Members! Hiking season is finally back again, and our attention is certainly focused on the hikers about to set out on the GDT this year. But the board is also looking to get a jump-start on planning for the Fall Annual General Meeting.
Save the Date: Monday, September 28, 2026; online*
(registration details will go out soon after the hiking season)
As a registered Canadian charitable organization, the GDTA has a legal obligation to present members our financials and have them vote to approve them. This has traditionally been done in September each year and has also been the venue used to provide updates on the year’s activities and vote for new board members.
We want to hear your thoughts:
what do you want to hear about at the AGM?
are there people you think deserve recognition this year?
are there updates you’ve been hoping to hear more on?
are there issues you want to make sure are on the board’s radar?
what would make the AGM more useful for you as a member?
Email your thoughts to: agm@greatdividetrail.com – We’ll do our best to address the comments we receive during the AGM.
Sincerely,
Your Board of Directors
* Note: The AGM moved virtually a few years back due to planning, costs, and technical challenges of hosting in person so close to the end of the hiking season. Furthermore, our membership extends well beyond a single region, so hosting virtually provides equal access to the material. But have no fear, the board appreciates the value of in-Person get togethers, which is why you saw a good number of meetups last year. We’ll be doing the same again this year
Photo Credit: Harrison Crerar – GDTA Photo Contest 2025
Do you have a passion for safety, helping others, and spending time in the outdoors?
The Great Divide Trail Association is looking for a volunteer Safety Officer to help support our trail building, maintenance, and volunteer programs. This role plays an important part in helping us develop safe practices, review procedures, support trip leaders, and contribute to a culture where volunteers can confidently work and recreate in remote backcountry environments.
Whether your background is in occupational health and safety, emergency response, risk management, outdoor leadership, or a related field, we’d love to hear from you.
This is a rewarding opportunity to give back to Canada’s premier long-distance hiking trail while helping protect the people who make it possible.
👉 Interested in learning more or getting involved? Contact us at volunteer@greatdividetrail.com or send us a direct message.
Together, we can help keep the Great Divide Trail safe, sustainable, and thriving for generations to come. 🌲🥾
A hundred years from now, someone will walk the Great Divide Trail who doesn’t know our names. They’ll experience the beauty of the Rockies and the corridor we’ve helped to protect, walk along the trails we built together, and feel the connection of the community. They’ll know the trail. But they won’t know us, unless we tell them.
The GDTA is proud to be installing a 100-year time capsule along the GDT this summer. We are collecting stories and photos from members, preserving them, and sending them to the Association of 2126 to tell them about the beginnings of the trail and our hopes for its future.
Start writing today, and join us in sending our trail stories into the future.
Submit your message!
$5 contribution: Your message will be preserved on archival media in digital form, and securely sealed in the capsule. Submit up to 250 words and 1 photo.
$15 contribution: Your message will be preserved on special archival paper, up to 2 pages in length (900 words), and up to 5 photos. PLUS you’ll receive one of only 50 beautiful ceramic mementos (as supplies last). In addition, you can submit up to 12 pages to be preserved in digital format.
These mementos are hand-made by a Calgary artisan, a sturdy 3/8″ thick and 5″ across, with a full-colour GDTA logo, GPS location, and opening date of the capsule. Carry it with you, hand down to your descendants, or entrust to an institution, to preserve the memory of the capsule.
These are currently in production and will be mailed to you directly after the capsule is installed. If there is significant interest, more mementos may be produced.
There will also be limited space for physical artifacts, so if there’s something you feel should be included, send us an email explaining your idea and we may be able to include it.
Submissions close June 15th.
How it Works
Online: Fill in our online submission form HERE. You can either submit typed text, or a photo/scan of your handwritten message which is especially fun for people of the future to see. (GDTA 2126 Time Capsule Submission – Fill out form)
or
In-Person: Join us for Trail Days, and visit the GDTA’s booth on June 13th to hand-write a message on archival paper.
Not Sure What to Write?
Here are a few prompts:
The trail asked something of you. A hard day, a hard year, a stretch that cost more than you expected. What did it ask, and what did you learn about yourself when you answered?
Describe a single day or night along the trail. The sound of the forest, laughs with friends, a delicious trail snack creation, or a summit worth remembering. How did it feel?
What do you hope the GDT looks like in 100 years? What exists today that you hope remains, and what does it mean to you?
What would you want a hiker in 2126 to know about the people who built this trail?
Tell us your favorite trail story, or campfire story, that makes people laugh, cry, or get inspired?
For the gear junkies: what is your favorite piece of gear, and why? What are the specs, and what do you predict in the gear evolution of the future?
There’s no wrong answer. Write what matters to you.
Share photos of anything that inspires you, that are related to the GDT. Landscapes and views, the people you’ve met and walked with, or your gear!
