jeroen100
Netherlands
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Joined: 09/29/2004
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Hi Everybody,
Canadream offers fully insulated RV's to use in winter. As we love skiing and rv-ing, this would seem to be a good idea for us. Has anyone tried this before (or with your own rv?) Did you enjoy yourself? What would be the best month to come (nov - march)? Any other advise?
Thanks,
Jeroen
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Fizz
Ottawa, Canada
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Joined: 07/28/2003
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Canada is a big country, with different weather from coast to coast. What part are you interested in visiting. It makes a big difference in choosing a good month
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Where we spend our summer months ...Cottage
Trailer pics: Trail Bay 27DS
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jeroen100
Netherlands
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Sorry, should have been more specific. We are considering a one way from Vancouver to Calgary. Ski resorts to visit would probably be Whistler and Lake Louise, but other suggestions are very welcome.
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vic46
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
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Joined: 09/13/2007
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You should give some thought to Calgary to Calgary. No drop off fee for the M/H and you have 5 great ski areas that you could do in a circle from Calgary.
Kanaskis( Nakiska), Norquay and Sunshine (Banff), Lake Loise and Marmot Basin (Jasper).
There are also a number of great ski areas south on HWYS 93 & 95 through Radium Hot Springs. You could do this in a circle from Calgary but this adds a lot of klicks!
Check here and Travel Alberta
http://skicentral.com/alberta.html
Vic
* This post was
edited 11/18/08 12:43pm by vic46 *
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ImaHeadaU
Vancouver, B.C. Canada
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Back in the '80s and early '90s I used to camp in my VW Westfalia camper van in the old Whistler KOA. I worked out well for us. The average temperatures are not so cold. There was only one occasion when it got below -25 Celsius with a blowing wind but we made it through well enough.
I haven't stayed at the new campground in Whistler but it's looks okay. The old KOA had a sauna and a hot tub which was good.
The main thing is to be able to shower, wash and dry your clothes.
Keep in mind that the drive from Whistler or Vancouver to Calgary will take two days. So allow enough time for your drives from mountain to mountain.
ImaHeadaU - Vancouver, B.C. Canada
'05 Alpenlite Aspen 28RL
'03 Ford F250 6L. Diesel
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sue.t
Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
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Joined: 08/05/2004
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We journeyed the Alaska Highway in a 23' Class C in 1998 and 2001, in December. The motorhome was a "three season" RV, whatever that means.
Black and grey tanks exposed underneath, and yes, we used the RV's facilities and just let things freeze in the tanks. Fresh water tank and water lines inside. Single pane windows (which we covered with styrofoam insulation).
We survived -40 temps. Photos from both trips are at http://suethomas.ca; see the links on the right side of the page.
sue t.
Pictures from our many RV Adventures to Yukon & Alaska
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bb_94401
San Mateo, California
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While Whistler/Blackcomb outside of Vancouver and the resorts around Banff are the most well known, the nice part about having a well insulated RV is that you can take a road trip and try out all sorts of ski areas and make some really nice discoveries right in BC.
West side of Cascades has large dumps, but can be wet and have some amazing snow /temperature gradients from top to bottom. Skiing during the storm is when the snow is at its best.
East of the Cascades to the BC / Alberta border the temps are colder, better chance of sunshine and lighter snow that will last longer. Each resort has it's own character and some have amazing amounts of vertical.
Typically more storms in January and nicer weather in February and March. Just depends on how much you love winter ;-) Early season can either be great or iffy, just depends on where the storm track / jet stream sits.
Below is a list to consider / check out. I find it is much nicer to ski/board at a relatively unknown resort with a sense of exploration, no expectations and pure enjoyment vs. going to a more "recognizable" resort that may or may not live up to its hype.
Enjoy the journey
-- Bob
Apex Mountain Penticton, BC www.apexresort.com
Big White Kelowna, BC www.bigwhite.com
Cypress Mountain West Vancouver, BC www.cypressmountain.com
Fairmont Hot Springs Ski Area Fairmont Hot Springs www.fairmonthotsprings.com
Fernie Fernie, BC www.skifernie.com
Grouse Mountain North Vancouver, BC www.grousemountain.com
Kicking Horse Golden, BC www.kickinghorseresort.com
Kimberley Alpine Resort Kimberley, BC www.skikimberley.com
Mount Baldy Oliver, BC www.skibaldy.com
Mount Seymour North Vancouver, BC www.mountseymour.com
Mount Timothy Ski Area Lac La Hache www.skitimothy.com
Mount Washington Mt. Washington Alpine Resort, BC www.mountwashington.ca
Panorama Mountain Panorama Mountain Village, BC www.panoramaresort.com
Red Mountain Resort Rossland, BC www.redresort.com
Revelstoke Mountain Resort Revelstoke, BC www.revelstokemountainresort.com
Silver Star Silver Star Mountain Resort, BC www.silverstar.com
Sun Peaks Sun Peaks Resort, BC www.sunpeaksresort.com
Whistler / Blackcomb Whistler, BC www.whistlerblackcomb.com
Whitewater Nelson, BC www.skiwhitewater
Ski Smithers , BC
Hemlock Resort Hemlock Valley
San Mateo, CA
'05 Ram 3500, DWR, LB, 6spd man, CTD,4x4, PRXB exhaust brake
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jeroen100
Netherlands
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Joined: 09/29/2004
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Thanks for all your input! We will have about two weeks so that should give us enough time to try some of the resorts Bob mentioned. We can get a good deal for a one way through a Dutch organisation, so the route will probably be Vancouver - Calgary.
If I read the info on the canadream site correctly, we can even use the grey and black water tanks, although I find that hard to believe... This is what they say: "Winter Motorhome Rental. Winter RVs are insulated, come with a generator, vent pillows, furnace and offer full facilities to -30C"
Will ski resorts allow rv-ers to overnight on their parking lots? Will there be others there you think?
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sue.t
Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
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jeroen100 wrote:If I read the info on the canadream site correctly, we can even use the grey and black water tanks, although I find that hard to believe... This is what they say: "Winter Motorhome Rental. Winter RVs are insulated, come with a generator, vent pillows, furnace and offer full facilities to -30C" .
We used the grey and black tanks to -40. Didn't have the opportunity to try anything colder, although with wind chill while we were driving I suppose the tanks were exposed to colder temps.
As the temperature gets that low, though, your propane becomes less efficient and the furnace not as effective. So having the generator would be nice if you also have a small electric heater for the inside.
I expect you will see other RVers at the ski resorts on the West Coast. Winter camping is not all that uncommon around here, even at higher elevations.
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Orion
Pacific South West
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Joined: 10/21/2002
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Sue.t wrote:We used the grey and black tanks to -40. Didn't have the opportunity to try anything colder, although with wind chill while we were driving I suppose the tanks were exposed to colder temps.
Just so you know, wind chill only applies to how cold it FEELS to humans and other animals, it does not actually lower the temperature.
If the temp. is -20C and you put a thermometer at the front of your vehicle and drive at 50 MPH, it will still read as -20C.
Never miss an opportunity to walk on the grass.
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