Author: bradvaillancourt

2014 was a busy and productive year for the Great Divide Trail Association. Here are just a few things we accomplished last year:

• Celebrated the one year anniversary of the re-establishment of the GDTA on April 5;
• Increased our community in-person outreach by presenting and recruiting volunteers at several locations in Calgary and Vancouver last Spring;
• Unveiled our new and improved GDTA website in June;
• Began what we hope will be a long and successful partnership with The North Face.
• Completed a very successful trail maintenance trip to the Hidden Creek area in July with 21 hard-working volunteers;
• Worked closely with Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development to ensure that the GDT was considered a priority during the development of the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan;
• Held our 2^nd Annual General Meeting on September 16 where we welcomed two new board members to the GDTA: Jocelyn Wood and Geoff Ellwand; and
• Started our very own GDTA Twitter account in November.

2015 GDTA Trail Maintenance Trip – DATES SET:

The dates and location for our 2015 Trail Maintenance Trip have been determined.

Dates: July 15 to 19, 2015 Location: Aldridge Creek trail (our first trail maintenance trip in BC!)

Join us in the mountains. Build trail. Sleep under the stars. Be inspired.

Let me know if you are interested in participating in the 2015 GDTA Trail Maintenance Trip or if you’re not able to participate on the actual trip dates but would like to help with some of the pre-trip planning activities. We can use your help! Stay tuned for more information.

Upcoming GDTA Presentations:

Interested in learning more about the Great Divide Trail and the work of the GDTA?

Check out the GDT presentation at the “Best of BC Adventure Theatre” at 11:30am on March 7^th at the Outdoor Adventure & Travel Show at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

Check out the GDT presentation on the “Best of Alberta Adventure Theatre” at 3:30pm on March 21^st at the Outdoor Adventure & Travel Show at the Stampede Park, BMO Centre in Calgary.

On Tuesday, April 28^th at 7:00pm, Kathy Plachta and Jean-Francois Cianci will be speaking about volunteering with the GDTA at the Alberta Wilderness Association office, 455 ‐ 12 Street NW, Calgary.

Follow our Outreach page and our Twitter feed for other upcoming GDTA presentations.

The GDTA Blog

“Hockey Morning in Canada” by Geoff Ellwand

Our very own radio star and Chair of the GDTA, Dave Hockey has been a busy man these last few weeks. He’s been promoting the Great Divide Trail in a string of interviews with some of the biggest morning radio shows in Alberta and the BC Interior. In a matter of days he hit CBC Calgary, CBC Edmonton and CBC Kelowna.

So what has got the radio folks eager to speak to Dave?

Well, it’s because of the new Hollywood movie ‘Wild’ starring Reese Witherspoon. She plays a woman working personal things out by walking the Pacific Crest Trail. The movie is based on a book of the same name by Cheryl Strayed, who really did walk the trail, and it has people excited about long distance hiking in the wilderness. And Reese Witherspoon has now got an Oscar nomination for her role in the movie.

Well, Dave has not only walked a good chunk of the Pacific Crest Trail, he is also a big part of building and preserving the Great Divide Trail right here in Canada. In addition he’s a great talker. It was a hook made in heaven for the radio guys and Dave snapped up the opportunity to tell the world about the GDT. Nice work Dave!

“Hiker Housekeeping in the Offseason” by Jocelyn Wood

When the snow blankets our trails and the window of daylight shortens, I welcome the opportunity to spend my weekends cozy inside. My bear-like mind likes to dream of all the food I am going to eat because with the onset of winter I have time to prepare meals for future trips. I am an avid dehydrator and I would love to share a few simple tips to spice up and lighten your trekking food load. If you maximize on this free hibernation time you can truly amp up your trail mix, fill your house up with delicious smells of future meals and set your stomach to grumble while saving money and time for the future hiker you.

When you’re doing a long distance hike, it doesn’t take long before you’re sick of peanuts and raisins. By dehydrating your own fruits ahead of time, you are adding greater nutrition and taste-bud pleasing variety into the mix.

