Bugaboo Grocery, From Calgary, Late night?

Hi All,

I'm flying into Calgary around midnight, planning on landing, getting a car, and driving to the trailhead.

Does anyone have suggestions for a late-night grocery store?

Thanks, Jeff

What routes are you shooting for on the Bugaboos?

Well it's been a while but I am pretty sure you have several hours of driving ahead of you - why not pick up groceries in Golden in the early morning?

Sobeys on Country Hills Blvd in NE Calgary is open 24 hours and it's only a few minutes out of your way. But why not find a cheap motel in Calgary and get a good night's sleep? If you land at midnight and try to drive straight to the trailhead from the airport you won't get there until the next morning.

You probably aren't driving within 45 km of the trailhead until at least June

Alan Ream wrote:Well it's been a while but I am pretty sure you have several hours of driving ahead of you - why not pick up groceries in Golden in the early morning?

David.Jones wrote:You probably aren't driving within 45 km of the trailhead until at least June

Thanks all for the info. The trip is planned for late July, so hopefully we will be able to get to the trailhead - or I'll need to pack differently for a looooong hike. Currently planning on climbing B-C on S. Howser, NE Ridge on Bugaboo Spire, SE Corner of Snowpatch Spire. Still working on route choices and back-up options.

We are planning on driving direct from Calgary so that we would get to the trailhead in the early AM, hike up to the Kain Hut, take it easy the rest of that day and get to bed early that night.

Does anyone's experience tell them that that is a bad idea? I had not thought seriously about staying in Calgary and doing the drive/hike on the 2nd day, but that has some advantages.

It is all about minimizing the vacation days, maximizing the climbing days!

Thanks, Jeff

Radium is nearest the trailhead road... But it is a small town.

The road may be better done in the day light to navigate the ruts and bumps in a car.
Calgary is a nice big city, with many options for getting food and booze...
When we went, we stopped in Calgary to get fuel at the mtn.equip.coop. The canada rei. They had fuel cans, mtn meals, etc. then right within the block was a large liquor store and grocery store. You do have to pay a one time ten dollar membership fee at the mtn.coop...

The drive from Calgary to trailhead road is about 3.5 hrs if i remember. Then the trailhead road is 30miles long aprox... @ 10 to 20mph..

Hope this helps, have a great trip!

Oh one other thing. Skip the hut, stay at the applebee camp area. Staying at the hut adds an hour uphill to the approach of say bug spire.

Maybe do the classic on bug spire first. Then you will know condition of col, and get a view over to the howser area to get an idea on conditions... Also applebee to howser area is a few hours jaunt..

The nearest grocery store to the start of the lumber roads is probably Radium Springs. You have to go through there on your way to the trailhead. Golden is out of your way.

Brian

Jeff Maurin wrote:TWe are planning on driving direct from Calgary so that we would get to the trailhead in the early AM, hike up to the Kain Hut, take it easy the rest of that day and get to bed early that night. Does anyone's experience tell them that that is a bad idea?... It is all about minimizing the vacation days, maximizing the climbing days! Thanks, Jeff

I stand by my suggestion with Golden. I have climbed at the Bugs twice and both times, I have ended up in Golden for one thing or another (Radium too, which is great for hot springs soaking). Golden is a nice sized town with several ammenities including breakfast and groceries and looking at the map - either way you go - you will be doing some backtracking. Also the suggestion for the Applebee camp is a good one. Martin has perhaps the best advice - rest that first night and work your way in there the next whole day. Have a great time up there - such a fantastic place.

Martin, I hear what you are saying. Thanks for the advice.

We are pushing so that we can get to the hut/Applebee early in the day so that we can scout around and get a good lay-of-the land to make the most of the following day.

Alan, nice pic! We'll see what makes sense for stocking up.

Given that we have not been there before, we'll likely leave at least the logging road portion of the drive until daylight.

Thanks all!

I was in the Bugs two summers ago, not sure how much the road changes but 10-20 miles per hour is about right.
If you land at midnight another option is to drive to Dead Mans Flats about 10 minutes east of the town of Canmore and stay at the Bighorn Motel, maybe if you book/call now you could get good deal, its cheapest in valley and clean, $50 in winter. Get a bottom room, walls are thicker.
Loads of breakfast options in Canmore, then drive to Radium, then north to Bugs road. All that driving plus the amazing hike up to the mountains will take much of your day and give you a huge time to rest.
There is a 24 hour Walmart superstore in Deerfoot Mall close to the airport, or the Sobeys like someone mentioned too.
The MEC, our REI, is open at 10am if you need gear.
Bring a toque, can get cold up there anytime.

Or drive 10 minutes from the airport to this convient OK hotel:
360panorama.ca/ambassador/

Another cheapie for the city, great food in Lens Den Pub downstairs, has a bit of a rough exterior but it's fine, I lived for years two houses behind this motel, no crime i know of, just blue collar boys hanging about.
You will need to book ahead though if you want a room in July.

We are going in August but we need some advice: driving from Calgary to the Bugs, is a 4WD vehicle required? Car rental is expensive but even MORE expensive if we take an SUV. What's that road like? Would a regular car be able to make it? Advice? Eh? Eh?

thehackattacks wrote:What's that road like? Would a regular car be able to make it?

Are the brake line eating porcupines still a problem, are there enough fences for all the cars if so?

will smith wrote:Are the brake line eating porcupines still a problem, are there enough fences for all the cars if so?

Last July we did not need 4wd. There was plenty of wire, though had to scrounge a little for logs to hold it up in the full parking lot.

In late May we needed four-wheel drive (huge dips/tire trenches/etc) but many people said that the road smoothes out as the season progresses. Amazing place. I would go back in a heartbeat (NOT IN MAY THIS TIME!)