Driving to Calgary?

[slcrocket]

Hi guys - I'm still fairly new to the board, but this seems like an awesome resource for a few questions I have.

I currently live in Seattle, and my wife and I are thinking of driving to Calgary for a Flames game (maybe sometime next February?). I'm wondering how navigable the roads are typically that time of year, and how hard it would be for me to get there. I have 4WD on a brand new Rav4 and could probably get chains if you guys think it's necessary, but I'm wondering what you guys think.

Every time I've been to Calgary before I've flown, so this would all be new to me. Also, what other recommendations would you make as far as stuff to see/do?

Thanks!

[ken0042]

This is the route I normally take:
http://www.google.ca/maps?f=d&source...73&ie=UTF8&z=7

It takes you off most of the moutain roads that can cause snow delays.

[Buzzard]

Naaa..no need for chains. 4wd is more than enough. I always tell friends and family that arent sure...in the mountains if it gets too bad, they just close it till it's better. No worries.

[CMPunk]

Ohhh Seattle...I know the drive well. Probably about a 13 hour drive. Check Drive BC for road conditions in the mountains, but you should be pretty safe for the next little while. Once you see snow in Calgary, then you can worry a bit more

[socalwingfan]

My wife and I have made the drive from California in December a few times now in her Acura RSX. Drive the speed limit and everything will be cool, we even drove through a snowstorm in a glacier park in Montana and made it unscathed, passing a few 4x4s in the ditch in the process. Getting ready to make the drive again in a few weeks, this time sticking to the 15 and not taking the glacier route.

[T@T]

Don't worry, the way this winters going you may get to golf.

Blame global warming!

[NSFL]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone in Calgary really use chains? I ask because I've never actually seen chains in person before. And yeah, just drive the speed limit, be careful and you'll be fine.

[Superfraggle]

I have some in the trunk. Never had to use them yet. Winter tires are generally sufficient. Have to be pretty nasty to need the chains.

[NSFL]

Originally Posted by Superfraggle

I have some in the trunk. Never had to use them yet. Winter tires are generally sufficient. Have to be pretty nasty to need the chains.

So what are the chains good for? Like pure ice conditions?

[Flames0910]

you'll be fine. lotsa people freak out over mountain driving but just go whatever speed you're comfortable with. don't feel pressured to win the race because you never do.

[Superfraggle]

Originally Posted by NSFL

So what are the chains good for? Like pure ice conditions?

It's just more traction. Ice, maybe. Deep snow. Anything where your tires will just spin otherwise.

The other thing is chains are quick and easy to put on/take off so, if you're, say, driving from an area without snow (Seattle) through an area with lots (Rogers Pass), you don't have to change your tires.

edit: The main reason I have the chains, to be honest, is because they came with the car. Almost used them last year, because I didn't register the car until spring, when it was too late to make putting winter tires on worthwhile, but I was in Golden during a big dump, so it was basically winter driving conditions.

[NSFL]

Originally Posted by Superfraggle

It's just more traction. Ice, maybe. Deep snow. Anything where your tires will just spin otherwise.

The other thing is chains are quick and easy to put on/take off so, if you're, say, driving from an area without snow (Seattle) through an area with lots (Rogers Pass), you don't have to change your tires.

edit: The main reason I have the chains, to be honest, is because they came with the car. Almost used them last year, because I didn't register the car until spring, when it was too late to make putting winter tires on worthwhile, but I was in Golden during a big dump, so it was basically winter driving conditions.

Oh, gotcha, thanks. Yeah, I've never used them, never seen them, don't even know how they go on. So I was just curious.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by ken0042

This is the route I normally take:
http://www.google.ca/maps?f=d&source...73&ie=UTF8&z=7

It takes you off most of the moutain roads that can cause snow delays.

that's the route a friend and i took driving to Seattle for a concert. very easy drive, if not a little boring since most of Washington seems to be an arid nothingness

[Sluggo]

Just remember if its slushy to clean it off. My parents arrived home and had to call me on their cell since it froze and trapped them inside. It can get cold fast coming down from the mountains.

[GreenLantern]

Calgary doesn't even have a winter, just a colder fall. So don't worry about driving there. Avoid the mountains as much as you can because like everyone else said, there is always the chance of a snow delay. Driving the speed limit or say 5 clicks (3.25 miles?) over will see you to your destination safely.

[gargamel]

Two years ago I made an extended version of that drive in the winter in a Hyundai rental car with no problems. I flew from Boston to Seattle on Friday afternoon, drove from Seattle to Vancouver for a Friday night game, drove through the night to Edmonton for a Saturday afternoon game, then drove to Calgary for a Satuday evening game. Then I drove through the night to Seattle for a Sunday afternoon flight. It's do-able and wasn't a bad way to hit the three western Canadian hockey arenas while only missing half a day of work, but I'd recommend a rental car as long as you can get one with unlimited mileage for under $50.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by gargamel

Two years ago I made an extended version of that drive in the winter in a Hyundai rental car with no problems. I flew from Boston to Seattle on Friday afternoon, drove from Seattle to Vancouver for a Friday night game, drove through the night to Edmonton for a Saturday afternoon game, then drove to Calgary for a Satuday evening game. Then I drove through the night to Seattle for a Sunday afternoon flight. It's do-able and wasn't a bad way to hit the three western Canadian hockey arenas while only missing half a day of work, but I'd recommend a rental car as long as you can get one with unlimited mileage for under $50.

lol that's a nutty trip man. I can't function on so little sleep.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by gargamel

Two years ago I made an extended version of that drive in the winter in a Hyundai rental car with no problems. I flew from Boston to Seattle on Friday afternoon, drove from Seattle to Vancouver for a Friday night game, drove through the night to Edmonton for a Saturday afternoon game, then drove to Calgary for a Satuday evening game. Then I drove through the night to Seattle for a Sunday afternoon flight. It's do-able and wasn't a bad way to hit the three western Canadian hockey arenas while only missing half a day of work, but I'd recommend a rental car as long as you can get one with unlimited mileage for under $50.

Wow, that's a crazy amount of driving on what has to be very little sleep.

I remember driving home from Another Roadside Attraction in Camrose very early the morning after, dozing off while driving and waking up straddling the outside lane and the exit lane with about 200m to go before the split while doing 130km/h. I immediately pulled over and made my friend drive. I have never driven while that tired ever again.

[Regulator75]

Aren't chains illegal in Alberta?

[gargamel]

Originally Posted by Reaper

Wow, that's a crazy amount of driving on what has to be very little sleep.

It was pretty bad, but I should have mentioned that I was with a friend and we took turns driving so that the other one could try to sleep on the back seat. It still probably wasn't the smartest thing I've ever done, but the Flames won and I survived so it was a good trip.