Day 5 Castle Junction to Radium Hot Springs (Redstreak Campgrounds)

August 13, 2008 Miles Ridden
Today - 72 Total Miles Ridden - 244
Elevation climbed - 3259 feet
6.5 hours of riding time
Average speed - 11.4 mph
We left Banff National Park by climbing up Veremillion Pass and into Kootenay National Park. Half way up the climb we saw my Uncle coming the other way; he had been golfing in Invermere. Kootenay National Park is located in southeastern British Columbia Canada covering 1,406 km² (543 mi²) in the Canadian Rockies. The park ranges in elevation from 918 metres (3,011') at the south-west park entrance to 3,424 metres (11,235') at Deltaform Mountain. Kootenay forms one of the four contiguous mountain parks in the Canadian Rockies; the other three being Banff National Park directly to the east, Yoho National Park directly to the north and Jasper National Park; which does not share a boundary with Kootenay National Park. Initially called "Kootenay Dominion Park", the park was created in 1920 as part of an agreement between the province of British Columbia and the Canadian federal government to build a highway in exchange for title (property) to a strip of land on either side of the route. A strip of land 8 km. wide on each side of the newly constructed 94 km. Banff-Windermere Highway was set aside as a national park. While the park is open all year, the major tourist season lasts from June to September. Most campgrounds are open from early May to late September. The park takes its name from the Kootenay River one of the two major rivers which flow through the park, the other being the Vermillion River. While the Vermillion River is completely contained within the park, the Kootenay River has its headwaters just outside of the park boundary, flows through the park into the Rocky Mountain Trench; , eventually joining the Columbia River. The Banff-Windermere Highway, #93 follows the path of both rivers through the park.

Something in the air shifted after riding into Kootenay National Park. Not exactly anything you could put your finger on but if I were to guess I'd say it was the magic of this area. The quiet warm air stretching across vast mountain ranges of forests. I felt that I might be impolite to disturb this area though I was happy to just pedal quietly within its confines. Vasts swathes of its forests were destroyed by fire; I felt as I was seeing a darker sadness of the forest looking at the fire's destruction while also feeling its hope by seeing bits of green striving to survive.

The river was beautiful and it offered coolness as I rode next to it. Its powerful rush called to me as I rode next to it. As it snaked down the mountain the river went in and out of shade constantly calling me into its snow melt freezing water. Who could resist? The feeling of the cold water and the hot sun; having the river flow over the skin of my feet can't be described by words but it a feeling that will remain in my mind forever.








Okay - so which way do we go??