Trip to Banff

mtiede · 06-08-2008

My wife and I plan on driving the SLK to Banff for about a week at the beginning of August. Anyone have any advice as to some fun roads to drive the SLK on there?

**FishtailnZ** · 06-09-2008

Been there a few times, absolutely stunning scenery! Didn't do any driving myself though, so can't help you out there. Lots to see and do though, have fun!

IIIMBPIII · 06-16-2008

I've always wanted to go there my moms Canadian and she says its amazing up there!!! Take LOTS pf pics!

mtiede · 06-16-2008

I've been to most all the National Parks and to all the States. Seen all the mountains in the West. I think Lake Louise is the prettiest. Really convenient to get to from Calgary. Great views down the long glacial valleys. And the lake colors are spectacular. I've been there 3 times but never as a destination before. And not with a convertible SLK!!!

jchou · 06-30-2008

There's always a first time! :-)

**Dang** · 07-02-2008

mtiede...

I live in Calgary, less than an hour from Banff. You've GOT to do highway 93 going up to Jasper. It's got enough turns on it they don't even allow trucks on the road. About halfway, you can stop and take a Snow Coach on the glacier (....yes, in summer)! It's an easy day run from Banff. (west on highway 1, just past Lake Louise go North on 93.
http://www.columbiaicefield.com/

It's my second favorite road, but there really aren't a lot of bad drives on any road between Calgary and Vancouver.

My favorite road is the "Going to the Sun" road in Montana. It might sort of be on your way back depending which way you go. No vehicles over 21 feet. You'll look up and see cars 1000 feet above you, then realize it's where you will be in about 5 minutes. Stay in Waterton on the Alberta side, then cross over the border and have fun.
http://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisi...thesunroad.htm

I intend to put the top down and do it this summer in the SLK as well! Can hardly wait.

Neither of these are the fastest roads you'll drive, just probably the most fun and scenic. (for fast, try the Coquihalla, which I think is the highest major road in the country.)

Enjoy!

Dang

mtiede · 07-02-2008

Yeah, we did that road to Jasper once before. Went on the Snow Coach out over the Columbia Icefield. Saw a coyote and a timber wolf along the way in the river bed.

Looking forward to doing that trip again with the convertible.

We will be staying about 4 days in Banff at Lake Louise and then heading up to Jasper for a couple of days. Staying in Hinton when by Jasper.

Been lucky enough to be to most all the parks in the US. Been to "Going to the Sun", but it was a LOOONGG time ago. I read that they were in the middle of repairing the road. Shoring up the support walls, improving drainage and the like. Sounds like a good thing to do. Although the road is open while they are working on it, I'm not sure if you can drive on it or whether you have to take a bus.

**Cruzer 8** · 07-19-2008

Been there once about 15 years back and came from Cali ,coming from your direction I would cross the plains into Montana and use I-90 ( the autobahn of the North ) go across Idaho into Washington head for a Town called Ephrata then head North up to Grand Coulee awesome damn and lakes on this road then head North up through the Okanagan Valley (very good scenery and a few historic town) and cross the border into Canada. Can't remember the highway numbers but Goggle maps should help. Once you cross the border Calgary ( when we were there the Olympic village was a sight to see ) and Banff are right close and the roads through the Canadian Rockies is beautiful.
Which ever way you go it will be a great trip one we plan to take when Jo gets to walking.
Have a good time and looking forward to your pic's.

mtiede · 08-19-2008

Went 5000+ miles and had a great time. Amongst other things, went to Glacier, Waterton, Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper. I will post a couple of the pictures for now. It was GREAT in the SLK 350. Top down. Although it was a little scary stopping by the buffalo, the elk, and mostly the bears! Apparently a worker at Lake Louise got mauled by a bear a couple of days before our arrival.

**etyu** · 08-20-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtiede

Went 5000+ miles and had a great time. Amongst other things, went to Glacier, Waterton, Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper. I will post a couple of the pictures for now. It was GREAT in the SLK 350. Top down. Although it was a little scary stopping by the buffalo, the elk, and mostly the bears! Apparently a worker at Lake Louise got mauled by a bear a couple of days before our arrival.

(Doesn't look like I'm doing imageshack right, but I will try this below anyway)

Nope, no image there... Have to try later...

try photobucket.

mtiede · 08-27-2008

Okay, here are some pictures from PhotoBucket.

The car before it got REALLY dirty.

Heading toward Glacier National Park

More of Glacier.

Going to the Sun road before it got scary

Pretty valley.

