If it was me going to Edmonton and then to the mountains, I know what I'd do. But it isn't me going. So maybe what I'm about to say isn't relevant. Or as Bill Murray said, "It just doesn't matter."
Anyway, I've been pondering this 4 day trip as I plan to return for Trip #4 as soon aspossible. Here are a few miscellaneous thoughts.
Travel in November will be dictated by the weather as Joe pointed out. There's no way of knowing what will/won't be accessible until you leave Edmonton. Phone the week before & pray the parks don't get clobbered on Tuesday-Wednesday.
The TransCan Highway from Calgary through Banff to Field, B.C. will be open unless a blizzard hits. Ditto the roads into Lake Louise, Emerald Lake and Radium Hot Springs, B.C. Highway 16 from Edmonton through Jasper will be open. That's about all you can rely on under normal conditions. Phone the various Park Headquarters and get an idea of which roads are normally open and which roads are close early. The first time I went to Lake Louise in mid-October, the Moraine lake road was already closed.
Hiking off road will be very hit or miss unless you have snowshoes or skis.
So, that pretty much confines a photographer to the scenery available from the various highways and park roads mentioned above. Mile for mile and pound for pound, the best scenery available from the highway in November is centered about Castle Junction-Lake Louise-Field, B.C. If you base yourself in Jasper or Banff you will have to drive a lot everyday to get to the good spots along the highway.
Worse still, if the Maligne Lake Road, 93A and the Cavell Road are closed and 93 south from Jasper is only open a short distance, you won't get near any spectacular mountain scenery.
What's he rambling on about anyway?
Here's The Plan:
A) If possible, book your flight into Edmonton and out of Calgary. Rent a car one way from Edmonton to Calgary. A one week rental is usually cheaper than a 4 day rental. Pick the car up early in Edmonton and exlpore.
B) Leave the conferrence as soon as possible and get to the mountains on Wednesday. If, and it's a big IF, the highway from Red Deer to The Crossing Resort is open, take that to get to Banff N.P. and avoid Calgary entirely. Otherwise, get the Alberta highway map and figure out a way to avoid Calgary headed to Banff N.P.
C) Base yourself at Lake Louise, Field, B.C. or someplace in the area that's open. Deer Lodge at Lake Louise and Emerald Lake Lodge HAD good off season rates when I was there in October. They are owned by same company. If you are a AAA member, they give good discounts. Both have spectacularly good dining rooms. Field has some B&Bs and a motel or two that MIGHT be open in November.
D) Hit the roads early and catch the sunrise. Stay out late for the sunsets. You will be in some of the most spectacular mountain scenery anywhere on the planet. Make the most of your 3 full days.
E) If none of the above is possible, rent a car for a week and go to Jasper and hope that you can get far enough south to see some of the big peaks.
EDIT:
F) If Joe can join you, I was never here!
Enjoy!
That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Your mileage may vary.
Cheers!
