Day 26 – Fernie, BC to Cranbrook, BC

9/6/2026

Our route today took us over 62 miles, 60% unpaved. John drove the truck, Rolf, Greg, & Mark cycled. The first part of the ride was almost all downhill on Canada Highway 3.

But then came the gravel, over 30 miles of it, up some crazy hills. One hill took Mark 1 hour, 9 minutes, 22 seconds (that’s what his Garmin reported). And it was less than a mile long!

The cycling group stayed together for moral support and also to scare away bears (we didn’t see any). Rolf blew his whistle and scared them all away. We learned that hunting season just opened – deer, elk, etc. Some of the rifle shots

sounded awfully close. The biking was remote and beautiful.

We were able to see places few people will ever see, and all the pace of a bike – wonderful memories in the making.

In Cranbrook we stayed in a hotel, the weather was turning inclement.