Lake St. Mary.

And here is the view from our room at the Fairmont Lake Louise.

That's it for now. Maybe some pictures of varmints later.

Okay, 1 more for now. Should this car be washed?

I was happy how these pictures came out since they were stills from my video camera.

**slkluv** · 08-28-2008

A wash wouldn't hurt...

**etyu** · 08-28-2008

Thanks for the beautiful scenery photos. A good wash and wax is in order. R170 antenna perhaps?

mtiede · 08-28-2008

Yeah, I want to do that antenna. I have to get past my tendency to procrastinate

**Ynot** · 08-28-2008

Beautiful pics, I'm jealous, makes me want to go out for a nice drive.

mtiede · 08-28-2008

Click this for a slide show of some animals we saw:

http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/r...view=slideshow

Here is a teaser:

Oh, and here is another car picture (note the yellow grasshoppers):

**UK-C200** · 08-29-2008

Ewwwww! I hope you have washed the carcasses off!

mtiede · 08-29-2008

I scraped off a bunch at the gas station. You can see some carcasses on the ground. I tried to go to a car wash that evening, but it was packed with people. Didn't occur to me until just now that the reason it was packed was probably the same reason I was there

The next morning no one was there so I was able to try to wash the front end off. I was able to use a very high power pressure washer to get most of the bodies off the grid to the radiator and off the fog lights. I tried to be very careful with it on the paint, but those grasshoppers were very stubborn.

And we have been busy since getting back from the trip, but tomorrow I'm getting out the bug and tar remover. Previously I tried to get the dirt off, but it really didn't hose off well and I was afraid of grinding the grit into the paint. So I just ran water on it and loosened the dirt with my hand. That helped. But tomorrow I will try to actually wash it. I might be seeing Zaino and a clay bar in my future.

Did the slideshow work for you?

**etyu** · 08-29-2008

Slide show worked great

Wash and claybar, then Zaino tomorrow

**dltslk** · 08-29-2008

Thanks for all the pics and show.

I've been to Banff quite a while ago and it is a beautiful place!

06-08-2008	#1 (permalink)
mtiede Founding Member #7 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Western New York Vehicle: 2006 SLK 350 Posts: 1,645 Thanks: 101 Thanked 55 Times in 45 Posts	Trip to Banff My wife and I plan on driving the SLK to Banff for about a week at the beginning of August. Anyone have any advice as to some fun roads to drive the SLK on there?

06-09-2008	#2 (permalink)
FishtailnZ Don't feed the trolls... Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nfld., Canada Other Toys: Wife, kids, dogs... Posts: 1,490 Country: Thanks: 285 Thanked 212 Times in 95 Posts	Been there a few times, absolutely stunning scenery! Didn't do any driving myself though, so can't help you out there. Lots to see and do though, have fun! __________________ - Bill Waiting on a 2009 C63 Opal Fire Red/Alpaca Grey R.I.P. 2006 SLK55 Caspian Blue/Beige Stock 1/4 mile results: ET 12.72, trap 110.80, 60' 1.80 Some guys they just give up living and start dying little by little, piece by piece. Some guys come home from work and wash up and go racin' in the street... - B. Springsteen

07-02-2008	#6 (permalink)
Dang SLK World Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Calgary, AB, Canada Vehicle: 2005 SLK 350 Posts: 50 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 13 Times in 10 Posts	mtiede... I live in Calgary, less than an hour from Banff. You've GOT to do highway 93 going up to Jasper. It's got enough turns on it they don't even allow trucks on the road. About halfway, you can stop and take a Snow Coach on the glacier (....yes, in summer)! It's an easy day run from Banff. (west on highway 1, just past Lake Louise go North on 93. http://www.columbiaicefield.com/ It's my second favorite road, but there really aren't a lot of bad drives on any road between Calgary and Vancouver. My favorite road is the "Going to the Sun" road in Montana. It might sort of be on your way back depending which way you go. No vehicles over 21 feet. You'll look up and see cars 1000 feet above you, then realize it's where you will be in about 5 minutes. Stay in Waterton on the Alberta side, then cross over the border and have fun. http://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisi...thesunroad.htm I intend to put the top down and do it this summer in the SLK as well! Can hardly wait. Neither of these are the fastest roads you'll drive, just probably the most fun and scenic. (for fast, try the Coquihalla, which I think is the highest major road in the country.) Enjoy! Dang __________________ 2005 SLK350 6 Speed Manual, Air Scarf, Comand, Nav. OEM Bluetooth Phone, iPod interface and Sat Radio. Orion Blue Metallic