The Specs
The capsule itself is a stainless steel tube, 6″ in diameter and 14″ long, filled with argon and welded shut at both ends for total water resistance and it will be encased in a watertight plastic container for additional protection. The capsule will be installed in a secure location near the new Blaeberry Cable Car crossing, as it is a major infrastructure project along the trail that has the best chance of standing the test of time. The capsule location will be registered with historical societies, university history departments, and time capsule record-keeping organizations.
Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity! Submit your message before June 15th.
This year’s Trail Supporter Campaign was nothing short of inspiring.
Thanks to the generosity of our community, we raised $46,112.39 in direct donations through this year’s Trail Supporter Campaign. In addition, our matching donor contributed $50,000, bringing the total raised to $96,112.39. The impact of this campaign will significantly support the GDTA’s 2026 operating season.
Our sincere thanks to all of the businesses and individuals who contributed. Your support plays a critical role in maintaining and improving the trail, supporting our field crews and volunteers, and advancing key infrastructure projects.
We would like to extend a special thank you to our matching donor for their leadership and generosity. Their commitment not only doubled the funds raised but also motivated others to give, strengthening the overall impact of the campaign.
One of the key projects we are trying to complete in 2026 is the Blaeberry River Cable Car. While much of this work happens behind the scenes, we are actively completing the necessary back-end tasks, including planning, approvals, coordination, and logistics, to ensure we can move forward responsibly and successfully. This groundwork is essential to setting the project up for long-term success, and your support is helping make it possible.
Campaigns like this are a strong reminder that the Great Divide Trail is a true community effort. Whether you donated, shared the campaign, or helped spread the word, you made a difference.
From all of us at the GDTA, thank you for believing in the trail and in the work we do together.
For the third year in a row, the Great Divide Trail Association (GDTA) is honoured to be one of the charitable recipients of proceeds from GearTrade’s Ultralight Advent Box.
This year, the project carries special meaning. After the passing of GearTrade’s Jesse Hebenton, the box has been renamed in his memory: Jesse’s 2025 Ultralight Advent Box.
Jesse & Michelle Hebenton, and the entire GearTrade team have been incredible supporters of the GDTA over the years, helping us protect, promote, and maintain the Great Divide Trail. Jesse was a dedicated trail advocate and gear enthusiast whose enthusiasm for the outdoors, commitment to responsible recreation, and passion for helping others get outside safely left an indelible mark on our community and continues to inspire us all through the ongoing generosity of Michelle and the GearTrade family.
When Jesse first reached out to let us know that the GDTA would be one of the charity recipients of the Advent Calendar proceeds, we had no idea this would grow into a multi-year tradition of generosity and support. Yet here we are, and we couldn’t be more grateful.
For those of you who were lucky enough to snag one of these awesome boxes before they sold out, know that some of those proceeds have made their way back to the GDTA, helping us continue the important work of maintaining and protecting the Great Divide Trail. This year alone, $2,500 was donated to the GDTA from the proceeds.
Thank you to Michelle Hebenton and everyone at GearTrade for continuing this meaningful project and for supporting the work we do to keep the Great Divide Trail wild, accessible, and inspiring for generations to come.
The GDTA is always looking for more volunteers to help us build, maintain, and promote the Great Divide Trail. Can you help?
During the non-hiking season, GDTA volunteers collaborate remotely on all the hard work that happens behind the scenes. Even if you only have a few hours to give we would love to have you join us!
Take a look at our Volunteer page for a current list of urgent needs. But even if you don’t see something that catches your eye, please reach out to us at volunteer@greatdividetrail.com. Each of our Committees always welcome extra help!
The GDTA website has been a labour of love since its creation by Brad Vaillancourt in 2013. From the beginning, the goal has been to ensure that hikers can easily find all the information they need to plan an epic adventure on the Trail. It has grown to be the place hikers, members, and fans keep up to speed on everything related to the GDT and the GDTA.
More than a year in the making, the GDTA is proud to roll out a big refresh to our beloved website! Built collaboratively entirely by volunteers, you’ll still find all the content you’ve come to rely upon. The most referenced pages should be even easier to find with more links in more places. You’ll find additional content related to the Association’s commitment to Reconciliation, Responsible Recreation, our Supporters, History of Trail Work, an updated set of Frequently Asked Questions, and more.
Every page has been refreshed and adorned with fresh new images (many courtesy of our annual photo contest). Check out our credits page to learn more about who contributed these beauties!
We’d love to hear what you think of the new site. And if you find something that doesn’t seem right, we’d appreciate you dropping us a message at website@greatdividetrail.com. News, Events, and Blogs will continue to get added, and keep checking back for even more great additions throughout the year.
Do you want to participate in responsibly creating an iconic Canadian wilderness opportunity?
Do you have 6-10 hours to volunteer each month?
The GDTA is seeking dynamic, committed, community-oriented Board of Directors candidates to join our team. These positions will be voted on by Members at our Annual General Meeting on September 29th, 2025.
Qualifications
We are seeking candidates with experience and/or a strong interest in the following areas:
Long-term involvement/history with the Great Divide Trail Association (GDTA)
Ability to access new financial resources or potential partners through networks
Financial Management
Legal & Governance
Strategic Planning
Fundraising
Indigenous Relations
Events & Community Building
Thru-hiking
Role-Specific – We are looking for our next Board Secretary.
