PH93 through Kootenay National Park
July 7, 2007.
We are staying in the Tunnel
Mountain National Park Campground in Banff, Alberta. Tunnel
Mountain Campground offers full hookups, no hookups, and electricity
only. We are in one of the $29.70 electricity only sites. I do not
know what FHU or no hookups cost but they are all in the same area.
All sites are paved.
We left Radium
Hot Springs this morning heading to Banff on PH 93 through
Kootenay National Park.
Immediately upon leaving Radium
Hot Springs we entered the National Park then went through
the "springs". From the "hot springs" the road
passes through one of the most awesome roadcuts anywhere. One has
to wonder why a road cut and not a tunnel. About the same time there
is a sign warning about an 11% grade with no indication how long the
grade is going to be. An 11% grade will get your attention especially
if it is going to be 11% for very long. But for now it is back to
negotiating these mind boggling road cuts.
The Canadian
Rocky Mountains in this area are comprised of limestone and
shales deposited on an ancient sea bottom millions of years ago.
Seven percent grades like this were common throughout the journey
on PH 93 from Radium
Hot Springs to Banff.
At times we get a peak at the mountains we are threading our way
through.
PH 93 in this section is a nice modern highway complete with guard
rail. Notice the snow covered mountains we are passing.
Just another 7% grade.
We must have followed this valley for 30 to 40 miles with spectacular
views of snow capped mountains every way we looked on PH93 in Kootenay
Natonal Park.
Joyce is doing a good job taking these pictures out the front window
of our motorhome.
Shadows on the mountains along with the deep green of the conifer
forest make every turn exciting.
Some of that snow is actually deep glaciers that will not melt over
the summer.
It isn't all up hill but most of it sure is. After all we have to
climb to the Continental Divide on PH 93 in the Canadian
Rockies.
We seem to be missing the uphill grade signs. Anyway, PH 93 through
Kootenay National
Park in the Canadian
Rockies is a fun drive in our motorhome.
