Kyle Thomas

The Website of Kyle Thomas (KyleWith)

A Trip to Hell’s Gate

If you ever drive Prince George to Vancouver, chances are you are going to pass Hell’s Gate. It is not what you expect either. It is not firey hot or red or even the home of scary demons. It does have an amazing amount of power though and when standing on top of it you can feel it below your feet.

The Hell’s Gate I am referring to of course is the narrow part of the Fraser River. The Fraser River flows through this gorge and as it does it gets narrower, gains speed and depth, making it a force to be recon with.

Because of this significance with the gorge and the history of the rain line and salmon run this spot has been turned into a mini tourist attraction. A Tram from the highway was built that suspends into the gorge across the river. At the bottom of the tram a little site has been build for visitors. There is a fudge factory, Salmon history as well has more information on the river itself and the rail line. Once a person is down they can also walk across a bridge at the bottom to feel the river below them.

It is early in the tourism season and the tram was not that busy. Only 5 or 6 other people were also down in the gorge at the same time as I was. For me, it was just interesting to go down the tram and take in the power of the river through the canyon. It was interesting to know that in 1948 the water level of the river was at its highest of something like 250 feet, which managed to wipe of the old bridge that was crossing the river. The current level of the river while we were down was about 180 feet, which was higher than normal.

Hell's Gate

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Welcome to Vancouver during Rain and Playoffs

My first mistake was not thinking more about getting a hotel room for the night. I mean who knew there was a Canucks game, the first of the final series of the playoffs, happing in Vancouver. You think they would have told me before hand.

I kid of course, I did know of the game and was a little concerned about getting a hotel coming into the City. We weren’t sure though if we were going to stay in Downtown Vancity or outside and Skytrain in. Well at 4pm we didn’t have much choice. So after about 15 minutes of Googling available hotels in the area, while screaming through the windy roads of BC we found a place in Burnaby. It was a class place, lodge like. Actually the smell reminded me of the rooms at Bathurst Inlet Lodge. Nevertheless, it was a room and bed for the night.

So once we were settled and ready to go downtown I encountered my second mistake. Underestimating the rain. People have told me about the Vancouver rain. It is heavy and full, comes down in buckets. I thought I would be ready for it, but I wasn’t. I brought my rain jacket, but that wasn’t enough for me. Just walking 5 minutes to the Skytrain station, my legs got soaked.

Of course I go soaking wet walking to the Skytrain, but then when we got into downtown it had stopped and everything was great, except for the fact I was wet. I guess the saying “If you don’t like the weather in Canada, wait five minutes” rains true in Vancouver. Next time I see an umbrella in my hand.

This has just been a quick trip through Vancouver and I don’t think I have experienced it enough to make a call as to whether I like it or not. It is a City to me right now, like any other.

Next in our journey is the Ferry to the Island for Social Media Camp Victoria. By the way you can expect a post on Prince George to Burnaby and one on Hell’s Gate.

Rain in Chinatownphoto © 2010 Qantas Travel Insider | more info (via: Wylio)

Fort St. John to Prince George

Well I have been in Prince George now for over 24 hours, but lets review the first leg of my Social Media Camp Victoria 2011 Roadtrip or better known as #SMCV11RoadTrip.

The drive isn’t all that exciting, especially if you drive it continuously, but this was only my second time driving this highway and the first time was going in the other direction. I started off by heading south out of Fort St John, but quickly jumped onto the Braden Road, which I might add was still quite dusty. The Braden Road took me to Highway 97 in the west bound direction.

I stopped in Chetwynd, BC for lunch and a break. Chetwynd is best known for their Chainsaw Carvings, no? I’m really not sure.  It was a good break and as I was trying to take my time on this stretch of the trip, I sat in the visitor centre parking lot watching people pass by on the highway.

The drive between Chetwynd and Prince George is known as the Pine Pass. It known to be a beautiful drive and also a narrow one. I didn’t find it all that narrow, there again I have traveled the highway from Banff to Chilliwack a couple time and I find some of those roads nuts.

I didn’t see any wildlife and the sun stayed out for my entire drive. Take a look at some of the photos I got along the way.

Trip to Victoria

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Out of town for a bit

Well I think this a better time than any to write this. I’m currently sitting at a road construction on the way to Prince George. Although this won’t be posted until I get to Internet in probably Prince George.

I’m off now, out of Fort St John for a couple weeks for various things. I’m on my way to Prince George to meet up with Andrew who is already there for a Chamber AGM, then on Tuesday we will begin our drive to Victoria for the Social Media Camp Conference.

We may stop in Vancouver for a night before continuing onto Victoria. The trip is going to be a good one, because I said so and because this is part of Canada I haven’t seen much off and I’m happy to be getting the chance.

Keep coming back for more posting on my travel. First one being the trip from Fort St John to Prince George.

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Fort St John Election Night Activity

Coverage from Energeticcity.ca’s live feed using Cover It Live. For the most part I will be the one posting things, so follow along and join the conversation.