August 20, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Fort Nelson, Guide Outfitting
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The rest of our evening at the Northern Rockies Lodge was spectacular; we walked up and down the shore, watching little birds hop along. We saw animals, across the lake on the far shore. The smells of campfire, pine trees and the lake are something only believed once you experience it yourself.
Among all the great things that the Northern Rockies Lodge offers, they also offer some very cool tours, including Flight seeing Tours; Fly in fishing trips, Outpost Cabins, and the Nahanni National Park Flight seeing tour. They always have daily deals on seats for the Local flight seeing tours and also have Hotel/Flight deals offered to anyone coming to spend a few days at the lodge.
The Nahanni National Park is Canada’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is located in the Northwest Territories. They offer reasonable group rates on all flights, and also offer guided tours for those wanting the full experience.
These tours are perfect for anyone who wants to experience the untouched beauty of Canada’s North. The staff at the Northern Rockies Lodge are helpful, kind and always accommodating.
Muncho Lake is a perfect stop on your Alaska Highway adventure because; there are so many options for adventure for all age groups. There is hiking, great fishing, five accommodation choices and so many places to explore.
Reluctantly we packed up our truck and hit the highway once more, we stopped at Toad River Lodge again and enjoyed some home made cream of broccoli soup and home made bread straight from the oven.
We also stopped at the Erosion Pillars and did the short 1km hike to them, they were spectacular and beautiful. A great way to stretch your legs on the long journey, they are located 149 kms north of Fort Nelson, BC.
Although we only had the chance to explore a small piece of the vast Alaska Highway, we had a great time. Leaving us with only a hunger to explore more of it!
August 20, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Fort Nelson, Accommodation
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After a nice long sleep in our tent, sheltered from the rain. Clifford and I arose and started to take down our tent. The park was peaceful even in the late morning. We returned our rented towels, and headed for the Liard Hot Springs Lodge once more for breakfast, which was delicious!
We jumped back into the truck to make the short drive back to Muncho Lake, and begin our back tracking home. We arrived around lunch time; we checked in at the Northern Rockies Lodge (Muncho Lake) and went to go check out our Rustic Cabin. The Rustic Cabins are their older cabins, hence the “rustic” although older they were cozy and quite big! It was very clean, and the beds were comfy, we had our own full bathroom, desk and a furnace that worked like magic! We took to the lazy-ness and lounged around our little cabin, reading books and playing cards.
Later on, we took off exploring the campground, lodge and the shore. The grounds have a really northern outdoors feeling, lots of trees, small critters scooting from camp site to trees and back to the forest. The Northern Rockies Lodge offers so much; they have a full service restaurant, laundry, sauna, gas station and even some float plane tours!
We enjoyed a home cooked Swedish style, pork snitzel for dinner. The service was quick; the food was amazing and fresh. The waitresses were great hostess’ making great conversation and always smiling.
August 16, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Fort Nelson, Camping
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Part #1 –
Finally! My first camping trip of the season, we were headed up to the Liard Hot Springs. It was a beautiful drive, with some rain and some sun as well. We stopped at Testa River Services (120km/75miles from FN) they have a great selection of art work, snacks, and aboriginal crafts. Also be sure to try their cinnamon buns! They are absolutely fabulous! Our next stop was Toad River Lodge (196km/122miles from FN), Toad River was named originally “Towed River” because they used to have to tow supplies on the river. Through the years people assumed it was “Toad” as in the frog. So eventually it was re-named “Toad River.” They offer a full menu of great homemade soups and breads, great food.
We continued our drive north, we ended up driving through rain for about an hour. We arrived at Liard Hot Springs in the early afternoon, we had reserved a site there the week before (which is a good idea if you are planning on staying there close to the weekend). It was still raining when we arrived so instead of setting our tent up in the rain we headed across the highway to the Liard Hot Springs Lodge and had lunch. The restaurant is a laid back, comfortable atmosphere. They have a wide selection of homemade meals to choose from, including everything from Hot Turkey Sandwiches to Buffalo Burgers. Our meals we great, with homemade French fries and homemade gravy!
The rain hadn’t decided to let up much, so we decided we may as well set up our tent so we could have a dry place to lay down and wait out the rain. Upon finishing the set up of our tent we were soaked right through our clothes and cold, but what is a good camping trip without some good ol’ toughing it out? We hid away in our tent for awhile, reading books and deciding what we could do that evening. When the rain finally stopped, we rented towels from the office and headed for the springs. When we got there we found that it wasn’t to busy (which was nice) we soaked up the smell of the forest around us and made conversation with a few other visitors. Mostly tourists headed to Alaska, they raved about the beautiful drive and the perfect relaxing springs.
Later on, we started up a fire and cooked our dinner. Cheddar smokies and vegetables! YUM! The park was nice and quiet as soon at 10pm hit (quiet time) the staff present was great they were helpful and made sure everything was nice and clean. The northern sky was break taking, star decorated it and you could here the squirrels racing through the trees. There we a lot of little friends running around checking us out, they would sit on the edge of our campsite and just stare. HAHA! Then dash off as soon as we saw them.
