1st annual Ride to Jasper

[Randy]

Update: 1/31/2009

Please check http://www.bmwlt.com/rides/jasper for the most current information on this ride. We have added a closing meal and the hotel has improved the rates on some of the best rooms.

A couple of months back we put a poll up to get an idea of how many people would like to take a trip to the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Alberta Canada.

We received enough positive responses to make it happen.

Randy Ferras has worked diligently with the hotel to get us a room block and to negotiate group rates for this event.

The hotel is the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge (http://www.fairmont.com/Jasper) outside the town of Jasper, 'nestled in between captivating and majestic mountains and enchanting lakes'. I have stayed at this hotel and it is truly beautiful and in an amazingly beautiful setting. Jasper is located at the north end of the Icefields Highway traveling through Banff and Jasper Provincial Parks. At the southern end of the Highway is beautiful Lake Louise and the town of Banff.

The dates are Tuesday June 23 to Friday June 26, 2009. Breakfast, lunch and other dinners on your own
Rate: $229.00 CDN. single/double occupancy. This rate is subject to a resort fee of $11.50 per person, per day plus hotel taxes.
Rates applicable three days prior and three days afterThere will be other rooms available if you want something different:

http://www.prades.net/images/jasper1.jpg

The rate of $229 much less than the current rate for that time of year in beautiful Jasper, Alberta. While the rates are higher than a basic Best Western, these are excellent rates for this class of accommodation in this beautiful location.

The dates were chosen to to be in some of the better weather and to avoid the crush of tourists brought by the Calgary Stampede (http://cs.calgarystampede.com/) beginning on July 4. Some may want to stay long enough to attend the Stampede after our gathering.

We are also going to plan a final dinner, which is purely optional.
Pyramid Mountain Dinner Buffet, June 26, 2009. Time 6:00PM
Basket of Freshly Baked Crusty Rolls
Basket of Market Greens, Homemade Croutons, Bacon Bits, Asiago Cheese, Pumpkin Seeds, and Sunflower Seeds, Assorted Pickles, Peppers and Onions
Dijon Herb Dressing, Cranberry Maple Vinaigrette
Farm Fresh Crisp Vegetables, Cucumber Buttermilk Dip
Wooden Board of Selected Canadian and Imported Cheeses
Cauliflower, Green Pea and Savoy Salad, Madras Dressing
Tri Colored Potato Salad with Corn and Coriander Dressing
Fennel, Tomato, Cucumber and Crumbled Feta Cheese, Oregano Vinaigrette
Grilled Alberta Beef Rib Eye Medallion with Saskatoon Berry Jus
Citrus Balsamic Marinated Vegetables Brochettes with Pesto Aïoli
Potato Gratin OR Baked Potatoes
Warm Bread with Garlic & Aged Cheddar
Choice of Entree: Smoked Alberta Pork Ribs Cooked Twice in BBQ Sauce -OR- Sweet Alberta Spring Whiskey Marinated Salmon Pave, Pineapple Relish
Carrot Cake, Angel Food Cake with Caramel Soaked Bananas, Basket of Fresh Baked Cookies, Seasonal Fruit Salad
Freshly Brewed Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee and Fairmont Specialty Teas

This would be on Friday night and would run $76.25 per person. This is inclusive of food, taxes and gratuity. Randy will setup a PayPal account to handle this aspect later this year.

If you are interested in joining us, here is the reservation procedure:

Individual Reservations
Each guest is responsible for making their own individual reservations. Please call the Reservations Department at 780-852-3301 or our Global Reservations Centre at 1-800-441-1414. Please identify yourself as a member of the K1200LT Ride to Jasper Group when booking reservations to receive the special rates.

Regardless of how reservations are made, reservation requests must be made by April 25, 2009 in order to qualify for the group rate. Reservations made after this date may not qualify for the group rate. Requests for reservations after April 25, 2009 will be subject to availability and best rate available.

All prices shown above are in Canadian dollars.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to send me a PM (http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/private.php?do=newpm&userid=1574).


http://www.prades.net/alaska2007/day20/HTML/197i2725_std.jpg (http://www.prades.net/alaska2007/day20/197I2725.jpg)

The Athabaska Glacier

http://www.prades.net/alaska2007/day20/HTML/197i2833_std.jpg (http://www.prades.net/alaska2007/day20/197I2833.jpg)

Bow Lake

http://www.prades.net/alaska2007/day2/HTML/493t1805_std.jpg (http://www.prades.net/alaska2007/day2/493t1805.jpg)

[admbilly]

Margo and I are going to try our hardest to make this trip, must sell Harley first and find a LT but we're working on it.

[Randy]

Margo and I are going to try our hardest to make this trip, must sell Harley first and find a LT but we're working on it.I guarantee we don't care what you ride. You are welcome to join us even if you aren't on an LT or even a BMW.


While many of us found this community through ownership of an LT, the one thing we never want to become is a group that is exclusive to any brand or model.