07-19-2008	#8 (permalink)
Cruzer 8 Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peoria, AZ Vehicle: 07 SL 550 Mars Red Posts: 573 Country: Thanks: 32 Thanked 57 Times in 27 Posts	Been there once about 15 years back and came from Cali ,coming from your direction I would cross the plains into Montana and use I-90 ( the autobahn of the North ) go across Idaho into Washington head for a Town called Ephrata then head North up to Grand Coulee awesome damn and lakes on this road then head North up through the Okanagan Valley (very good scenery and a few historic town) and cross the border into Canada. Can't remember the highway numbers but Goggle maps should help. Once you cross the border Calgary ( when we were there the Olympic village was a sight to see ) and Banff are right close and the roads through the Canadian Rockies is beautiful. Which ever way you go it will be a great trip one we plan to take when Jo gets to walking. Have a good time and looking forward to your pic's. __________________ GENE ---- See My Pic's To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. *To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.* SL 550 Mars Red

08-19-2008	#9 (permalink)
mtiede Founding Member #7 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Western New York Vehicle: 2006 SLK 350 Posts: 1,645 Thanks: 101 Thanked 55 Times in 45 Posts	Went 5000+ miles and had a great time. Amongst other things, went to Glacier, Waterton, Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper. I will post a couple of the pictures for now. It was GREAT in the SLK 350. Top down. Although it was a little scary stopping by the buffalo, the elk, and mostly the bears! Apparently a worker at Lake Louise got mauled by a bear a couple of days before our arrival. Last edited by mtiede; 08-27-2008 at 11:34 PM.

06-16-2008	#3 (permalink)
IIIMBPIII SLK World Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 72 Country: Thanks: 1 Thanked 29 Times in 8 Posts	I've always wanted to go there my moms Canadian and she says its amazing up there!!! Take LOTS pf pics!

06-16-2008	#4 (permalink)
mtiede Founding Member #7 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Western New York Vehicle: 2006 SLK 350 Posts: 1,645 Thanks: 101 Thanked 55 Times in 45 Posts	I've been to most all the National Parks and to all the States. Seen all the mountains in the West. I think Lake Louise is the prettiest. Really convenient to get to from Calgary. Great views down the long glacial valleys. And the lake colors are spectacular. I've been there 3 times but never as a destination before. And not with a convertible SLK!!!

06-30-2008	#5 (permalink)
jchou SLK World Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Rancho Santa Margarita, Ca Vehicle: Palladium SLK 350 Other Toys: Yamaha Midnight Cruiser, 71 Porsche Targa, 49 Chevy truck Posts: 5 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	There's always a first time! :-)

07-02-2008	#7 (permalink)
mtiede Founding Member #7 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Western New York Vehicle: 2006 SLK 350 Posts: 1,645 Thanks: 101 Thanked 55 Times in 45 Posts	Yeah, we did that road to Jasper once before. Went on the Snow Coach out over the Columbia Icefield. Saw a coyote and a timber wolf along the way in the river bed. Looking forward to doing that trip again with the convertible. We will be staying about 4 days in Banff at Lake Louise and then heading up to Jasper for a couple of days. Staying in Hinton when by Jasper. Been lucky enough to be to most all the parks in the US. Been to "Going to the Sun", but it was a LOOONGG time ago. I read that they were in the middle of repairing the road. Shoring up the support walls, improving drainage and the like. Sounds like a good thing to do. Although the road is open while they are working on it, I'm not sure if you can drive on it or whether you have to take a bus.

08-27-2008	#11 (permalink)
mtiede Founding Member #7 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Western New York Vehicle: 2006 SLK 350 Posts: 1,645 Thanks: 101 Thanked 55 Times in 45 Posts	Okay, here are some pictures from PhotoBucket. The car before it got REALLY dirty. Heading toward Glacier National Park More of Glacier. Going to the Sun road before it got scary Pretty valley. Lake St. Mary. And here is the view from our room at the Fairmont Lake Louise. That's it for now. Maybe some pictures of varmints later. Okay, 1 more for now. Should this car be washed? I was happy how these pictures came out since they were stills from my video camera.

08-28-2008	#12 (permalink)
slkluv SLK World Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Irvine, CA Vehicle: Black 05 SLK 350 Posts: 77 Country: Thanks: 9 Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts	A wash wouldn't hurt...

