaboos is 28 miles of rough dirt road, which would have been fine, except for the guerrilla potholes. I've driven a lot of dirt roads in my life, all over North America, and never encountered this before. You just couldn't see them until you were almost in them. And even that would have been fine, except for that one rock sticking up that was just high enough to nail the oil pan...which cracked. We didn't realize it until we were in the parking lot and had gotten our gear all packed and were about to wrap the chicken wire around the car and take off, which was when we discovered the puddle of oil...

Of course you can't hike into the backcountry for four days and let all the oil drain out of the car. So we went to the Bugaboo Lodge where Vince the maintenance guy gave us a couple quarts of oil and dragged the shredded plastic under the front end back down the road to Radium Hot Springs where Brent at Radium Esso was more than happy to take care of the oil pan--he keeps them in stock, apparently--and headed home the next day.

So no climbing in the Bugaboos for us. But we have the trip all scouted now and learned that it's only a ten hour drive from here...a long weekend trip...

Except for the Canadians?!?!?!

Grrrr......

 

[Peregrinator]

Wrap the chicken wire around the car? I'm lost.

Sorry your trip got cut short.

Thanks. It's okay; we still have time for adventures closer to home.

You have to keep porcupines from gnawing through the hoses:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/49/183938386_0921906169.jpg?v=0

Except for the Canadians?!?!?!

Grrrr......

Well, these particular Canadians. And the truth is that the tourists were the biggest problem.

 

[cheesysusie]

Thanks. It's okay; we still have time for adventures closer to home.

You have to keep porcupines from gnawing through the hoses:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/49/183938386_0921906169.jpg?v=0

Is this something you have to bring with you, or do they provide it there? Do you know in advance it's necessary? I've never heard of such a thing. Of course, I don't think I've ever been in an area where porcupines were prevalent.

 

[Sean]

*Deletes prick joke*

 

[Peregrinator]

Is this something you have to bring with you, or do they provide it there? Do you know in advance it's necessary? I've never heard of such a thing. Of course, I don't think I've ever been in an area where porcupines were prevalent.

We brought a roll, but they had a huge supply of it there. We knew to bring it because the guidebooks all talk about it, and in that part of the world it's a fairly well known issue.

*Deletes prick joke*

Hah! How are you, you whack job?


Here's a pic of me sitting on Old Fort Point. Fantastic 360 degree view from there. Jasper is in front of me in the valley and Mt Edith Cavell is behind me.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/Peregrinator/Jasper%20and%20Surroundings/IMG_2042.jpg

 

[Sean]

It looks fantastic. I see you still have the peacekeeper hat.

I'm going to Canada in Oct, not over that side though.

 

[cheesysusie]

We brought a roll, but they had a huge supply of it there. We knew to bring it because the guidebooks all talk about it, and in that part of the world it's a fairly well known issue.



Hah! How are you, you whack job?


Here's a pic of me sitting on Old Fort Point. Fantastic 360 degree view from there. Jasper is in front of me in the valley and Mt Edith Cavell is behind me.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/Peregrinator/Jasper%20and%20Surroundings/IMG_2042.jpg

Interesting.

Nice picture. I love how you're all color-coordinated. It's kind of cute.

 

[glo33]

Wrap the chicken wire around the car? I'm lost.

that was exactly what was about to ask...
thank you for the explanation, Perg.
great great landscape.

 

[Noor]

Interesting.

Nice picture. I love how you're all color-coordinated. It's kind of cute.

I was thinking the same thing!

What is around your neck? neck gator?

 

[littleninja]

Well, these particular Canadians. And the truth is that the tourists were the biggest problem.

Come to think of it, I'm quite frequently annoyed by the people around here. It never occurred to me that it might just be because they're Canadian.

 

[sigh]

Interesting, Perg. I've seen porcupines in northern Michigan (even have a few photos of them) but I've never heard of any problems with them eating hoses. Sounds like a chickenwire-selling scam to me.

And you fell for it? *snickering*

Or maybe it's the western variety. I hear they're more voracious and deadly.



(Welcome back, Perg. It seems like you've been gone a long time.)

 

[Peregrinator]

It looks fantastic. I see you still have the peacekeeper hat.

I'm going to Canada in Oct, not over that side though.

That hat has become a trademark of sorts.

I may be a ways east of here in October. Maybe we can meet up.

Interesting.

Nice picture. I love how you're all color-coordinated. It's kind of cute.

Out doorsy clothing is funny that way. For the longest time everything I owned was black. Now it seems like I'm always all in blue.

that was exactly what was about to ask...
thank you for the explanation, Perg.
great great landscape.

Beautiful place.

