To follow up on my shipping question related to my point-to-point loaded bike tour, in case this info will be of use to anyone:
I ended up flying into Edmonton w/ the bike in a cardboard bike box that I picked up at a local shop. 100 dollar bike surcharge on united + 25 bucks for extra luggage. I included some of my gear in the cardboard bike box, packed some of the gear in a cardboard box, and carried two panniers onto the flight. We took greyhound from edmonton to Jasper (75 dollars to bring the bike). After building up bike in Jasper (and recycling the cardboard boxes), I rode from Jasper to Banff via the Icefields parkway and golden triangle. I packed up my bike and gear in new cardboard bike box and cardboard box procured in Banff (there are several bike shops in Banff and I had prearranged with one of them to get a box). Took the shuttle to Calgary airport (~50 bucks extra for the bike), then returned home via Air Canada (only 50 bucks for the bike + 25 bucks for extra luggage surcharge).

The travel logistics worked just fine, and my bike was fine in the cardboard boxes. It was pretty expensive to travel this way with the bike due to usurious bike surcharges. But shipping from the US into Canada was unworkable due to customs issues.