08-28-2008	#13 (permalink)
etyu Founding Member #2 / Ambassador Of Good Will Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Orange County, CA Vehicle: 2008 SLK 55 Posts: 5,281 Country: Thanks: 377 Thanked 277 Times in 168 Posts	Thanks for the beautiful scenery photos. A good wash and wax is in order. R170 antenna perhaps? __________________ *Eddy* To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Pewter/Beige, PIII package, Airscarf, Hands-Free Communication System, Lighting package Designo Black Leather Cover on e-brake handle, ( To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Bill T), SmartTop v1.0, Kleyman 3BFM (NoRegret Custom), Green Air Filters, *Mod. R170 ant.*, EuroClear sidemarkers w/PIAA PlasmaIon lamps, chromed front & rear turn indicator lamps, PIAA SuperPlasmaGTX front parking lamps, bilateral rear fog lamps enabled.

08-28-2008	#14 (permalink)
mtiede Founding Member #7 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Western New York Vehicle: 2006 SLK 350 Posts: 1,645 Thanks: 101 Thanked 55 Times in 45 Posts	Yeah, I want to do that antenna. I have to get past my tendency to procrastinate

08-28-2008	#15 (permalink)
Ynot Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Colorado Vehicle: 06' MBZ SLK Posts: 2,795 Country: Thanks: 135 Thanked 35 Times in 30 Posts	Beautiful pics, I'm jealous, makes me want to go out for a nice drive. __________________ 06' SLK 350, Iridium/Ash all pkgs. 6-spd, 19" DCR. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

08-28-2008	#16 (permalink)
mtiede Founding Member #7 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Western New York Vehicle: 2006 SLK 350 Posts: 1,645 Thanks: 101 Thanked 55 Times in 45 Posts	Click this for a slide show of some animals we saw: http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/r...view=slideshow Here is a teaser: Oh, and here is another car picture (note the yellow grasshoppers):

08-29-2008	#17 (permalink)
UK-C200 Elite SLK World Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: London, UK & Baton Rouge, Louisiana Vehicle: 04 RHD C200K Coupe, 06 LHD SLK-350 Other Toys: Nacra F18 Posts: 581 Country: Thanks: 38 Thanked 124 Times in 78 Posts	Ewwwww! I hope you have washed the carcasses off!

08-29-2008	#18 (permalink)
mtiede Founding Member #7 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Western New York Vehicle: 2006 SLK 350 Posts: 1,645 Thanks: 101 Thanked 55 Times in 45 Posts	I scraped off a bunch at the gas station. You can see some carcasses on the ground. I tried to go to a car wash that evening, but it was packed with people. Didn't occur to me until just now that the reason it was packed was probably the same reason I was there The next morning no one was there so I was able to try to wash the front end off. I was able to use a very high power pressure washer to get most of the bodies off the grid to the radiator and off the fog lights. I tried to be very careful with it on the paint, but those grasshoppers were very stubborn. And we have been busy since getting back from the trip, but tomorrow I'm getting out the bug and tar remover. Previously I tried to get the dirt off, but it really didn't hose off well and I was afraid of grinding the grit into the paint. So I just ran water on it and loosened the dirt with my hand. That helped. But tomorrow I will try to actually wash it. I might be seeing Zaino and a clay bar in my future. Did the slideshow work for you?

08-29-2008	#19 (permalink)
etyu Founding Member #2 / Ambassador Of Good Will Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Orange County, CA Vehicle: 2008 SLK 55 Posts: 5,281 Country: Thanks: 377 Thanked 277 Times in 168 Posts	Slide show worked great Wash and claybar, then Zaino tomorrow __________________ *Eddy* To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Pewter/Beige, PIII package, Airscarf, Hands-Free Communication System, Lighting package Designo Black Leather Cover on e-brake handle, ( To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Bill T), SmartTop v1.0, Kleyman 3BFM (NoRegret Custom), Green Air Filters, *Mod. R170 ant.*, EuroClear sidemarkers w/PIAA PlasmaIon lamps, chromed front & rear turn indicator lamps, PIAA SuperPlasmaGTX front parking lamps, bilateral rear fog lamps enabled.

08-29-2008	#20 (permalink)
dltslk Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: GA Vehicle: 2007 Mars Red/Black SLK55 AMG Other Toys: 1968 Pontiac GTO Posts: 673 Country: Thanks: 88 Thanked 67 Times in 52 Posts	Thanks for all the pics and show. I've been to Banff quite a while ago and it is a beautiful place! __________________ David