Fav Eats'N'Sleeps

Yeah - another disclaimer: Obviously I can't be sure these places still exist, but I've found them to be decent, maybe even good, and hope they help you in planning your trips to swing or squeeze...

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Hamilton - After some swingin at Tiffany, continue drivin down the hill. Make a right on Main Street and stop by Joya Sushi for some warm miso soup and yummy bee bam bap. (1630 Main Street, 905.525.1114).

Lion's Head - Marydale's and the bakery across the street are golden!!!

Madawaska Highlands - Hostel in Maynooth, Ont. Ask Justin if you can sleep in his garage in Bancroft.

Haliburton - Mill Pond Restaurant is a good breakfast stop (sunday buffets), found 100m north of Carnarvon's City Hall along hwy35.

North Conway - Stairway Cafe (south of IME) has tasty, but not big portions. Chef's Market is a nice place to grab a sandwich after sending your project in the morning, and wondring what to do in the afternoon. It's found across from the Stairway Cafe. Flat Breads has good lunch. Moat Mtn, is good for dinner, since it's a brewery too - located north from town on the west side. The hostel in Conway is ok, but it may be more cost effective to crash in a cheap motel room (many options), if you're splitting the room more than two ways...

Willoughby - Colonnade Inn is tops in my book (Lyndonville, 802.626.9316; exit 23 off of I-91) because it's 20 minutes from the crag, has a mini-fridge, microwave. In the mall next door, there's a grocery store, so you can cook in your rooms... Others favour the Lynburke Motel (802.626.3346, info@lynburkemotel.com) down the street at 791 Main St... Lyndonville is a great staging area, cuz it's also close to Cannon, and not far to Frankenstein! The last time I drove through I spotted a brewery not too far from the hotel. The catch? It's only open on Friday nights. A perfect reason to extend the trip into a three day long-weekend!

Gaspe - Hotel Mont-Sainte-Pierre (418.797.2202 call ahead, since the spring is popular with snowmachine tours. They've gotta restaurant too, from which you can see Corneille!)

Dacks - Lake Placid Brewery. Awsome eats, drink and much merriment to be had. Mountain Manor in Keene has one winterized cottage - it's quite large enough inside, so you can sleep some folks on the floor, and in the closet with the hot water tank. Cedar Run has moved to a new buidling and isn't the same place it used to be, even though it catered more to skinny girls from NYC and not ice climbers. The building Cedar Run used to be in is now the ADK Cafe: great breakfast, lunch and dinners - a bit pricey, but teh portions are large enough, the food is tasty enough and ingredients are fresh enough to satisfy the most critical of tastebuds and stomachs! Tip A Canoe has closed it's doors. NoonMark in Keene Valley, just east of The Mountaineer (great little gear store with a great parts inventory), has a good breakfast. There's also the Armory (diner) in Elizabethtown, if you're heading up to Poko, plus a grocery store. If returning from Poko, stop off at the Baxter Mtn Inn for a great dinner. It's at the top of the big hill on hwy 9N, between Keene and Keene Valley...

Pont Rouge - Motel Bon Air has an awsome Italian dinner deal, where you can choose three entrees... Get two lasagna's and a pizza of your choice, and you'll be good... for an hour...

Chicoutimi - Fromagerie Boivin is a must stop, when climbing in those parts. La Baie makes for a great staging area for hitting Grand Jardins and/or the ice on both sides of the Saguenay... (The ice in Riviere Eternite is great!)

Rouyn Noranda - Check out La Muse Gueule Restarant. It serves some decent pasta, but has an excellent assortment of beers! (819.797.9686 found at 140 Perreault Est)

Riviere Sainte Margeritte (east shore of Saguenay River) - check out Tadoussac! The ferry across the river runs year round (and likely through the night, or it risks being frozen in place). There is an Auberge de Jeunesse in town - very accomodating. If you get there on a saturday night, you might as well go downstairs to the bar and catch the Habs game - it's a popular hang out with locals. Watch out if the Leafers are playing the Canadiennes that night! :-0

Banff - Akai Motel. Cheap motel, used to be the favourite of the late Guy Lacelle. 1.877.900.2525 (toll free ;-) if I remember correctly they've got a kitchenette, fridge and very appealing nightly/weekly rates! Located close to the Tim's and the hwy for quick morning, no-BS departures. There are plenty of good eats in both Canmore and Banff. Truffle Pigs is good if you've worked up an appetite in Field. Otherwise hit up Laggan's Bakery in Lake Louise for satisfying your early morning caffeine needs and/or your sweet tooth. For beta check out www.gravsports-ice.com, www.acmg.ca and www.canadianrockiesice.com, www.ericandlucie.com and www.avalanche.ca.

Ouray - There are lots of places to both eat and recuperate. If you want to eat in, make sure your room is equipped with a microwave and a beer fridge (you can make a lot with just these two things: nachos, Bagel BELT, porridge, Kraft MacNCheese.) Bring your own kettle too! Look into s transferable ten visit pass to the hot springs, although a 3 visit pass is nearly as good (as I recall). The Ouray Brewery recently opened and is a great hangout! But even more classic is the Ourayle House - "All we serve is beer, and all we accept is cash!" (Take it or leave it folks!!!)

Anchorage - Mr. Prime Beef - 907.349.3556 - they'll cube your order of cheese and vacuum pack it, so you're not left licking a frozen block of cheeze for dinner on the Ruth Glacier. Get some meat from them too, and you've eliminated all the stress involved in planning a trip to the northern mtns. Nothing left to do, but worry about the Alaska Factor that'll kick ya!

Squamish - Extra Foods, Howe Sound Brewery (get your hands on the Pot Hole Filler!), Sushi Sen (in behind the Cdn Tire), and also the fish and chips place next door are all very good. Just up the street in Breckendale, the Shady Tree and the Watershed offer up some good food too.

Huaraz - Andean Kingdom offers daily transportation to the Hatun Machay, a high altitude sport climbing area. Climbing there is a great way to acclimatize! There are countless different places to stay. Cory and I stayed at Aldo's Guesthouse, which is actually run by Galaxia Expeditions, located in the small tourist square just north of the off the main square (the Plaza De Armas)! (It's basically just south-east of the streets Luzuriaga and Julian De Morales).

Las Vegas - Check out Prommares Thai Food at 6362 West Sahara Ave (702.221.9644). The Whole Foods on West Charleston Blvd is a great stop on the way outta town towards Red Rocks... They've a buffet!

Sherbrooke - Check out the good gear store in Sherbrooke. They carry ice stuff year round and will happily ship the toys needed to fulfill your ambitions. Call and talk to Martin or Matthieu - 819.566.8882

More to come!