July 2, 2025: Eastward on Highway 3, the Crowsnest Highway

 

TCT Detour on Crowsnest Highway 3
                                                                    
This is a photo taken along BC's Crowsnest Highway 3. It is a detour of the true route between Gray Creek and Kimberley, the next town on the TransCanada Trail.  The true route takes a very rough backroad, that climbs several thousand feet to Gray Creek Pass. Once the pass is attained, the route continues on a rough backroad to Kimberley, which is 88 km eastward.   My method of travel precluded me from taking the true route, because any headway I would make on this very difficult stage of the TCT, I would have to backtrack 88 km to get back to the truck.  Impossible. 

 Otherwise, if I could get the truck up the pass on the backroad, I could cut this stage into two pieces.  I tried the road, but soon decided the road was too rough, and I was likely to get stuck!  A very bad scenario.  So I was forced to take the detour route, which is set on BC highways.  The detour adds 120 more km's to the route.   And since all my travel was out and back, this detour added 240 km to the journey this year.

Most of my progress this year was dedicated to this road route detour, and the ride seemed more like a highway trek across Canada, rather than a trail across Canada.  Indeed, most cyclists traveling across Canada take BC route 3.  

 I set out under sunshine, but storm clouds gather, and within a couple hours, I am riding in the rain. I arrive at a rest area, and decide to take shelter, and hopefully, wait out the storm.  The storm became quite severe, with thunder and lightning, and along this stretch of Highway 3 it is 38 km to the Yahk intersection. Too far to achieve in one day, so I turn the bike around, ride back to the truck, and return to Creston.
    
Storm clouds begin to gather...


Barndominiums for sale


Wildlife on Highway 3

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