You can still go around, through the US.
This is why the border needs to remain open at all times. We need vital traffic to continue flowing smoothly.
There is currently no way to drive between Vancouver and the rest of Canada
111–120 of 477 posts
Re: There is currently no way to drive between Vancouver and the rest of Canada
#112For just a bit of context/anecdata, I'm talking to my brother who lives in Vancouver and he wasn't even aware this was a problem. The road closure[0] on hwy 1 near Abbotsford/Chilliwack is a good one hour drive away from Vancouver core[1]. So while it sounds noteworthy for an entire city be technically flooded in, unless you were driving to the boonies, you're probably not actually impacted in any meaningful way. He…
"So while it sounds noteworthy for an entire city be technically flooded in, unless you were driving to the boonies, you're probably not actually impacted in any meaningful way."
Where do truck shipments come into Vancouver from ?
Is it all through the US/CA border ?
Re: There is currently no way to drive between Vancouver and the rest of Canada
#113For just a bit of context/anecdata, I'm talking to my brother who lives in Vancouver and he wasn't even aware this was a problem. The road closure[0] on hwy 1 near Abbotsford/Chilliwack is a good one hour drive away from Vancouver core[1]. So while it sounds noteworthy for an entire city be technically flooded in, unless you were driving to the boonies, you're probably not actually impacted in any meaningful way. He…
I'm surprised there's no shortages yet because trucks can't get to the city. Or does Vancouver import most non-regional goods from the US (and not the rest of Canada) anyway?
the Trans Canada Highway in some parts is an undivided 2-lane road, so it wouldn't be surprising for freight to choose to take something like I-90 instead, though you would have to go through border checks.
Re: There is currently no way to drive between Vancouver and the rest of Canada
#114Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't have one personally but if I did more solo hiking in more remote areas, especially in the Western US I'd probably break down and get one. Cell service isn't dependable and I'd likely convince myself that it was cheap insurance in the grand scheme of things. Of course, people managed for a very long time without having the ability to call for help or check in and they generally were OK with that. (And calling…
People also died in the back woods a lot more than they do now. There are tons of injuries that go from minor to fatal if you don’t have timely rescue. A rescue beacon or call doesn’t guarantee a good outcome, but it drastically changes the odds.
>People also died in the back woods a lot more than they do now.
That certainly could be true although I suspect a lot of people are also less prepared/careful today because they assume they can just call for help. And then they end up with a dead battery, no cell reception, or conditions are just such that rescue is delayed.
That said, a cell phone probably should be on your "10 things to carry" list these days. And I could certainly be convinced that an inReach-like things should be too if you're regularly off by yourself in areas without a lot of people.
Re: There is currently no way to drive between Vancouver and the rest of Canada
#115I misinterpreted the headline the mean that the city was continuously surrounded by roads, e.g. a wild animal trying to reach the city could not without crossing a road somewhere.
Ok, we've replaced the article title with its first sentence, which is clearer.
Re: There is currently no way to drive between Vancouver and the rest of Canada
#116For just a bit of context/anecdata, I'm talking to my brother who lives in Vancouver and he wasn't even aware this was a problem. The road closure[0] on hwy 1 near Abbotsford/Chilliwack is a good one hour drive away from Vancouver core[1]. So while it sounds noteworthy for an entire city be technically flooded in, unless you were driving to the boonies, you're probably not actually impacted in any meaningful way. He…
I'm surprised there's no shortages yet because trucks can't get to the city. Or does Vancouver import most non-regional goods from the US (and not the rest of Canada) anyway?
It has an airport, a ferry terminal, and a port with a railroad. I suspect trucks are not the main way supplies are delivered.
Re: There is currently no way to drive between Vancouver and the rest of Canada
#117The other day, I was in Whistler and tried to use Google Maps to route back to Vancouver. It wanted me to take logging roads through the back country.. roads that are actually deactivated and impossible to traverse unless you have a trail bike perhaps. That’s Canada for you…
I've had similar things happen to me before because I somehow managed to toggle the "avoid highways" setting without realizing it.
Bingo. There is literally one way to get from Vancouver to Whistler: the Sea to Sky/99. And it’s a highway.
There are no other links, which is why even when you choose “avoid highways”, you still get put on the 99 between Squamish and Whistler, since that’s literally the only road that connects the two. You get put on some alternative backroads between Squamish and Vancouver, which are horrible to use (it was the only option at times while the 99 was being upgraded for the Olympics)
Re: There is currently no way to drive between Vancouver and the rest of Canada
#118For just a bit of context/anecdata, I'm talking to my brother who lives in Vancouver and he wasn't even aware this was a problem. The road closure[0] on hwy 1 near Abbotsford/Chilliwack is a good one hour drive away from Vancouver core[1]. So while it sounds noteworthy for an entire city be technically flooded in, unless you were driving to the boonies, you're probably not actually impacted in any meaningful way. He…
The big issue is that the port in Vancouver is now essentially an island. Rail is impacted by this as well.
Re: There is currently no way to drive between Vancouver and the rest of Canada
#119Earlier quoted context omitted.
Clearly you don't know folks working in the industry; Trade and Transportation drivers have been and are exempt from testing requirements. My brother has been driving to and from the area around Winnipeg through North and South Dakota as a truck driver during the entire pandemic, and was vaccinated early by the US. (also, non-anecdotal source -> https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/exempt... )
And what does that have to do with anyone who doesn't fit into that one category?
The overall tone of the thread is about logistics in a port city that is the main port of entry to Canada. Individually, the testing requirements are very disruptive, but it's one less issue that may have impacted supply chains within the BC lower mainland, and an avenue to ship goods out, albeit more expensively.
This isn't (generally speaking) a thread about COVID restrictions, but if you want to sound off about that more, feel free, but it shouldn't be a shock that in a) a global pandemic, and b) a series of natural disasters, that no one really gives a fuck about how inconvenient travel has become for non-essential activities.
Re: There is currently no way to drive between Vancouver and the rest of Canada
#120One of my family members has been stuck just east of Hope, British Columbia[1] for almost two days now. There is currently no cell service, but luckily they have a Garmin inReach so we can communicate via its SMS feature. For anybody with friends/family in the area, the BC subreddit megathread[2] on this is a good starting place to get information on evacuations, power outage status, road closures, official relevant…
That garmin is a cool toy, but pricey ($400 for the device plus $50/mo for unlimited text service). What does your family member do that they have one? It seems like the kind of thing a park ranger would have, or that someone might rent before going on a long hike in a remote area.
What does your family member do that they have one?
Goes on a hike and realizes that a lot of BC doesn't have any cell service?
I haven't used mine for an actual emergency, but it did come in handy in Yukon with an irreparable motorcycle tire. I mostly use it as a backcountry text message device to let the spouse know I'm not dead, or just general chat if I have messages left. Regardless, "long hike in a remote area" defines even a lot of day hikes in WA state, let alone the interior of BC. There probably isn't a month that goes by that I don't grab mine for one remote adventure or another.