We'll probably be on a BMW but it won't be an LT or even a GT.

[admbilly]

Didn't mean it that way, we think at this time of our lives we're going to be much more comfortable on the LT. And as a plus I'm going to enjoy the handling of the BMW allot more than my bike. We've already decided to get the LT and that's where my effort will be directed first. ( I enjoy almost anything on two wheels, from my 1st Vespa in mid sixties to my suzuki, triumph, kawasaki [79 kz1000]. From reading the posts here I've been really pleased at the accepting nature of the community. We are both very much looking to meet ya'll.

[bflemingor]

We're ridden all over the world & don't think there's a better or more beautiful riding area anywhere. Period. The roads are usually in terrific condition too.

My caution is to come prepared for ANY kind of weather, at ANY time.

We have ridden that area many times (June through September) and have found ice, sleet, rain, hail, tornados, very hot weather - sometimes all in the same day. Really. With the worst weather (the tornado bit) when coming from the east and the Calgary area.

Don't let this deter you! This is some of the finest riding you will ever find - just come prepared!

[Randy]

I would completely agree. In all the times we have traveled to Alberta, we have run into all kinds of weather. By and large the weather has been just glorious, but you should be prepared for the weather to change with very little notice. It is not a lot different than the mountains of Colorado.


We're ridden all over the world & don't think there's a better or more beautiful riding area anywhere. Period. The roads are usually in terrific condition too.

My caution is to come prepared for ANY kind of weather, at ANY time.

We have ridden that area many times (June through September) and have found ice, sleet, rain, hail, tornados, very hot weather - sometimes all in the same day. Really. With the worst weather (the tornado bit) when coming from the east and the Calgary area.

Don't let this deter you! This is some of the finest riding you will ever find - just come prepared!

[Wolfgang]

Financially and timewise this makes no sense for us. But what an opportunity!!!
It is is my challenge for the next few month to make this happen. Just a matter of priorities. We might trailer our bike to Denver and ride from there. I always wanted to see Glacier National Park and I have relatives in Vancouver we could combine it in one trip.

I needed a challenge...this is it!!

Thanks for your efforts Randy and Randy.

[Randy]

Financially and timewise this makes no sense for us. But what an opportunity!!!
It is is my challenge for the next few month to make this happen. Just a matter of priorities. We might trailer our bike to Denver and ride from there. I always wanted to see Glacier National Park and I have relatives in Vancouver we could combine it in one trip.

I needed a challenge...this is it!!

Thanks for your efforts Randy and Randy.Park it in Denver and ride up with us. Michelle and I are planning to leave Saturday morning and ride to about Billings, then to about Lethbridge followed by a leisurely ride up the Icefields Highway to Jasper. We were going to go through Glacier on the way home, but we could reverse our route.

Keep me posted as to your plans.

[yardageman]

Thanks Randy for the Info. I have been that way a number of times and it's a beautiful area. I have been talking for 2 yrs now that I wanted to get a better crusing bike than my Victory that I really enjoyed. Soooo 2 weeks ago riding in Sante Fe and Albq. stopped by the Bmw at both places and ened up buying a 2007 BWM K1200Lt with 4,600 miels on it. Gave them mt Victory after unloading all of my gear and putting it on the LT and rode the 6 hrs. back here to the ranch in Crested Butte. LOVE it. Like a Rolls versus a Ford. Have put 2500 miles on it in 2 weeks. Now I wake up this morning and it snowed during the night. YUCK! Will start to try and plan on going with you'all next June. Thanks again for taking the time to set this up. Maybe see you in the Denmver area befroe it gets to snowy to ride up here. Nick

[Randy]

Thanks Randy for the Info. I have been that way a number of times and it's a beautiful area. I have been talking for 2 yrs now that I wanted to get a better crusing bike than my Victory that I really enjoyed. Soooo 2 weeks ago riding in Sante Fe and Albq. stopped by the Bmw at both places and ened up buying a 2007 BWM K1200Lt with 4,600 miels on it. Gave them mt Victory after unloading all of my gear and putting it on the LT and rode the 6 hrs. back here to the ranch in Crested Butte. LOVE it. Like a Rolls versus a Ford. Have put 2500 miles on it in 2 weeks. Now I wake up this morning and it snowed during the night. YUCK! Will start to try and plan on going with you'all next June. Thanks again for taking the time to set this up. Maybe see you in the Denmver area befroe it gets to snowy to ride up here. NickWelcome aboard, Nick! You are going to love the bike more and more as you ride it. Your S.O. may not when you decide to ride a couple hundred miles to pick up a loaf of bread :bmw:

If you can make any gathering next year, I would highly recommend the Curve Cowboy Reunion (http://www.curvecowboyreunion.com) at the end of the summer. It is the preeminent Luxury Touring event of the year. I wouldn't miss it for the world - I suppose I really can't miss it next year ;)

If you can take the time off and and have the desire to see one of the most beautiful areas in North America - join us in Jasper as well. Michelle and I cancelled all of our other travel plans for next summer so that we can do both.

