GDMBR Alternate routes at Banff

[KenSmithMT]

Hello all
I'm planning to start the GDMBR in Banff on July 13th with three friends.  With the current flooding and washouts it looks like we may need to be creative with the first day.  We were planning to get dropped off in Banff in the afternoon and head down the route about 30 miles and make camp near the south end of Spray Lakes.  We won't have time to make it all the way to the Kananaskis lakes that first night.  Does anybody know anything about camping along the east side of spray lakes or along the Smith Dorrien Trail?   I've tried to talk to the staff in the visitor centers but they are obviously busy and distracted with the flooding.  They're not looking two weeks down the road yet. Any suggestions or info would be great.  Thanks

[caseygreene]

Ken,
You may have to get creative all over the place up there.

We also have an ACA tour starting up there starting on the 15th. You may want to check in with our Tours Dept to see what they come up, closer to go-time. And also check out this thread on our forums here: http://forums.adventurecycling.org/index.php?topic=11764.0

[caseygreene]

To illustrate my point,
This is a message I received from Matty Lee yesterday:

"Essentially Canada is unrideable. If you have a tour scheduled, you may want to consider an alternative. Elk river road bridge is out forcing a 200mi road detour to connect elkford with kananaskis country, and the bridge on spray river trail is out, trail is closed indefinitely, meaning riders beginning in banff would have to ride the legacy bike path around to canmore, the up smith-dorrien from there. The devastation is just being surveyed, too."

The road on the east side of Elk River is being scouted out right now, but expectations are not high...

[caseygreene]

Ken,
You probably saw this on the TD thread, but incase not:

Dear Tour Dividers, An FYI
http://www.banff.ca/AlertCenter.aspx?AID=Highways-update-from-Parks-Canada-and-Ro-32

Goat Creek - CLOSED - All three bridges are gone and massive trail damage
Smith Dorrian Highway CLOSED - several road washouts and multiple mud/ rock slides
Boulton Creek Store - CLOSED - (ive heard two stories one it washed away and one just severe flooding
regardless you cant get to it as the area is CLOSED
Legacy trail (Banff - Canmore) CLOSED - several sections are simply not there. washed away, gone etc
Highway access to Bicycles - CLOSED - being enforced - The highway has just opened but is single lane in many spots and alternating one lane with pilot car max speed 60km/hr in one section.

[trebor]

Hoe
Lee
Shat

[Chew]

Ken,

We're in the same position. We were planning on starting in Banff on the same weekend as you, but due to all of the information its not possible.
We've changed our plans to start from Fernie as Elk Pass is impassable as well as the Flathead section. The only way down from Banff is going to be a very long road detour.