Driving north to Winnipeg in March for a Southern driver (Full Version)

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PolarBear -> Driving north to Winnipeg in March for a Southern driver (8/31/2008 6:17:41 AM)

Maybe an odd question here, but we're thinking of going to Winnipeg in March so my wife can experience Canada. We want to skate on frozen lakes and take the train to Churchill to see the polar bears and northern lights.

Biggest problem: I can't drive, and my wife is from South Carolina. On our honeymoon it snowed a little when we were driving through Great Smoky Mountain park, and she slowed to like 5-10mph. She doesn't know how to deal with icy roads.

The obvious route from here is to take Interstate 29 north through the Dakotas.

Question for those familiar with that area: How are the roads, especially the freeway, at that time? Are they generally kept free of ice?

What about Winnipeg itself? I have a friend there who may help us get around, and I'll probably hear back from him soon, so that might not be a problem.



magdaleine -> RE: Driving north to Winnipeg in March for a Southern driver (9/2/2008 1:32:22 PM)

Hey Micah! I live in Winnipeg and someone was kind enough to direct me to this thread.

If you want to skate on lakes, March will probably be a bit late. Last winter, Winnipeg boasted Canada's (maybe the world's?) longest river-ice skating path but unless it's the very beginning of March, it will probably be closed as the ice turns to mush. Often all our snow is gone by the end of the month.

Yes, take Interstate 29 and unless you get hit by a storm as you drive, the highway should be clear of ice. Same with the highway once you cross the border. Once you're in the city, it could be a different matter. The side streets can be quite icy but there are also deep ruts in the ice (again, depending on when you come) and so she's not likely to lose control of the car on them.

One thing to your advantage is that once you get into North Dakota, the land is flat. No icy hills to negotiate. I was in the Great Smoky National Park last summer and I would have done the same as your wife, had it snowed. It was scary enough with the sharp turns, narrow road and steep inclines. In fact, I probably would have found a place to stop and stayed there till the roads were better.

In the city, the most likely place you'll encounter ice that could cause a problem is at stop signs. It is easy to slide through an intersection because the ice caught you off guard. The key trick is to begin breaking long before you would normally need to. The other thing is, if you start sliding, don't press down hard on the brake. That will just increase your slide. Let your foot up off the brake and if needed then hit it again. Some people pump their brakes in these locations.

Once you enter Manitoba, there will be no freeways. We don't have the population to justify such expense and so you will find other highways, gravel roads, even private driveways crossing or entering directly onto the highway. The highway between the border and Winnipeg is divided.

I don't think you can catch a train to Churchill from Winnipeg (I could be wrong and you can google that as easily as I can) so, if I'm right, you'll have to drive further north (or take a bus). This is where your driving challenges would come. Winnipeg is on flat ground but once you head north-west, the land becomes hilly and the roads are not divided. In fact, most of them will be one lane only in each direction. They could very well be icy because the population thins even more the further north you travel.

Oops! I decided to check http://www.viarail.ca/trains/en_trai_prai_wich.html and yes, you can catch the train from Winnipeg, which I would recommend because travelling north of Winnipeg in the winter would not be easy for those unaccustomed to icy roads. And you can even plan to get off part way along the trip if you want.

I said you probably wouldn't be able to skate on a lake or river in Winnipeg in March, particularly at the end of March, but you probably could in Churchill. I have no idea what kind of skating facilities they might have. Here in Winnipeg you can rent skates at The Forks for skating on the river or on the skate paths that travel through The Forks. There is also an outdoor skating rink and hills to toboggan (sled).

If it doesn't have to be March (though you're probably trying to coincide with polar bear season which probably doesn't start earlier), there is a wonderful outdoor festival near the beginning of February in Winnipeg that celebrates the French and Métis culture of 100-200 years ago. There are dog sled races (and I think you can pay to ride a dog sled), maple candy made by pouring hot syrup into clean snow, huge snow sculptures and more.

If you do make it to Winnipeg, I would be delighted to meet you and your wife and be your tour guide if you'd like. Congratulations, by the way, on being married. Last I knew of you, you were single.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask them here or pm or e-mail me.



PolarBear -> RE: Driving north to Winnipeg in March for a Southern driver (9/3/2008 2:12:00 PM)

Hi Maggie, thanks for the info!

I also just heard from my friend there and he said some of the same things -- that February would be better for skating and that it gets slushy in March. Actually polar bear season is in October/November, so that's not an issue. (They should be there all year, just not in that quantity.) I was thinking March hoping I wouldn't get completely frostbitten every time I set foot outside. [8|]

As for driving, well we'll have a Texas license plate so people should know to steer well clear of us. LOL!

Thanks again, I might hit you up for some more info later!



magdaleine -> RE: Driving north to Winnipeg in March for a Southern driver (9/4/2008 1:24:57 AM)

LOL about being frostbitten. That's not likely to happen if you wear mittens (not gloves--though most locals will use gloves or bare hands when driving), a hat that won't blow off (we call them toques but you might call them stocking hats), a scarf and warm socks (preferably wool) inside your boots (though I wear walking or sports shoes all winter unless we've just had a big snowfall that hasn't been cleared yet). Don't go buying yourself a great big thick parka that you'll use only for this trip. Just plan to have lots of layers. I know I'm warmer than most people but the last several winters I've hardly worn a winter coat at all. Instead, I wear a good sweater under a coat or jacket that has wind-breaking properties and that serves me for when I'm just driving in the car (remote starters mean the car is warm when I get into it) and for when I'm doing a lot of walking outside (because the movement builds up heat which, when it turns to sweat, will cause more problems than the cold--you'd be in danger of hypothermia when you got inside and cooled down; I did that once). So the only time I really bundle up is if I'm outside in high winds and don't plan to be doing a lot of moving around. I realize that for southerners you'll want to dress warmer than I do, but be careful of overdressing.

