A Fernie Finish

Leaving behind the comforts of Elkford we started the day with a steep climb up the Elk Valley Highway. Running on a premium blend of Pomtinis, Kokanees and Elkford’s best bar food (and only restaurant) we powered over the pass and through the kind of natural beauty created only by the merger of coal mining and logging. Our route crossed, and sometimes joined, U.S. Route 93 several times before dumping us in Sparwood, BC. Upon arriving we were mesmerized by the sight (and size) of the Terex Titan, a monster-sized tribute to the city’s mining roots, which also provided us with the best shade of the day.  We took full advantage of the situation with some sandwiches and ice cream from a nearby deli.  In the process, the friendly attendant making our sandwiches set the record for “most water used when filling our bottles.”  After lunch we set off on some heavily trafficked highways on the way to this evening’s destination of Fernie.

The Great Divide Route has already presented us with many suprises. Fernie takes the cake for the best surprise yet however. We had an enormous dinner, swam (some might call it bathe) in the Elk River and even threw back a few drinks in a downtown pub. Unwound, we retired to our camping spot in the Mount Fernie Provincial Park.