Rocky Mountain High

I'd driven down to Vancouver last weekend. For those of you not familiar with it, the drive from Edmonton, AB, to Vancouver, BC, takes about 12 hours on a good day and takes you through some of the most stunning mountain landscapes you'll ever see. I have done the same drive a number of times now in a number of different vehicles with a number of different passengers. Drive times have varied from 10 hours on a white knuckle dash through the mountains to about 24 hours on a poorly planned day. The Himalayas are supposed to be breathtaking. And the visitor numbers garnered by the Alps are probably indicative of the beauty of that part of our planet. But until I get anywhere near those places, I'm going to say that the Rocky Mountains constitute some of the highlights of my short life. The drive is a magical journey through unspoiled natural wealth. Starting out west from Edmonton you pick up the pace outside city limits to put the tail end of the high prairies behind you. About 3 hours into the drive, the mountains rise majestically over the horizon and before you know it you're deep in bear country. Stop for fuel at Jasper and take in the quaint little town and the towering mountains surrounding it. Then head south on the Icefields Parkway. This 150 mile highway through the Rockies has been called one of the most stunning drives in the world by National Geographic. If you're lucky you'll see elk, deer, mountain goats and even a bear or two. Drive further south past the awesome glacial landscape and you'll reach Lake Louise. The water is an almost impossibly brilliant turquoise and is surrounded by mountains. Come in the spring and you'll love the matching ice formations on the mountains above. Further south cross the town of Banff and then head west. This bit is definitely the highlight for any motorhead. You could be forgiven for not taking in the sights because you were too busy exploring the limits of your vehicle on those gloriously twisting mountain roads. The road really widens up as you get closer to BC's famous west coast. Before long you'll be saying farewell to the Rockies as the mountains spit you out into the relatively flat freeway towards Vancouver. You can almost smell the salty sea air (well not really but you get the idea). And sure enough you're soon swallowed by the lights and sounds that make up the Greater Vancouver area.

The roadtrip is over before you know it but you have the memories of a lifetime to make up for that. I've been blessed enough to have done this drive quite a few times and given the right mixture of ingredients, it's still a winner. All you need is a good vehicle, a great set of friends and a generous dollop of sunshine and you're all set for good times. Oh, did I mention that this drive is one of the 'Drives of a Lifetime' as designated by National Geographic. That's got to count for something right?