Since your friend concurs with me about March, let me strongly recommend you come in February during the Festival du Voyageur. Google it. It can be a lot of fun. AND that first or second week in February is often surprisingly warm. Sometimes the snow sculptures begin to melt before we get colder temperatures again.

As an added bonus, if it interests you, the first weekend in February is Missionfest in Winnipeg (you can google that too). It's a huge event with several thousand in attendance, speakers from across North America and often other parts of the world as well and hosted by a multitude of churches from many denominations. There are usually over 100 booths of different mission organizations that are always fascinating to explore.

As for steering clear of Texan vehicles, well, don't count on it!



PolarBear -> RE: Driving north to Winnipeg in March for a Southern driver (9/5/2008 2:53:26 AM)

Thanks again, I'll have to consider those festivals.

I wonder about the drive to Thompson. I would *love* to do that, if nothing else than for good photography opportunities along the way. With all those lakes that's got to be a stunning trip! Then we could take the train from there instead of from Winnipeg. But as you said above, I bet that would be very difficult for my wife.



magdaleine -> RE: Driving north to Winnipeg in March for a Southern driver (9/5/2008 7:40:36 AM)

Micah, I have not driven to Thompson so I only know what I've heard. What I have heard is that even in the summer, the road to Thompson can be an adventure. If I'm not mistaken, it isn't even paved the entire way. Because of all the wetlands and the freezing-thawing that happens every year, the road is never in good shape. Mind you, in winter the potholes would be filled in with snow so the ride would be smoother and if you did go off the road, the lakes and bogs are too frozen to sink into. On the other hand, if you did go off the road, your cell phone might not work to call for help and the traffic is thin enough that it could be awhile before anyone passed by who was willing to stop. On the other hand, the big trucks are hugely busy at this time of year because winter roads make some communities road accessible that, in the summer, can only be reached by boat or plane. If I was going to Churchill, I would want to try driving to Thompson though, so don't discount it altogether. If you do decide to do that, google what you would need in the car as a survival kit. No one should be driving on Manitoba highways in the winter without one anyway. One thing about "all those lakes" that would make "a stunning trip" is that the lakes are covered with ice and snow so it's very different seeing them in the winter than in the summer. You often can't tell what's a lake and what's simply a clearing or meadow. There isn't the contrast of blue water with green trees. it's all white. You might be able to google information about driving to Thompson and what road conditions are like in the winter. I do think your plans are exciting. What a great experience you will have!



PolarBear -> RE: Driving north to Winnipeg in March for a Southern driver (9/5/2008 8:58:42 AM)

I tried googling it, not too much luck yet.

I wonder how hard it would be to get a caravan to travel to Thompson, with enough vehicular redundancy that everyone could fit in another if one broke down.

I'm actually starting to wonder if we should postpone the trip another year, because currently the sun is at a minimal activity in its cycle and I really want to see northern lights. Of course I hear they happen this year, but I bet it could be better.



magdaleine -> RE: Driving north to Winnipeg in March for a Southern driver (9/5/2008 12:19:09 PM)

The Northern Lights show up every year. They may be more spectacular some years than others but you won't likely miss them.

If you're determined to drive to Thompson, you can do it without a caravan. Just make sure you're well-supplied for an emergency. People have been stranded in their cars for days in the middle of winter and survived. If you research what you need to have with you and what you should and shouldn't do if you're in that situation, you'll be fine. As I said, there are big rigs driving down that road.

I found this:
http://www.lynnlake.ca/Directions_to_Lynn_Lake.html
quote:

The distance between Winnipeg and Thompson is approximately 738 km. (466 miles) on a paved, well-maintained highway. Driving time at the posted speed limit is approximately 7.5 hours, non-stop.

Then, once on Provincial Highway Number 6, drive north from Winnipeg to Thompson, MB (the purple line on the map below), . The highway is paved with 24 hour gas stations located in the communities of Ashern, Grand Rapids, Ponton and Thompson while driving North to Lynn Lake. All these communities are located within a 300 kilometer interval from one another, meaning Ashern is within 300 km from Grand Rapids, and Grand Rapids is within a 300 kilometers from Ponton, and Ponton is 300 kilometers from Thompson.

Winter driving requires travelers to carry with them extra gas, along with warm clothing, candles, blankets, a shovel, an axe, matches for a fire for warmth, a first aid kit, and high energy food in the event of a mechanical breakdown. Cell phone coverage (MTS cell phone system) is confined from the City of Winnipeg to the northern limit of Ashern, MB located on Highway #6. Shortly before approaching the outer limits of the Town of Thompson, cell phone coverage again resumes, however soon after driving out of Thompson, cell phone coverage ends. Days are very long (approx. 16 hours during July), and very short in the winter (approx. 7 hours in January). Always drive according to road conditions and with greater caution if you have not driven on these highways before. Animals, such as moose, deer and elk frequently walk onto the road and are nightime driving hazards. Always drive defensively, rest frequently and more than anything, enjoy the scenery.

So I was wrong about the quality of the road. That's good news!



PolarBear -> RE: Driving north to Winnipeg in March for a Southern driver (9/5/2008 2:07:52 PM)

Nice, thanks! I'd still want to talk to someone who has done it in February before even thinking about it.

Maybe that Lynn Lake would make a good additional destination, or even instead of Churchill.



magdaleine -> RE: Driving north to Winnipeg in March for a Southern driver (9/5/2008 3:48:47 PM)

Churchill is the place to go, not Lynn Lake. Not sure how you're going to find someone who's driven that road in February. Good luck!



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