Delica sets Canadian altitude record

[Erebus]

Or, I know Delicas in high places.

On Saturday, my significant other (SO) and I went for a drive. Started by going south from Calgary to Longview, then west on Hwy 541 to Highwood Junction, north on 40 (which is closed from 1 Dec to 15 June to allow the animals peace and quiet) to the winter gates, then the Smith-Dorien trail to Canmore for dinner.

Heading west out of Okotoks, we get a good view of the Rockies, capped in a light dusting of snow from the other day.


Driving west from Longview, the scenery was dry scrub and no traffic.


Once passed the closed gas station at Highwood Junction, the road starts to climb up into the mountains, with some of the stunning scenery we have gotten used to living here.


We stopped for a picnic lunch at Cat Creek (how could we not?). Then the flurries started ... And soon we were at Highwood Pass. Apparently the highest paved through road in Canada at 2206 metres, so I figure we set an altitude record.


I can easily believe it, since that spot is higher than the highest peaks east of Calgary and south of 60. See http://www.peakbagger.com/list.aspx?lid=12002 for the heights.

Once we turned onto the Smith-Dorien Trail, I pulled over at Sawmill and my SO took over. This was a major event. My SO had surgery on her right foot in July, so for the first couple of weeks that we had the Deli she couldn't even get in the front seat. The first Deli meet in Calgary in August marked the first time she got into the front passenger seat.

Finally she felt her foot was well enough to try driving, but wanted no traffic. And the Smith-Dorien fits that bill. It also has huge sentimental meaning -- when we were out here in 1996 on our house hunting trip for the move to Calgary, she was just learning to drive, and that stretch of SD was the first piece of road she ever drove on when not in a driver ed car! So it was appropriate that it would be another first -- her first time driving the Delica.


That gave me the opportunity to photograph the snowy road, and the bighorn sheep grazing by the side of the road.



I took over for the plunge down into Canmore:


There we spotted in the distance what we thought was a Delica. Closer examination as it parked revealed a Toyota TownAce. The driver saw us stop, she came over with a big grin and said, "Nice to meet friends." Not that we had ever met before. She's had hers since the spring, got it in Vancouver. What a lovely way to top off the day.

Of course, when my SO and I are in Canmore, we go to Chez Francois for dinner. Then the mad dash east on the Trans-Canada back home. 375 km later we were snug in bed.

[robinimpey]

2206 meters! That's nothing. I climbed to 4500 meters in a 1991 Suburban with a cracked frame. And there wasn't any pavement either. I'm sure a Delica could have gone right to the top!

[Erebus]

Ah, yes, that's why I said Canadian record. There are lots of places in the world with high roads, although if you throw being paved into the mix, not sure how many would be left.

Where was it that you went that high?

[BCDelica]

Nice report and pictures!

I didn't know that, thought the Going to the sun road was the highest. Just looked it up and it's 2025 meters at the Logan summit on that road. It's cool when you get your Deli's altimeter way up there, confirming what the road signs tell you. Can't even go over the Coke with out looking regularly, how did we get by with out one in are past vehicles?

[BCDelica]

Also, what is that red UFO in the upper right of the Canmore picture?

[Green1]

what is that red UFO in the upper right of the Canmore picture?

that's one of those pastic balls they put on power lines to stop planes from running in to them.

[marsgal42]

It's cool when you get your Deli's altimeter way up there, confirming what the road signs tell you. Can't even go over the Coke with out looking regularly, how did we get by with out one in are past vehicles?

Grin. I feel naked now in my Jetta. No temperature gauge? No altimeter? No inclinometer? What were VW thinking?

The highest I've ever seen on my Delica's altimeter is 1200 meters. Begbie Summit, just south of 100 Mile House.

...laura

[piyeguyo]

Fred

Nice story and pictures.

I am pretty sure Robinimpey was somewhere in South America, I'm guessing Bolivia... If you want to be in high altitude cities try Bogotá (2,650mts) or La Paz (3,600mts)... and these are the capital cities.

If I'm successful with Central America 2008, I might try South America 2010...

If you really want to break records, you're welcome to come along.

Regards,

Fabio

[Erebus]

The highest I've ever seen on my Delica's altimeter is 1200 meters. Begbie Summit, just south of 100 Mile House.

My house in Calgary is at 1175m.

I grew up in Montreal, and have hiked to the top of Mount Mansfield (the tallest peak in Vermont (1339m, 4393ft)) and Mount Katahdin (the tallest peak in Maine (1606m, 4292ft)). Both of those are serious hikes. So driving to a higher altitude makes me chuckle.

[robinimpey]

Fabio is close! I lived in Ecuador for two years and made a few trips up a few mountains, actually I had no choice but to drive up and down mountains as we lived in the high sierras just outside of the capital city of Quito.. The trip with the Suburban was up Mt. Cotopaxi, the worlds highest active volcano. The places I could have gone if I would have had a Delica in Ecuador. Adventure of all kinds are everywhere!

Hasta luego!