Section A: No updates.
Section B:
- Additional trail construction continues as we fine-tune the High Rock Trail resulting in a few minor route changes.
- The new Window Mountain Lake Bypass was completed last summer, creating an equestrian friendly route or shortcut for hikers wishing to skip the lake (which you definitely shouldn’t).
- Marmot Lake campground has been added to the GDT campground list. The campground is 700m off the main trail next to a beautiful alpine lake.
Section C:
- Elk Pass Trailhead Resupply will continue this year thanks to Nicole Sharpe who has again generously offered to deliver resupply boxes to the Elk Pass Trailhead in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. The cost is $25 for GDTA members or $40 for non-members. Contact Nicole through Facebook or at [email protected] to book your delivery service and receive mailing instructions. Once you’ve paid the fee, Nicole will give you her Zoleo satellite communicator number in case on-trail communication is needed.
- Aster Lake campground (on the Northover Ridge alternate route) will be closed this summer for refurbishment.
- Egypt Lake campground will be closed starting August 1st during work to replace the Egypt Lake Shelter.
Section D:
- Further improvements to the Collie Creek alternate route took place last summer, including maintenance throughout the existing trail, restoration of an additional 1 km of trail at the south end of the route, and the construction of a bridge over Collie Creek, making it highly recommended this year. Note the new (flagged) route to access the bridge. At the north end of the Collie Creek alternate, a forestry bridge should provide safe passage to continue the GDT on the other side of the Blaeberry River. Be warned that the forestry bridge is slated for removal which could occur as early as mid-August 2023 and the Blaeberry River is generally unfordable prior to September.
Section E:
- The Six-Passes Alternate Route is closed again this year to all overnight random camping but is open to random day use activity.
- The three campgrounds on the Maligne Pass Trail previously available online as ‘Maligne Pass North’ (Mary Vaux, Mary Schäffer, Trapper Creek) are listed in the online reservation system separately, 1 site per night at each campground.
Section F:
- The Berg Lake Trail remains closed and it will not open this summer so hikers should plan accordingly when arranging resupply or exiting the trail.
- The Moose River Trail remains open so hikers can connect with Section G via Moose Pass.
- Exiting via the Moose River Trail to Highway 16 is another option.
Section G:
- With the closure of the Berg Lake Trail, exit or resupply (with support) via the Blueberry Trail are good options.
- Robson Valley Adventures Unplugged will not be offering shuttle services to the Kakwa and Blueberry trailheads this summer.
- Following the past two years’ successful maintenance trips in the Jackpine valley, the entire trail has been cleared! All of the old trail has been discovered and restored which means the trail now fords the Jackpine River more frequently (20 times). In normal water level conditions these fords are easy and only knee deep but hikers should be aware. In higher water conditions, it is an option to avoid most of the fords by bushwhacking along the original side of the river to cross less frequently.
- The Walker Creek FSR continues to be in rough shape and BC Parks lists Walker Creek FSR as closed at km 37 due to unsafe road conditions. The road remains accessible beyond that point for those with high clearance 4WD vehicles willing to drive the very rough and overgrown road to from the Bastille Creek trailhead.
- As an alternative to the Walker Creek FSR, an eastern exit route from Kakwa Lake has been added. The route runs 26 km on an old tote road plus another 6 km on an old trail to reach the 4WD trailhead at Deadhorse Meadows in 32 km. The walking is generally good, but where boggy sections exist look for singletrack detours that skirt around. From Deadhorse Meadows it is a further 18 km to the 2WD trailhead at Lick Creek. If you don’t have a ride arranged, continue a further 15 km to the popular Two Lakes Recreation Area where your search for a ride should be more fruitful.
Happy trails and good luck out there in 2023!
