Western Canada

[photo570]

I am traveling to Vancouver, and western Canada in late Feb or early March, what will the weather be like? Will it be coming into spring, or still Brass Monkey's?

[iancl]

A lot depends on altitude and proximity to the

[iancl]

A lot depends on altitude and prox

[airchinapilot]

I am traveling to Vancouver, and western Canada in late Feb or early March, what will the weather be like? Will it be coming into spring, or still Brass Monkey's?
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=165708\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Whenever you visit Vancouver unless it is mid-June to early September you will always need to have at least a light waterproof layer that you can put away and quickly pull on.

I live in Vancouver. During our winter I always have a wool sweater, waterproof outer shell with hood, good waterproof hiking shoes, light gloves and a hat. I can wear jeans year around. Right now it is as cold as it will likely get (1 degrees) but at times it has dipped below 5, 10 at night. It's snowed a couple times and it has gone away in a day or less. The most important thing is that you can swap out dry for wet. I was in Edmonton in Alberta last week and although it was well below freezing and snowy there, it was a dry cold that leaves the moment you get in doors. In Vancouver, if you get wet it will actually feel like a deeper cold even though temperature-wise it is much milder than Edmonton.

March it will probably still be quite wet and dark and stormy too. End of March it will start being spring, though last March it was still winter almost into mid-April. Disappointing.

"Western Canada" is kind of big. Where exactly will you be going? Western Canada has coastal areas, rainforests, deserts, plains, mountains ...?

[photo570]

Whenever you visit Vancouver unless it is mid-June to early September you will always need to have at least a light waterproof layer that you can put away and quickly pull on.

I live in Vancouver. During our winter I always have a wool sweater, waterproof outer shell with hood, good waterproof hiking shoes, light gloves and a hat. I can wear jeans year around. Right now it is as cold as it will likely get (1 degrees) but at times it has dipped below 5, 10 at night. It's snowed a couple times and it has gone away in a day or less. The most important thing is that you can swap out dry for wet. I was in Edmonton in Alberta last week and although it was well below freezing and snowy there, it was a dry cold that leaves the moment you get in doors. In Vancouver, if you get wet it will actually feel like a deeper cold even though temperature-wise it is much milder than Edmonton.

March it will probably still be quite wet and dark and stormy too. End of March it will start being spring, though last March it was still winter almost into mid-April. Disappointing.

"Western Canada" is kind of big. Where exactly will you be going? Western Canada has coastal areas, rainforests, deserts, plains, mountains ...?
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=165763\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Sorry to be so vague, we are going to Vancouver for a few days, then on to the Banff/Jasper/L Louise area, for a week or so, basically the touristy thing, but being a photographer I want to get some good shots if possible.

Any suggestions for must sees?

Cheers

[Panopeeper]

Re the weather: this is very uncertain in the South-West Canada. There are several variations for that time: trickle, rain, shower or deluge.

Re what to photograph around Vancouver: I really don't want to misuse this question for a show off, but my panos give an overview of the Vancouver area: www.panopeeper.com

[airchinapilot]

Sorry to be so vague, we are going to Vancouver for a few days, then on to the Banff/Jasper/L Louise area, for a week or so, basically the touristy thing, but being a photographer I want to get some good shots if possible.

Any suggestions for must sees?

Cheers
[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Vancouver itself is pretty beautiful so you will want a day or more just hiking around the city. False Creek, Stanley Park, the good beaches are Spanish Banks -> Vanier. Unless you are going for grungy street photos you should avoid the Downtown East Side. "Dickensian" is one way to describe it. If you want a good sky view of Vancouver, go to Grouse Mountain.

If you want bald eagles up the wazoo, go to Brackendale (1.5 hours north of Vancouver) for a day trip. I have directions here on my site:

[a href=\"http://www.keithloh.com/drupal/brackendale_for_eagle_season]http://www.keithloh.com/drupal/brackendale_for_eagle_season[/url]

You might then also want to finish off your day in Whistler / Blackcomb (ski resort town).

Other birding-related places are Boundary Bay, George C. Riefel Bird Sanctuary, Iona Beach out by the airport.

If you have two or three days free, I suggest you head out to Tofino and Clayquot Sound.  Tofino has wondrous beaches, Clayquot Sound is a world heritage site for its rainforests. You'll get whale watching, otters, eagles, bears there. Me, I saw whales and otters.

If you want a place closer, the Gulf Islands are really nice. The exact opposite of Vancouver. Folksky, hippy, artsy places.

You may also want to take a day or two on the way to Banff and go through the Okanagan area. The land there is more arid ranching country to mountains and nice lakes. Wineries a plenty.

That should get you started.

[wolfnowl]

Sorry to be so vague, we are going to Vancouver for a few days, then on to the Banff/Jasper/L Louise area, for a week or so, basically the touristy thing, but being a photographer I want to get some good shots if possible.

That's still a huge chunk of real estate.  Driving from Vancouver to Banff is around 850 km, so you'd be looking at say a 10-11 hour drive - in the summertime.

If you're planning on driving from Vancouver to Banff that time of year you MAY run into road closures in the passes due to snowfall or avalanches.  You may also require chains.  As far as weather, Vancouver will likely be cool and rainy, but once you get into the mountains it will still be full winter so expect lots of snow and cold temperatures.  Flying from Vancouver to Calgary and driving west from there would save you a lot of headaches and road time.  The icefields parkway is a pretty route.

Two websites that may be of interest to you are:
http://www.hellobc.com/en-CA/default.htm
http://www.travelalberta.com/

Here's a site that shows traffic cams for BC, live:
http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/bchighwaycam/index.aspx

Mike.

[Keith S]

I am traveling to Vancouver, and western Canada in late Feb or early March, what will the weather be like? Will it be coming into spring, or still Brass Monkey's?
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I know I'm kinda late replying here but I thought I would add an Alberta perspective. They tell us that this winter will be the coldest in the last 15 years. Up side is that there should be lots of snow by then and if you get a sunny/clear day the photo ops are unreal. I don't know if you are use to shooting snow but a little research would help. I live in Calgary and if you have any other question feel free to ask.

This is not a good shot but gives you an idea of whats available.



Keith