Driving from Van to Calgary in February - Mazda 6 Forums : Mazda 6 / Mazda Atenza Forum

Burnsey · 11-20-2008, 01:10 PM

Hey everyone,

I wonder if I could elict an opinion or three on a little road trip I'm planning.

Basically, fly to Vancouver, rent a car and drive to Calgary in-an-around the 2nd week of February. The plan is to ski Big White, Silver Star, Revelstoke and Kicking Horse, then meet up with family & friends in Calgary.

I've driven from Calgary to Lake Louise before, and from Vancouver to Whistler, so while I have seen the area before, living/driving in Southern Ontario does not prepare one for driving in the mountains.

So, the question: is it a really-really bad idea to drive a rental car with (presumably) bald-ass no-season tires from Vancouver to Calgary in the middle of winter?

Thanks!

Awong124 · 11-20-2008, 06:17 PM

Major highways are still going to be pretty clear, I don't really think it would be a problem.

m6inVan · 11-21-2008, 11:57 AM

Well i don't know about the hwy's after Big White, buuuuuuut the hwy from Vancouver (Coquihalla Hwy 5) to Kelowna (Big White) is freaking dangerous when it snows (driving van-whislter is a cake walk). They close part of the hwy if it snows too much, I've only taken chartered buses to big white. But if you must drive it, I think it might require chains on ur tires. So I would op for a 4x4 with good tires.

Have fun and drive slow =)

JayPatel · 11-22-2008, 02:23 AM

yup. Bad idea to drive the coquihalla in the winter. That can get downright nasty. If you must, have some good rubber on and keep chains with you.

mzda6 Zm Zm · 11-23-2008, 04:26 PM

I just got back yesterday from the same sort of trip. We did this big figure 8 to see almost all major areas of alberta and BC.

Heres some advice:
First I wanted to rent a car in Calgary and drop it off in van city, but they charge an arm and a leg to return it in another province ($1400 for 7 days) It was cheaper for me to rent in Calgary for 10 days and return to the same rental agency ($500 for 10 days). So where ever you rent it is cheeper to return it to the same place. It is suposed to be cheeper to fly into calgary as vancouver airport is buzy and has higher tax on flights plus it's farther out.

Second we were expecting to hit snow in the mountains even though it's november, so we opted to get a 4wd SUV. We ended up with a Jeep liberty. The tires were worn to about 1/2 tread, but it was good in the snowy mountain passes in 4wd. We felt safe. I have to assume that by february you run a real chance of having some delays. They do close portions of the highway there and you could be stranded in a town for a few days waiting to get through. Its not like when they close the 401 and you can use alternate routes to get by. from what I understand if the mountain pass is closed thats it. Also If there is heavy snow but they havent closed the roads, they require you to install tire chains at certain locations. I was told though that having 4WD is another option. These are all posibilities of travel in february. YMMV

Bottom line it is a very nice and scenic trip....Enjoy!

Burnsey · 11-24-2008, 12:58 PM

Awesome guys - thanks for the info.

mzda6_Zm_Zm: I had heard about the chains/4WD thing myself. I just wasn't sure if it was a myth or not (gawwwd I feel like such a noob :P).

I'm using up airmiles for this trip, so flight costs are pretty much a non-issue (one way from Toronto to Vancouver was $196 on Air Canada when I last looked). A mid-size one-way car rental from Vancouver to Calgary for one week was just over $200...although given what I have read here (and heard elsewhere), I might up that to a mid-sized SUV

Thanks again folks!

Awong124 · 11-25-2008, 09:27 PM

I remember someone saying on the forum that chains don't fit on the 6.

mzda6 Zm Zm · 11-25-2008, 11:41 PM

Did you read the whole thing? He is renting a car.

Awong124 · 11-27-2008, 01:07 AM

QUOTE (mzda6 Zm Zm @ Nov 25 2008, 08:41 PM)

Quote:

Did you read the whole thing? He is renting a car.[/b]

Oh, nevermind then.

Heavenclosed · 12-05-2008, 03:29 PM

My Brother in law just drove from Edmonton to Vancouver (trucker). He was crawling through many of the mountain passes. He had hardly any traction despite the loaded trailer he was hauling. Not the best time (now) to be heading across the mountains. I think February will be pretty much the same.

11-20-2008, 01:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
Burnsey Track Racer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, eh? Posts: 680 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: 0 reviews	Hey everyone, I wonder if I could elict an opinion or three on a little road trip I'm planning. Basically, fly to Vancouver, rent a car and drive to Calgary in-an-around the 2nd week of February. The plan is to ski Big White, Silver Star, Revelstoke and Kicking Horse, then meet up with family & friends in Calgary. I've driven from Calgary to Lake Louise before, and from Vancouver to Whistler, so while I have seen the area before, living/driving in Southern Ontario does not prepare one for driving in the mountains. So, the question: is it a really-really bad idea to drive a rental car with (presumably) bald-ass no-season tires from Vancouver to Calgary in the middle of winter? Thanks! __________________ "Awwwww geez Ricky, this place is makin' me frisky..."