Here are some easy to dehydrate fruits that you can add to a trail mix, porridge or pancakes that will add some pep to your step on your next trip:

• Bananas – peel your yellow ripe banana and cut into 1/8-1/4″ slices. Dehydrate at 135°F until leathery.
• Apples – wash, peel and core apples, cut into 1/4-3/8″ slices or rings and dry at 135°F until pliable. Sprinkle with sugar or cinnamon for an extra sweet kick.
• Strawberries – Wash your large, firm and red strawberries, remove caps and slice 1/4-3/8″ thick. Dry at 135°F until leathery and crisp.
• Blueberries – Wash your ripe blueberries and remove stems. Blanch your blueberries whole for 15-30 seconds in boiling water before drying at 135°F until leathery and crisp.
• Pineapple (personal favourite!)– rinse the pineapple, cut off the crown and peel so there are no fibrous areas. Once cored, cut into 1/4-1/2″ slices or wedges and dehydrate at 135°F until pliable.

Happy trail treats!

Trail Journals

Check out Alberta boys, Jake Alleyne and Liam Harrap’s blog of their incredible 252-day, 5,507-kilometre journey from Jasper to Mexico on the Great Divide in 2014!

Trail and Road Conditions Update It’s winter in the Rocky Mountains! Expect snowy, icy or wet trail conditions. Snow cleats, snowshoes or skis are required. Expect cold temperatures, well below freezing overnight and be prepared for extreme weather conditions when travelling into the backcountry.

• Temporary Trail Closure (November 1, 2014 to February 28, 2015) – Jasper National Park: The GDT is closed from Four Point Campground to the Signal Mountain trailhead near Jasper to prevent trails from facilitating an unnatural level of predator access to threatened woodland caribou.

Winter conditions exist on mountain highways and roads and seasonal winter closures are in effect. Roads can be snowy and icy so check for the latest conditions before you travel and carry chains and/or winter tires. For more information, check out Alberta 511 and Drive BC.

GDTA Membership

The Great Divide Trail Association is a membership organization built by the support of people like you. Together, we share a common vision: the completion and long‐term preservation of the Great Divide Trail. By becoming a member of the GDTA, you are supporting the trail experience that you love and contributing to the legacy of the Great Divide Trail.

And we need you!

A $30 Annual GDTA Membership gives you up to date information and trip‐planning resources for the Great Divide Trail; voting status at meetings of members of the GDTA; eligibility to serve on the GDTA Board of Directors; invitations to participate in trail classes and volunteer trail projects; and the knowledge that you are helping to protect and preserve the Great Divide Trail. Check out our website for more information on how to become a member today.

Sincerely,

Brad Vaillancourt
President, Great Divide Trail Association

It was a busy and productive summer for the Great Divide Trail Association! Here’s what we’ve been up to…

Hidden Creek Trail Maintenance Trip

From July 24 to 27, the GDTA Volunteer Trail Crew performed much needed trail maintenance in the Hidden Creek area. We repaired damage to the trail caused by last year’s floods, re-establishing the trail from Tornado Pass to Hidden Creek. We repaired and built trail tread, removed brush and fallen trees, blazed and marked the trail, and built two bridges over South Hidden Creek.

Thanks to our sponsors: The North Face, MEC, Stihl and Cervus Equipment.

And a special thanks to all of our volunteers!

Adrian Jonker, Andrew Wade, Cliona Curran, Dave Higgins, Dave Hockey, Doug Borthwick, Geoff Ellwand, Jean-Francois Cianci, Jocelyn Wood, Kathy Plachta, Ken Payne, Leslie Nicholls, Margaret Saul, Marcel Durand, Melody Switzer, Millie Kuyer, Neil Morrison, Robert Armstrong, Wayne Marshall and Wendy Ryan.

GDTA Blog by Geoff Ellwand – “Clean-up crew helps Wayne and GDTA get ready for 2015”

On a recent Saturday, a small group of volunteers showed up at Wayne’s place to clean, fold, cut, count, take apart, put together, sharpen, and finally pack most of the GDTA equipment in his garage. An inventory was developed to help determine what equipment is needed in the future.

The operation wasn’t designed just to help the GDTA get ready for next year. It was more than that. Wayne wants to pass on knowledge about how to maintain and assemble and use all our equipment. He wants to be sure as many people as possible can keep our stoves and camping equipment (like the biffy which he plans to modify) as well as the augers and axes and other tools working and ready to go.

A big GDTA thank you to Ellen who provided a terrific lunch for the workers!

GDTA AGM

Thanks to everyone who attended the Great Divide Trail Association Annual General

Meeting on September 16th in Calgary. A new by-law was passed, the annual membership fee was set ($30) and the GDTA Annual Financial Statement and Annual Report were presented.

Congratulations to Geoff Ellwand and Jocelyn Wood for their successful nominations as new GDTA Directors, welcome aboard!