A marmot that posed for us:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/Peregrinator/Jasper%20and%20Surroundings/IMG_2099.jpg

I knew this, but it was confirmed again that it's possible to fall in love with a mountain:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/Peregrinator/Jasper%20and%20Surroundings/IMG_2202.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/Peregrinator/Jasper%20and%20Surroundings/IMG_2203.jpg

How do they move with all that shit on their heads?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/Peregrinator/Jasper%20and%20Surroundings/IMG_2293.jpg

Herself taking the waters at Miette Hot Springs:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/Peregrinator/Jasper%20and%20Surroundings/IMG_2307.jpg

These guys are entirely more casual about climbing than I am:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/Peregrinator/Jasper%20and%20Surroundings/IMG_2325.jpg

Nice roadside view:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/Peregrinator/Jasper%20and%20Surroundings/IMG_2397.jpg

And the only glimpse we got of the Bugaboos. What kind of madness is this impulse to go to places that look that crazy?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/Peregrinator/Jasper%20and%20Surroundings/IMG_2452.jpg

 

[glo33]

Come to think of it, I'm quite frequently annoyed by the people around here. It never occurred to me that it might just be because they're Canadian.

i think we tend to be a little less forgiving with our own kin-folks...

 

[Mythical_]

wow
awesome pictures

and, goddamn canadians

 

[Sean]

That hat has become a trademark of sorts.

I may be a ways east of here in October. Maybe we can meet up.

Let's try and organise the communications a little better this time.

 

[Peregrinator]

I was thinking the same thing!

What is around your neck? neck gator?

Yeah. It's a very light one made of something like polypro or some other wicking and stretchy material. Has the Rosetta Stone printed on it. I picked it up in Jasper. Pretty cool little thing:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/Peregrinator/Jasper%20and%20Surroundings/IMG_2050.jpg

Come to think of it, I'm quite frequently annoyed by the people around here. It never occurred to me that it might just be because they're Canadian.

It's part of being Canadian. Like being a slightly slower, dimwitted American without the violent edge.

Interesting, Perg. I've seen porcupines in northern Michigan (even have a few photos of them) but I've never heard of any problems with them eating hoses. Sounds like a chickenwire-selling scam to me.

And you fell for it? *snickering*

Or maybe it's the western variety. I hear they're more voracious and deadly.



(Welcome back, Perg. It seems like you've been gone a long time.)

You need to read Tim Cahill's first book about the guy who had to walk to town twice because porcupines gnawed through hoses on his car. I like the way they scream. And, yeah, it does seem to be a Western problem. They live in New England too, but I guess only the Western ones have a taste for hoses.

Good to see you, sigh, my eternal obsession.

 

[Raidho]

Holy hell is that gorgeous, Perg.

*green*

 

[glo33]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/Peregrinator/Jasper%20and%20Surroundings/IMG_2397.jpg

this one is inviting.

where does the name Bugaboos come from?...it sound funny and terrible at the same time...(too lazy to google it, if you know the answer fine, if not i can live an extra couple of days and search for it myself)

 

[Peregrinator]

i think we tend to be a little less forgiving with our own kin-folks...

I hate Americans more than anyone else, especially when I'm traveling. They embarrass the hell out of me.

wow
awesome pictures

and, goddamn canadians

Awesome place.

Fuck them.

Let's try and organise the communications a little better this time.

That's a good call. I won't know anything for a while, but PM me your phone number and I'll call you if I am in fact anywhere East of the Mississippi.

 

[save_marla]

It's not the Canadians, it's the Albertans. Important distinction.


Great photos.

 

[SexyWench]

Awesome pictures

and I agree, we're damn Canadians!

 

[Peregrinator]

Holy hell is that gorgeous, Perg.

*green*

The place just constantly delivers.

this one is inviting.

where does the name Bugaboos come from?...it sound funny and terrible at the same time...(too lazy to google it, if you know the answer fine, if not i can live an extra couple of days and search for it myself)

I'm not sure. But "Bugaboo" is a fairly common if old-fashioned bit of slang for, well, here:

1. An object of obsessive, usually exaggerated fear or anxiety: "Boredom, laziness and failure . . . These bugaboos, magnified by imagination, keep [the workaholic] running" (Dun's Review).
2. A recurring or persistent problem: "the bugaboos that have plagued vision systems: high price and slow throughput" (Lawrence A. Goshorn).

I suspect whoever called them that did so because he was trying to get past them.

Here's why I dislike America. My friend who's staying with us for a few weeks while he gets his military career sorted out just brought me "half a sandwich:"

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/Peregrinator/IMG_2460.jpg

 

[Mythical_]

Awesome place.

Fuck them.

you should
repeatedly

 

[Peregrinator]

It's not the Canadians, it's the Albertans. Important distinction.


Great photos.

Could be. The most annoying drivers we encountered had Alberta plates. Almost as bad as Washingtonians.

Awesome pictures

and I agree, we're damn Canadians!

You should all stay right there.

How come there are so many Canadian women I want to sleep with?