To Be continued…
August 02, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Fort Nelson, Snowmobiling
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And so it begins; our moderate descent into winter.
Fort Nelson never seems to get much of the two transition
seasons of spring or fall, everyone in Fort Nelson plays hard during our short
hot summers. River boating, camping, swimming and many other summer activities.
Although winter brings a chill and a slight sigh for everyone who endures a
long 7+ months of it, we still find way to pass the time and steer clear of
cabin fever. How do we do this you ask? Well one of my personal favorites as a
kid was family snowmobiling trips, you may be freezing but the activity does
get you sweating enough to start warming up. Soon enough the kids are riding in
the sled behind the snowmobile and the campfires are lit. The familiar smells
of exhaust, fire roasted hot dogs and marshmallows engulfs your senses and
winter doesn’t seem so bad after all!
Living in Fort Nelson my entire life, I was used to -40
degrees, gearing up in layers upon layers of long johns and socks. Thinking
back now I would not be so comfortable now walking to school in that! My life
long friend and I would get ready for school, meet at our half way point and
begin our 20 minute walk to school; it didn’t seem like much back then. The
worst we walked in was a near-blizzard -42 the school buses weren’t even able
to start up anymore! It would take a miracle to get me out walking in that
weather now. My grand kid’s best not think I’m lying when I give them the age
old lecture about “when I was your age…”
A few other events that brighten up the winters here are:
The Canadian Open Sled Dog Races, The Snowmobile Races and
the Community Christmas Eve Dinner. The sled dog races are something everyone
should see at least once in there lifetime, people crowded around the starting
line watching the mushers gear up the dogs, people buzzing with excitement as
the signal to begin the race finally is blown. The teams take off as if someone
held a match under their behinds!
My FAVORITE event is the Snowmobile Races, almost everyone
in town heads out to the airport on a Saturday morning; the races are held in a
field just a hop, skip and a jump away from the airport. The races are divided
into classes of age and type of machine. One of my fondest and proudest moments
of my mom was when she raced back in 1994, she was on a white Polaris machine
and she took off so fast that the front of her sled lifted! She did over half
the race cat walking the sled! She won
second place and the next year she won first (without having to ride half the
race in the air!)
So, even as I sigh and complain that winter is creeping its
way back into Fort Nelson, I just have to remember…
It’s Fort Nelson!
August 01, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Fort Nelson, Sightseeing Tours
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On Friday, my dad and his friend Tracy were up from Fort St John for a visit. My dad was born here and was excited to see how much it had changed in 15+ years. Firstly, before any adventures began we needed some fuel; we stopped at the Sierra Lounge in the Fort Nelson Hotel. The food was good, service was excellent, and the lounge (opened in February 2011) is beautiful and definably an asset to Fort Nelson's food and beverage industry. We spent the evening cruising around town, through the industrial streets (which I found out my grandfather used to own a few lots and businesses!) We drank our tea and listened to my dad tell stories of his childhood, his pranks, crashes (on his bicycle), and many other stories. I of course being born and raised her myself had more than a few stories to share as well! Later on when the yawns started to stifle our stories and the laughter turned to chuckles we decided we could put off our adventure until the next morning.
Bright and early we met up at the "One" restaurant and had our morning coffees and breakfast. The One is a large restaurant, with good service and good food as well. We hopped into the truck once more and set off! Our first stop of the day was the Visitor Information Centre, my dad thought it was very cool, a new building and another great asset to Fort Nelson's streets. He bought my little sister a t-shirt that said: Someone who loves me bought me this shirt in Fort Nelson, BC. Also he bought a few of Doug Andrew's cards from Alaska Hiway Art.
After that we crossed the highway to the Fort Nelson Heritage Museum where we met up with our tour guide Dallas, he was very helpful and had a lot of information about the Hudson’s Bay House and the Trapper’s Cabin. In the very back of the museums outside exhibits is a portable machine shop with the sign “Derrick’s Machining and Oilfield Repairs,” which I’ll have you know belonged to my grandfather! I found that super cool, he build the shop so it was completely collapsible and could be moved on the back of a big truck, he would set up out on oil field leases and be able to work out of the weather and with ease.
Also in one of the exhibits inside the building there is a Mammoth tusk, which belonged to my dad when he was younger, his mom (my grandma) decided to donate it to the museum. Although he wasn’t happy about it at the time he now says he realizes that instead of just him enjoying it many people are able too! Later on it was dinner time, and our stomachs let us know that very loudly! We sat down to eat at the Outlaw Café, which is located in the Triple ‘G’ Hideaway campground. Food was delicious and it’s a fun and interesting setting, saddles for bar stools, and rifles for door handles! Very cool.
My day in the life of a tourist in Fort Nelson was great! I learned a little bit more about my home town and was pleased to see how many people love to teach about Fort Nelson and its history.