Don't take guns into Canada

[Canine]

flying kurb, Do you have a family member that isn't allowed into Canada? A serious medical illness? Difficulty with your finances? Did you by chance ever take the keys from a friend too drunk to drive only to be arrested for unlawful imprisonment (kidnapping)? Are you immune to ludicrous over-prosecutorial actions? I'm not a trained professional, but if I kept going, I'm sure I would find a criminal or medical reason that could disqualify you from entering Canada.

I'm glad you've never made a mistake and that your anecdotal evidence has been in your favor, but I want to make extra sure people aren't misled by some peoples' positive experiences. If one wants to cross into Canada, that is fine, but I don't want people to take a well-meaning, but misguided, light-hearted approach to it. It's not entirely about being reasonable and doing everything within one's power to abide by the rules; that too often does not work.

But, like you said, by all means be as prepared as possible. If you bought stuff, have the receipts together in your passport. The little things like that help. Anything one can do to facilitate a search will make it easier on you.

I want to make it clear I hate being like this. I HATE being so negative and contradictory to some of the people here. But the hard facts need to be said for our protection. Maybe I'm being to harsh or negative. I would much rather be wrong and an annoyance occasionally than to be accurate in my perception of crossing the border. I want so bad to be wrong in my statements.

 

[highdesertranger]

like I said do your homework know what's allowed and what's not. on another note why did the word stu pid get edited out of my other post in this thread. I just wrote "don't do anything stu pid." highdesertranger

 

[flying kurbmaster]

Canine, No to most of those questions, yes to have made mistakes. If you were involved in something as serious as kidnapping, it is no wonder that they won't let you in, they only have what comes up on their screens, you have to get it off their screens. anyone can get into countries with a criminal record but usually you have to apply for an exemption, it is unfortunate that our mistakes from our past follow us. I have learnt when dealing with government you have to jump through a set of hoops, every single hoop.

 

[Blue]

I had a half torn off bumper sticker they didnt like, because of it... like 10 hrs of hell and got threatened with guns and treated like a scum bag criminal they hated trying to sneak into their glorious kingodm.

Gotta say a few other things
1) AL-CAN is hella scary, every 30 ft theres a half burried RV or van or car sticking half way out of dried mud, logging trucks are flying past at 80 mph 1 or 2 inches away from your side mirrors on the thin little roads your driving on, a lot is still steep and unpaved, if you break down you might have to abandon your vehicle because the like 4 tow trucks running will be busy for days, no... dont look at that "highway" as a cake walk. get your S#!t tightened down before rolling on that.
2) white horse was pretty cool, great little yukon town with a period working saloon/cassino, was fun but a total tourist trap. Ridge running the dirt road mountian range to chicken and toke though nearly got me killed.
3) cannadians are nice people, in my expirences cannadian athorities have huge chips on their shoulders about americans. Avoid if possible, take the ferry instead.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

I only went up there pre 911, on greyhound. First time we didnt even get off the bus, second time they asked why i was going up there and inspected the luggage, but still no problem. The people actually walking across were not even stopped (that i could see anyway) It was harder coming back in.

 

[spd2918]

I had a half torn off bumper sticker they didnt like, because of it... like 10 hrs of hell and got threatened with guns and treated like a scum bag criminal they hated trying to sneak into their glorious kingodm.

I don't think so. I am in Canada at least once a year, sometimes 3 to 4 times a year, and they are beyond pleasant.

 

[Blue]

ugg does everything have to be a battle with you SPD? clearly I'm not the only person here who had run-ins with a-hole border guys.

 

[spd2918]

ugg does everything have to be a battle with you SPD? clearly I'm not the only person here who had run-ins with a-hole border guys.

Given your past posts (and your PM to me) I think you have a knack for the dramatic. While it is possible that all this woe has happened exactly as you have described, I wonder if you are getting out of relationships what you put in.

For example: Border Guards are trained to observe things that indicate deception. Extra nervousness, pauses before answering, even eye movement can indicate a deceptive person. Since they have no way to search every vehicle they must rely on this training to pick out only the most likely candidates.

Since you seem to have a problem with authority figures you might be showing all these signs and putting yourself at high risk of search.

 

[Lucky mike]

bottom line is.....the law on one side is Canadian and on the other is American......how you play in your backyard is your business, how you play in my backyard is my business.

unfortunately if you cheat or dont play by the rules, you dont get to go home and blow it off.....and no matter how many opinions you have about the rules written in black and white or enforcers who carry them out at will...it gonna really suck if its you that gets caught end of story.......now go ahead and tell your story!

 

[flying kurbmaster]

My personal experience, I have driven the Alaska hwy and the less travelled Stewart Cassiar at least 20 times,likely more, lost count, I lived in Whitehorse for five years, mid 80's, go up every few years to visit friends. I have done it in vans, in cars and on a scooter once. Summer winter spring and fall, I have driven off it in the middle of a snow storm and have been pulled out by a nice logging truck driver, I have lost my heater in -40, Every one of my experiences with people or authorities have been positive, campground owners, gas stations, shop owners, other travellers be they American, Canadian or German. I am planning another trip this summer I am sure it will be just as pleasant as the last one. The record number of wildlife was on the scooter 7 bears, 20 bison, 3 moose, and countless mountain sheep, on the way down, no firearms they didn't try to eat me. It is a wonderful journey take your time, every stream will give you fish and every corner a new vista, don't drive by Liard Hot Springs. I love the North and I love the wilderness, and will continue to go up this highway as long as I can. Dawson city is worth a look, and the Dempster Hwy., A detour worth taking is Prince Rupert and the area leading to it.

 

[user 423]

...Border Guards are trained to observe things that indicate deception. Extra nervousness, pauses before answering, even eye movement can indicate a deceptive person. Since they have no way to search every vehicle they must rely on this training to pick out only the most likely candidates.

In '95 my sister ran into this type of profiling. She was driving a pickup she had bought used in Denver and hadn't paid any attention to the small NRA sticker on the rear window. She was headed to Fairbanks with her 2 cats plus all her possessions packed to the gills in a camper shell. Because of the sticker (she guesses) she was told to pull over and to wait inside their office. After 20 minutes the agent asked her why she was so nervous. It was about 85 that day and she was worried about her cats. They then told her they needed to remove everything from the shell to inspect. She said no way; she didn't want her cats to freak and/or run off. Explaining that to them didn't make any difference, so she said screw it and headed south. I guess if it can happen to my sweet, gun-hating sister it could happen to anyone.

 

[akrvbob]

I gotta say my experience crossing the border and driving the Alcan has been nothing but good and I've driven it over a dozen times, including in the winter at -30 and one time on a motorcycle.

Alcan is a piece of cake, even in winter or on a motorcycle.
Bob

 

[Blue]

I'm done with Canada, any nature I want to see there I can see more of in Alaska off the south east passage and have wildlife experts giving me a play by play as I sit in my recliner watching. I plan to get back to Sitka one of these days and the ferry system is awesome, more like a cruse ship than a ferry. I just don't need Canada or to go through the hassle. Why bother?