It’s time to sharpen the mattocks, and shine up the safety glasses – the dates and locations for our 2023 trail building & maintenance trips have been set and we need you!
This year we are holding six trail building and maintenance trips on the High Rock Trail in June and July. One of these trips is an inaugural women’s trip. Additionally, we will return to the Blaeberry River valley to work on the David Thompson Heritage Trail, and continue last year’s work on Collie Creek Trail and Maligne Pass Trail in Jasper National Park, all three being historical trails. For the adventuresome, there is new trail to be built between Scarpe Pass and La Coulotte Ridge. And what would a summer be without a bridge building trip? So this year it will be over Baril Creek on the original GDT.
Our trips are supported by the Government of Alberta, Columbia Basin Trust, the Alberta Equestrian Federation, and donations from our recent charitable campaign. Thank you to all of our generous supporters, we couldn’t do it without you!
Note that due to circumstances that are sometimes beyond our control, trip dates and locations are subject to change. We will inform you as soon as we possibly can in the event of such change.
2023 Trail Building & Maintenance Trip Schedule:
1. COLLIE CREEK TRAIL – June 20 to 25
– front country camping
– hybrid trip
2. DAVID THOMPSON HERITAGE TRAIL – June 20 to 25 (waiting list only)
– backcountry camping
– self-supported trip
3. HIGH ROCK TRAIL – June 28 to July 3
– front country camping
– hybrid trip
3a. NEW! WILDLIFE CAMERA WALKING TRIP – July 2 to 6 (waiting list only)
We will set up wildlife cameras at Cataract Creek in the White Goat Wilderness Area. This is a small 3 person crew. No trail building or maintenance.
– backcountry walking trip
– self-supported
4. ORIGINAL GDT (Baril Creek Bridge) – July 4 to 9 (waiting list only)
– backcountry camping
– self-supported trip
5. HIGH ROCK TRAIL – July 5 to 9
– front country camping
– hybrid trip
6. HIGH ROCK TRAIL – July 12 to 16
– front country camping
– hybrid trip
7. HIGH ROCK TRAIL – July 18 to 23
– front country camping
– hyprid trip
8. HIGH ROCK TRAIL WOMEN’S WALKING TRIP – July 26 to 30
– backcountry walking trip
– self-supported
9. HIGH ROCK TRAIL – July 27 to 30
– front country camping
– hybrid trip
10. NEW! LA COULOTTE RIDGE – August 13 to 17
We will access the GDT from Waterton via Sage Pass and build new trail from Scarpe Pass up to La Coulotte Ridge.
– backcountry walking trip
– self-supported
11. NEW! MALIGNE PASS – August 19 to 21 (waiting list only)
We will continue clearing the Maligne Pass Trail in spectacular Jasper National Park.
– backcountry walking trip
– self-supported
Additional Info:
- 10-20 people per trip.
- Kitchen & dining shelters, fire pit and latrine at our base camp* (*not on the Women’s Walking Trip, La Coulotte Walking Trip or Maligne Pass Walking Trip)
- Volunteers will bring & cook their own food.
- Trail building experience is not required, but volunteers should have experience backcountry camping and hiking. Backpacking experience is required for the Women’s Walking Trip, La Coulotte Walking Trip and Maligne Pass Walking Trip.
- Trips are free for GDTA Members.
- The GDTA will provide all trail maintenance tools, tool training, and safety orientation for all trips.
- For more information on what to expect while you’re volunteering on a GDTA trail crew, including descriptions of our different Trip Models, check out the GDTA Volunteer Guide.
How to Join:
Contact us if you are interested in participating in one or more of our 2023 Trail Building & Maintenance Trips and remember that you must be a GDTA Member to participate. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.
Come join us in the mountains – Build trail – Sleep under the stars – Be inspired!
