“...the family may have had an easier time if they’d flown to Missoula, Montana, and hired a car to drive them to Calgary. It’s not that far...”
411 miles, 7+ hours each way. It’s also a bit of a nasty drive this time of year.
There’s no problem flying OUT of Canada. The Covid Hotel Hell happens when we fly back in, so it would be only a one-way drive. I’d drive for any number of hours to avoid quarantining in one of those places, but I’m aware we each have different tolerances for discomfort and inconvenience, and are motivated by different levels of defiance. Seven (plus) hours on potentially snowy roads versus 14 days in CHH? Very easy choice for me.