Our amazing current Board Secretary has one year left in the role and is committed to fully training their successor and supporting a smooth transition over the coming year.
Roles and Responsibilities of the Board
The GDTA is a registered charity, and the Board is accountable for ensuring that the Association is managed in accordance with applicable laws and its membership’s wishes. The Board is responsible to:
Establish and maintain a framework for delegation and internal control within GDTA.
Monitor GDTA finances and performance.
Establish strategic direction aligned with the GDTA’s Mission, Vision and Values.
Review and oversee the Association’s risk management
Evaluate and improve the performance of the Board.
Promote and support the Association and its members.
Responsibilities of Individual Board Members
As individuals and collectively, Board Members are responsible to:
Create a positive, open organizational culture.
Adhere to GDTA bylaws, policies, and procedures
Attend all Board meetings in person or via teleconferencing (Monthly, 3rd Tuesday, 7 – 9 pm MST).
Be a Board representative or Chair on one of the GDTA’s 7 committees
Make decisions and work towards positions that are in the best interests of the Association.
Term:Three (3) Years, 6-10 hr/month
Compensation:None – this is a volunteer position.
Candidate Selection Process
Interested Candidates should submit their names via email, to:
Please include why you want to be a part of the Board, any existing GDTA volunteer experience, and any other qualifications or reasons why you’d make a great Board member
The nominating committee will review all applications, possibly interview interested persons and then present qualified candidates to the Association’s membership via email for their consideration. The successful nominees will be presented at the Annual General Meeting on September 29, 2025.
Other Volunteer Opportunities
If you are not interested in a Board position but would like to contribute your time and talents in other way. There are always lots of ways you can get involved, including remotely and outside of peak-hiking seasons! Even if you have just a few hours to give, it can make a big difference.
The Great Divide Trail Association (GDTA) opposes the proposed construction and operation of a coal mine at Grassy Mountain, and the Government of Alberta’s lifting of the moratorium on new coal exploration and development in the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains. The Grassy Mountain project, and increased exploration and development in the region, would have significant negative impacts on the Great Divide Trail (GDT) and the hundreds of people who enjoy it every year.
The GDT is a highly valued long-distance trail in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Each year, hundreds of people from across Canada and around the world are drawn to its spectacular mountain scenery and opportunities for outdoor recreation in a wilderness setting. For more than 40 years, the GDTA has invested countless volunteer hours in trail maintenance, promotion and education.
A surface coal mine at Grassy Mountain, and exploration in the vicinity of the existing trail corridor, will pose an existential threat to the trail, irreversibly harming the experience of the hundreds of people each year who enjoy and benefit from it.
Exploration activity and/or surface mining would cause harm far beyond these activities’ footprints, including through significant noise and dust from blasting and heavy machinery; negative impacts on air and water quality, as well as wildlife and their habitat; and sight pollution from great distances in areas of currently untouched natural beauty.
With respect to increased exploration, the greatest threat to the trail is in the Willoughby Ridge area, where there is 100 percent overlap between the trail and exploration leases. As a result of road building, drilling and blasting, parts of the trail could be completely destroyed.
Exploration activity and/or surface coal mining in or near the GDT corridor would negatively impact the world-class wilderness recreation experience the GDTA has worked hard to build for more than 40 years. It will also reduce the environmental gains achieved while building and maintaining an environmentally sustainable and protected trail along the Great Divide of the Canadian Rockies.
The impact on visitor experience would be substantial. In order to mitigate this, the GDTA may be forced to move the trail to a new location, causing years of disruption to trail users. Not only would this be expensive, but the impacts would be felt all across the 1,100km trail as limited GDTA resources would need to be redirected from other projects for the foreseeable future.
The GDTA calls for an end to the Grassy Mountain mining project and the reinstatement of the long-standing moratorium on new coal exploration and development in the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains.
Applications are now closed for 2025 – Thank you for all that have applied
Are you hiking some or all of the GDT this summer? The GDTA is looking for a handful of hikers to be volunteer Trail Ambassadors this year. Share your love of this amazing Canadian treasure, and help out the GDTA while you enjoy your hike.
What does an Ambassador do?
Share awareness of the GDT (and the GDTA) to people you meet
Share photos of your hike with the GDTA
Share information about the trail conditions you encounter
The GDTA will make sure you have some GDT stickers to hand out, and we’ll provide a little bit of hiker-appropriate swag (you can leave it at home if you’re counting grams!)
Requirements
Anyone that’s hiking any amount of the GDT can apply to be a Trail Ambassador. All we ask is that you:
Promise to obey all park regulations
Have the necessary permits for all nights on trail
Practice meticulous Leave No Trace Principles
Be willing to talk up how great the GDT is to anyone you meet!
Priority may be given to people that have hiked parts of the GDT before.
How to apply
Applications are now closed for 2025 – Thank you for all that have applied