11-20-2008, 06:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
Awong124 Mazda Guru Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Vancouver, B.C., Canada Posts: 2,759 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: 0 reviews	Major highways are still going to be pretty clear, I don't really think it would be a problem. __________________ 2002 Honda Accord Coupe EX V6 AT My Cardomain 2006 Mazda 6 Sport GT-V6 MT My Cardomain, My Garage

11-21-2008, 11:57 AM	#3 (permalink)
m6inVan Rally Racer Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Vancouver, BC Canada Posts: 1,183 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: 0 reviews	Well i don't know about the hwy's after Big White, buuuuuuut the hwy from Vancouver (Coquihalla Hwy 5) to Kelowna (Big White) is freaking dangerous when it snows (driving van-whislter is a cake walk). They close part of the hwy if it snows too much, I've only taken chartered buses to big white. But if you must drive it, I think it might require chains on ur tires. So I would op for a 4x4 with good tires. Have fun and drive slow =) __________________ 2005 Mazda6 GT-I4</span> <span style="color:#FF9966"> Black Racing Lip, Eyelids, 35% Tint, Shark-Fin Antenna, Atenza Badge, Custom Shift Boot, SilverStar Signals, 194 White LED's, Tail light Mod, Clear Sidemarkers w/ Mod, Racing Beat Exhausts, Tokico Shocks, MS Hatch Springs, 18" ALT Rival, Kumho Ecsta AST, CPE Mafci, Optimized Headers, Pulstar Spark Plugs, MS Short Shifter, 6000k HID's w/ TSX Retro, DDE Halo's, Lower Fog Lights, LED Tail Lights w/ Mod.

11-22-2008, 02:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
JayPatel Track Racer Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 192 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: 0 reviews	yup. Bad idea to drive the coquihalla in the winter. That can get downright nasty. If you must, have some good rubber on and keep chains with you. __________________ LED Tails \| Magnaflow Exhaust \| 18" 5Zigen 5ZR HB's \| 20% Rear Tint \| 18" GT Exclaim UHP \| Anzo Clear SideMarkers \| Full Interior LED Lighting \| Hyper White Parking LED \| Auxmod \| 6000K HIDCanada Bulbs

11-23-2008, 04:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
mzda6 Zm Zm Track Racer Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Ottawa, CANADA. Posts: 360 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: 0 reviews	I just got back yesterday from the same sort of trip. We did this big figure 8 to see almost all major areas of alberta and BC. Heres some advice: First I wanted to rent a car in Calgary and drop it off in van city, but they charge an arm and a leg to return it in another province ($1400 for 7 days) It was cheaper for me to rent in Calgary for 10 days and return to the same rental agency ($500 for 10 days). So where ever you rent it is cheeper to return it to the same place. It is suposed to be cheeper to fly into calgary as vancouver airport is buzy and has higher tax on flights plus it's farther out. Second we were expecting to hit snow in the mountains even though it's november, so we opted to get a 4wd SUV. We ended up with a Jeep liberty. The tires were worn to about 1/2 tread, but it was good in the snowy mountain passes in 4wd. We felt safe. I have to assume that by february you run a real chance of having some delays. They do close portions of the highway there and you could be stranded in a town for a few days waiting to get through. Its not like when they close the 401 and you can use alternate routes to get by. from what I understand if the mountain pass is closed thats it. Also If there is heavy snow but they havent closed the roads, they require you to install tire chains at certain locations. I was told though that having 4WD is another option. These are all posibilities of travel in february. YMMV Bottom line it is a very nice and scenic trip....Enjoy! __________________ <span style="color:#000099">- Lapis Blue - MTX - 5-Door Hatch - GT Package (Leather w/seat heaters, Bose 6-Disk System, Moonroof, Sport Grill, Side skirts, ect)

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11-24-2008, 12:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
Burnsey Track Racer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, eh? Posts: 680 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: 0 reviews	Awesome guys - thanks for the info. mzda6_Zm_Zm: I had heard about the chains/4WD thing myself. I just wasn't sure if it was a myth or not (gawwwd I feel like such a noob :P). I'm using up airmiles for this trip, so flight costs are pretty much a non-issue (one way from Toronto to Vancouver was $196 on Air Canada when I last looked). A mid-size one-way car rental from Vancouver to Calgary for one week was just over $200...although given what I have read here (and heard elsewhere), I might up that to a mid-sized SUV Thanks again folks! __________________ "Awwwww geez Ricky, this place is makin' me frisky..."

11-25-2008, 09:27 PM	#7 (permalink)
Awong124 Mazda Guru Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Vancouver, B.C., Canada Posts: 2,759 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: 0 reviews	I remember someone saying on the forum that chains don't fit on the 6. __________________ 2002 Honda Accord Coupe EX V6 AT My Cardomain 2006 Mazda 6 Sport GT-V6 MT My Cardomain, My Garage

11-25-2008, 11:41 PM	#8 (permalink)
mzda6 Zm Zm Track Racer Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Ottawa, CANADA. Posts: 360 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: 0 reviews	Did you read the whole thing? He is renting a car. __________________ <span style="color:#000099">- Lapis Blue - MTX - 5-Door Hatch - GT Package (Leather w/seat heaters, Bose 6-Disk System, Moonroof, Sport Grill, Side skirts, ect)

12-05-2008, 03:29 PM	#10 (permalink)
Heavenclosed Drivers License Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Surrey, BC Posts: 85 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: 0 reviews	My Brother in law just drove from Edmonton to Vancouver (trucker). He was crawling through many of the mountain passes. He had hardly any traction despite the loaded trailer he was hauling. Not the best time (now) to be heading across the mountains. I think February will be pretty much the same.