And thanks to the Alberta Wilderness Association for letting us use their office for our AGM!

GDTA Website Update

The GDTA is now monitoring trail and road conditions along the Great Divide and you can help! If you hiked the GDT in 2014, you can provide your own trail updates through our website.

The GDTA website offers many other trip-planning resources including maps, GPS and Google Earth coordinates, re-supply information and advice from other hikers who have logged many miles on the trail itself. Check it out!

And don’t forget that we are now accepting paid memberships to the GDTA. $30 Annual GDTA Membership gives you up to date information and trip‐planning resources for the Great Divide Trail; voting status at meetings of members of the GDTA; eligibility to serve on the GDTA Board of Directors; invitations to participate in trail classes and volunteer trail projects; and the knowledge that you are helping to protect and preserve the Great Divide Trail. See our website for more information on how to become a member.

Trail Update

The GDTA would like to thank everyone who provided information on the condition of the GDT in 2014! 

Trail Conditions Update – NOVEMBER 18, 2014

Winter has arrived in the Rocky Mountains! Snow has fallen on all of the GDT with significant accumulation at higher elevations. Expect snowy, slippery, wet or muddy trail conditions. Snow cleats or snowshoes are recommended. Temperatures are below freezing so be prepared for all weather conditions when travelling into the backcountry.

Trail Closures and Notices:

• TEMPORARY TRAIL CLOSURE (November 1, 2014 to February 28, 2015) – Jasper National Park: The GDT is closed from Four Point Campground to Poboktan Creek to prevent trails from facilitating an unnatural level of predator access to threatened woodland caribou.
• TRAIL CLOSURE – Elk Lakes Provincial Park: Lower Elk Lakes trail beyond the campground (between Lower and Upper Lakes) and the trail from Upper Elk Lakes to West Elk Pass remain closed due to washed out bridges and sections of trail. DETOUR: Use Elkan Creek trail from the parking lot to Elk Pass (4km).
• ACCESS TRAIL CLOSURE – Kootenay National Park: Tumbling Creek Trail remains closed.
• NOTICES – Cairnes Creek: The bridge is washed out making this a potentially dangerous ford. It is recommended to cross early in the morning when glacial melt is lowest.
• The Lambe Creek bridge is badly damaged so it is recommended to ford the creek further downstream and avoid using the broken bridge.
• The Maligne Pass trail in Jasper National Park has been decommissioned and is in poor shape. The trail from Poboktan Creek to Maligne Lake (approx 42 km) is no longer being maintained by Parks Canada so expect deteriorating and overgrown trail conditions; long pants are recommended. The Maligne River bridge has been removed but the river can be easily forded (knee deep in mid-summer). Most other bridges are still in place.
• The Aldridge Creek Trail between Fording River Pass and the Kananaskis Power Line is in very poor shape. The upper part of the trail is very overgrown. The creek has washed away much of the lower section of trail but it is still passable by following the rocky banks of the creek.

Access Roads Update

Winter conditions exist on most mountain highways and roads. Roads can be snowy and icy so check for the latest conditions before you travel and carry chains and/or winter tires. For more information, check out Alberta 511 and Drive BC.

Alberta:

• Construction continues on the Forestry Trunk Road 940, from the Junction highway 532 to the Junction highway 541. Outdoor enthusiasts may still access the Forestry Trunk Road during construction but through traffic will not be permitted as the entire roadway must be excavated. Barricades will be placed at convenient turnaround spots.
• Highway 40 will be seasonally closed from Peter Lougheed Provincial Park to Highwood House beginning December 1.
•  Forestry Trunk Road 940 will be seasonally closed south of Cataract Creek and northwest of Plateau Mountain Road beginning December 1.
• Road 532 between Highway 22 and Road 940 is not maintained during the winter.

BC:

• The Blaeberry FSR is closed to non-industrial traffic at 11.5 km and washed out completely at 19.1 km. From this point, you can still travel the additional 22 km on foot or bike to the David Thompson Heritage Trailhead (on the GDT) near the Cairnes Creek Recreation site, which is deteriorated and partially flooded.

GDTA Recognition Award

The GDTA would like to recognize the work of Jean-François Cianci for his successful application to the Suncor Energy Foundation. The GDTA received the Suncor Energy Foundation Volunteering Grant for $750 that will go towards funding future volunteer trail crew projects. Thanks Jean-François!

Sincerely,

Brad Vaillancourt
President, Great Divide Trail Association