[ferrasr]

Wolfgang good to see you are going to try to make it.

I will be posting some different recommended routes to get to Jasper in the near future. Depending on which part of the US you are traveling from there are some great roads coming through British Columbia. Following The Crowsnest Highway (#3) runs from Hope at the east end of the Fraser Valley east to Grand Forks on the western edge of the Kootenays, through the Cascade Mountains and Manning Provincial Park and across the desert like southern Okanagan Valley, including Princeton, Keremeos, and Osoyoos. There are some great small Wineries in the Okanagan area as well. You can cut across to Cranbrook and into Radium Hot Springs on Highway #95 then up Highway #93 toward Lake Louise and on through the Icefields.

I just came through this way on our way back from the CCR in Midway. It is a great twistie road with fantastic Rocky Mt. scenery. As mentioned earlier though you need to be ready for any kind of weather.

Anyway I will post some detailed routes later.

Regards
Randy Ferras
K1200LT, 05

[MattM]

This sounds like a great trip and in our neck of the woods; northeast Montana, to boot. This is my first post to this site, but I've been looking through it for the last month and it would be nice to meet the people connected with the posts. We'll have to wait a while to commit though.

We overlooked the Curve Cowboy Reunion in Rapid City or we would have made that one. Turned out we were in Spearfish and the Black Hills area around that time for four days having our bike serviced at the Sturgis BMW dealer and then exploring the area. Nice ride.

[Randy]

This sounds like a great trip and in our neck of the woods; northeast Montana, to boot. This is my first post to this site, but I've been looking through it for the last month and it would be nice to meet the people connected with the posts. We'll have to wait a while to commit though.

We overlooked the Curve Cowboy Reunion in Rapid City or we would have made that one. Turned out we were in Spearfish and the Black Hills area around that time for four days having our bike serviced at the Sturgis BMW dealer and then exploring the area. Nice ride.
Curve Cowboy Reunion was in Midway, UT this year, we'll be in Rapid City next year.

Michelle and I will be going to Jasper and to Rapid City - hope to see you there.

[MattM]

Oops, no wonder we missed it. I never was to good at reading all the instructions.

Well I guess that makes one for sure we should be able to make, but with one child graduating collage and one high school, we'll have to wait awhile to decide on the trip to Jasper.

[Beemer2up]

Randy

Sue and I are planning on Jasper, Stayed in the basement of a Motel in September. Last room available, 25 years ago. Maybe get a king size bed this time. Can hardly wait to see that area again.






Thanks for the Plan
Den & Sue

[mikemacmo]

First post after lurking here for awhile. :wave

We have decided that "The Ride to Jasper" will be our first 2-up long distance m/c trip. Were suppose to go to that area for our honeymoon but a travel agent screwed up our plans. Said we would go someday then kept putting it off for one reason or another. It will be our 13th wedding anniversary June 29th, 2009. Looking forward to the RTJ.

[Randy]

First post after lurking here for awhile. :wave

We have decided that "The Ride to Jasper" will be our first 2-up long distance m/c trip. Were suppose to go to that area for our honeymoon but a travel agent screwed up our plans. Said we would go someday then kept putting it off for one reason or another. It will be our 13th wedding anniversary June 29th, 2009. Looking forward to the RTJ.Welcome!

Prepare to see some stunning scenery and meet some great people.

It would be a great excuse for a second honeymoon :dance:

Is it June yet? :bmw:

[tomandmelanie]

Did a very similar ride a few years ago on my sport bike with a small group. It is a must do ride! It was hot, it was cold, it rained and there was lot's of road work. Don't forget to add in Glacier!

[roadcrave]

My wife and are in our 50's would like to join you folks, we live by Spokane-Washington, we would open our place on the river to any one for camping we have 3 acres of lawn, we also have an apt and two guest Beds if any one is interested...Matthew

[Wolfgang]

My wife and are in our 50's would like to join you folks, we live by Spokane-Washington, we would open our place on the river to any one for camping we have 3 acres of lawn, we also have an apt and two guest Beds if any one is interested...Matthew

What a generous offer. As we get closer we may take you up on it. But camping is something we did in our 20's, so it would be the guest room. :)

[roadcrave]

We want to met new folks, so our place is yours, I have a full bike shop, if oil changes needed ect...matthew

[BeemerRiderBoB]

My wife and are in our 50's would like to join you folks, we live by Spokane-Washington, we would open our place on the river to any one for camping we have 3 acres of lawn, we also have an apt and two guest Beds if any one is interested...Matthew

Now that's what I call an offer too good to refuse. Count me in too.

Also...Randy, & Randy....good on you guys for getting this together. Look forward to seeing ya there. If you need help count me in...i'll be on the way to Alaska and this will be my rest stop on the way.