Category: Blog

There’s a shift that happens in the mountains this time of year. Snow begins to pull back, the days stretch a little longer, and the trail slowly wakes up again.

And we’re not the only ones.

Bears across the Rockies are emerging from their winter torpor. Not hibernation, at least not in the way most people think of it. Their bodies have slowed down significantly over the winter months, but they’re still aware, still responsive, and now, they’re hungry….really hungry.

The early season is one of the most important times to be bear aware. Food sources are limited, and bears are actively moving through the landscape looking for anything they can find. That means more movement, more unpredictability, and more potential for encounters, especially in the same valleys, ridgelines, and corridors we like to travel.

The reality is simple. When we’re out on the trail, we’re moving through their home, not the other way around.

Being bear aware isn’t about fear. It’s about respect and awareness.

It starts with making your presence known. Travel in groups when you can, talk, call out occasionally, and make noise, especially in areas with limited visibility like dense trees, creek crossings, or blind corners. Most bears want nothing to do with us, but surprising one at close range is where things can go sideways.

Food management matters more than most people realize. What you carry, how you store it, and even small things like food scraps or packaging can create long-term problems. A bear that begins to associate people with food is a bear that’s at risk.

Keep a clean camp. Store food properly using bear-resistant methods where required or recommended. Cook and eat away from where you sleep. It’s not just good practice, it’s part of protecting the animals that make these places what they are.

Bear spray is one of the most effective tools you can carry, but only if it’s accessible and you know how to use it. It doesn’t do much good buried in your pack. Take a few minutes before your trip to understand how it works. That small bit of preparation can make a big difference.

And finally, pay attention.

Fresh tracks, scat, disturbed ground, carcasses. These are all signs that you’re in an active area. Slow down, take it in, and adjust how you move through that space.

The Great Divide Trail runs through some of the most incredible wildlife habitat in the country. Seeing signs of bears out there is a reminder that the landscape is still wild, still functioning as it should.

We all have a role to play in keeping it that way.

A little awareness goes a long way.

There’s a quiet moment that happens on the trail.

Maybe it’s stepping over a fallen tree or pushing through a stretch where the brush has crept in a little more than expected. Or arriving at a campsite and noticing small signs of wear, use, or change. Nothing dramatic. Just… noticing.

That’s part of what makes the Great Divide Trail what it is. It isn’t fixed or unchanging. It shifts with weather, with seasons, and with the steady rhythm of people moving through it. And the people who spend time out there, people like you, are often the first to see those changes.

This year, we’re simply inviting you to share a bit of what you notice along the way. Not in a formal or structured way, and not as something that takes away from your experience. More in a “hey, I saw this and thought it might be helpful” kind of way.

It could be a section where a few more trees have come down than expected. A stretch of trail that feels a little rougher underfoot. A campsite that looks well-loved, or maybe a little tired. A bridge or crossing that makes you pause for a second look.

On their own, these moments might not seem like much. But together, they begin to tell a story. They help us understand where the trail might need a bit of care, where attention could go next, and how the experience is evolving throughout the season.

If you feel like sharing, there are a few easy ways to do it. A quick note on FarOut, an email to info@greatdividetrail.com, or a post in the Facebook group all help in their own way. Nothing polished is needed. A sentence or two is more than enough.

And if you don’t share anything at all, that’s completely okay too. Being out there disconnected and taking it all in is the whole point. But if something catches your eye and you feel like passing it along, it helps more than you might think.

It’s one of the quieter ways this trail is looked after. Not just by crews and planning, but by the people who walk it. And that’s a pretty special thing to be part of.

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What We Heard From Hikers This Year

Some of the best moments of the season didn’t happen on the trail. They happened later, reading through hang tag surveys.

This year’s Hiker Hang Tag program gave us a simple way to hear directly from people using the Great Divide Trail. Who they are. Where they’re coming from. What sections they’re hiking. And how the trail experience was for them.

Short version? We were pretty darn blown away.

A Trail With a Big Reach

Most hang tags were picked up by Canadians, but not by much. We also heard from hikers from the U.S., Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and a handful of other places we didn’t expect. It’s a good reminder that the GDT isn’t just a local trail anymore. It’s showing up on a lot of radars.

Who’s Out There

In total, 157 hikers picked up hang tags this year.

That included thru-hikers chasing a big, continuous line and section or weekend hikers squeezing the trail into busy lives. Both matter. The GDT isn’t one kind of adventure. It’s a whole range of them.

Popular Sections and Direction of Travel

For section hikers, Section A was the most popular, with Section B and Section F close behind. No huge surprises there, but it’s helpful to see it reflected in real numbers.

Most hikers were heading northbound, with a smaller group going south or mixing directions. Classic long-distance hiking patterns, just playing out on Canadian terrain.

Stewardship Is Part of the Culture

One thing that really stood out was how much people care about doing things well out there.

A lot of comments touched on stewardship, Leave No Trace, and respect for the places the trail moves through. The GDT crosses protected areas, working landscapes, and sensitive environments, and it only works when hikers do their part. Permits, responsible camping, and low-impact travel aren’t buzzwords. They’re how the trail stays wild and open.

The hang tag program helps reinforce that mindset in a friendly way. It’s less about rules and more about shared responsibility.

More Than a Survey

For many hikers, the hang tag itself became a keepsake. Something clipped to a pack, saved with maps, or tucked into a gear bin as a reminder of time spent out there.

It’s a small thing, but those small things tend to stick.

A Few Fun Takeaways

Here are a few quick hits from this year:

• Hikers came from more than a dozen countries
• Nearly half were section or weekend hikers
• Section A continues to be the most-traveled stretch
• Northbound is still the direction of choice

The Comments Were the Best Part

The feedback was generous, encouraging, and honestly motivating. People noticed trail work. They thanked volunteers. They called out bridges, bear lockers, and maintenance. Some shared stories of coming back to finish hikes interrupted by wildfire seasons. Others talked about how special it is to have a trail like this close to home.

A lot of comments were short and simple. “Thank you.” “Great work.” “Love this trail.” Those words mean a lot when they come from tired legs and full hearts.

Thanks for Making It Happen

A big thank you to Friends of Jasper National Park, Kindred Ground, and Tamarack Outdoors for helping make the Hang Tag Program possible. Your registration helps us better understand how many people are hiking the GDT and where they’re going. It allows us to better advocate for the trail with land managers and government agencies, supports funding opportunities by showing how popular and meaningful the GDT is to the people who use it, and helps us plan trail maintenance by focusing efforts on the most-used and most-loved areas. By registering, you’re helping protect the future of the Great Divide Trail. And to everyone who picked up a hang tag and shared a few thoughts along the way, thank you. You helped us understand the trail a little better.

Looking Ahead

The Great Divide Trail exists because people care about it. Hikers, volunteers, partners, and supporters all play a role.

We’ll keep building. We’ll keep listening. And we’ll keep doing our best to look after this place.

See you on trail!

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