Join the adventure! The Great Divide Trail Association is on the lookout for an enthusiastic individual with a passion for budgets and numbers to take on the vital position of Treasurer. Step into the role, become a key player on the Board of Directors until next September, and have your candidacy voted on by the GDTA membership.
Board of Directors – Treasurer
The Great Divide Trail Association is seeking a motivated individual with a love and a knack for budgets and numbers, to perform the important role of Treasurer.
About The Great Divide Trail Association:
The Great Divide Trail Association is dedicated to maintaining, protecting, and promoting the Great Divide Trail. The trail traverses the continental divide between Alberta and British Columbia, through the vast wilderness of the Canadian Rocky Mountains for more than 1100 kilometers. The Great Divide Trail Association has 13 Board Directors, and 7 committees who diligently work all year long to ensure we are working towards our mission. Each year, over 150 volunteers under the guidance of the GDTA, spend 3 to 6 days as part of a trail crew, building new routes and performing maintenance on this historic trail.
Through all these efforts, hikers and backpackers of all ages safely and responsibly explore one of the most spectacular and challenging long‐distance trails on the planet.
The Treasurer Role
This volunteer role is an excellent opportunity for a passionate outdoors enthusiast who wants to provide others with the opportunity to experience the Canadian Rocky Mountains while building and maintaining an iconic trail. It is also a great opportunity to work with like-minded individuals and volunteers.
The Treasurer is a Director on the Board. In accordance with Association bylaws, the successful individual will be appointed to the Board of Directors until association membership can vote them in, at the next Annual General Meeting held in September.
Attributes:
Good with numbers
Highly motivated
Comfortable and competent in managing financial risk
Exceptional attention to detail
A knack for seeing the big picture
Inquisitive about broader business dynamics, aspiring to play a pivotal role
Effective communicator
Time commitment:
Anticipate dedicating around 10-12 hours per month to this role, which involves attending monthly Board meetings held on the third Tuesday of the month from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm MT.
This was the most ambitious year in the field for the Trail Building and Maintenance Committee crews to date, with over 6,000 field work hours put in by 153 volunteers.
The season started with parallel trips into the Blaeberry: one, a basecamp trip to Collie Creek to complete the revival of an old trail to take the GDT off the logging road and the other a backcountry self-supported trip on the David Thompson Heritage Trail to complete trail repairs due to a major avalanche last year.
Work on the High Rock Trail between Alison Creek and Window Mountain Lake was completed over 6 backcountry trips, including a new trail completed to take 2 km of the GDT off steep ATV tracks. New signs were installed at key intersections along the route. Deadfall was removed between Window Mountain Lake and South Hidden Creek, and the South Racehorse Creek bridge was repaired. Some trail was rerouted to protect an environmentally sensitive area.
A new bridge was installed across Baril Creek on the Original GDT in Section B. A self-supported backcountry crew replaced the temporary log bridge and completed trail maintenance work up to Fording River Pass and from Baril Creek to just over the ridge to the south.
The first women’s only walking trip from South Hidden Creek to North Racehorse Creek took place in late July. Trail clearing, blazing, and an assessment for backcountry campsites were completed.
In Section A, a walking trip from Sage Pass to Scarpe Pass included trail maintenance and blazing along 14 km of trail, 600m of trail construction from Scarpe Pass to La Coulotte Ridge and an assessment of the campsite at Sage Pass.
Once again, the GDTA partnered with Friends of Jasper to clear and maintain the trail on Maligne Pass in Section E, clearing encroaching small trees and shrubs along 500m of trail east and west of Mary Schaffer Campground.
Two parallel trips were coordinated in Section G. Volunteers on a walking trip from Sheep Creek to Cecilia Lake completed trail clearing and maintenance that was started in previous years. The construction of a bridge at Cecilia Creek was done in parallel and both crews and tools were helicoptered in and out.
Two trips into the White Goat Wilderness Area were completed in collaboration with the Trail Protection and Advocacy Committee to set up and take down trail counters and wildlife cameras at the beginning and end of the trail season. This will help gauge activity along the Cataract Creek trail, to help convince the Government of Alberta to permit maintenance of that trail.
It was a successful season working in challenging conditions of heat and smoke. Thanks to all our volunteers and especially to our hard-working trip leaders who organized each of the trips.
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 nicole.d.sharpe@gmail.com 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.
Backpackers, hikers, outdoor enthusiasts, would you like to share your passion with others?
Do you want to participate in responsibly creating an iconic Canadian wilderness opportunity?
Do you have 6-10 hours to volunteer each month?
The Great Divide Trail traverses the continental divide between Alberta and British Columbia, wandering through the vast wilderness of the Canadian Rocky Mountains for more than 1100 kilometres. It is one of the most spectacular and challenging long‐distance trails on the planet. The Great Divide Trail Association is dedicated to maintaining, protecting, and promoting the Great Divide Trail. We are currently seeking dynamic, committed, community-oriented Board of Directors candidates.
Qualifications
We are looking for candidates with experience in the following areas:
Finance (succession planning for GDTA Treasurer), fundraising, non-profit/charity governance, organizational development, safety and environment, marketing, communications, member/stakeholder engagement, leadership and public relations skills.
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.
Great Divide Trail Association – Attn: Nomination Committee Suite 200, 940 – 6 Avenue SW Calgary, Alberta T2P 3T1
The nominating committee will review all applications, possibly interview interested persons and then present qualified candidates to the Association’s membership for their consideration at the GDTA Annual General Meeting on Monday, September 26, 2022. There are currently four (4) open Board positions.
Other Volunteer Opportunities
If you are not interested in a Board position but would like to contribute your time and talents in other ways, don’t hesitate to contact the nominating committee.
While pandemic recovery continues and the world continues to reopen, the Great Divide Trail Association continues to consider what is best for the health and safety of the trail community that we serve. Staying active in the outdoors is an excellent way to keep your body and mind healthy, and we encourage everyone who spends time on the GDT this year to do so safely and continue to do your part to limit the spread of COVID-19.
For those considering travel on the GDT in 2022, review and adhere to current Canadian and regional COVID travel guidelines.
At this time, the GDTA supports single-day hikes or horseback rides on the GDT and longer (weekend or multi-day) trips that respect and adhere to local COVID guidelines and public health orders.
To limit the potential transmission of the virus between you and others when on the GDT, please follow these guidelines:
Check with public health agencies for information near your starting point, along your route, and at your planned destination. Any GDT travel must comply with provincial and federal guidelines and laws.
Practice 2-metre physical distancing from other cohorts at all times on the trail.
Avoid crowds, shared facilities and indoor spaces.
Stay local where possible, explore sections of the trail near your home.
Always Leave No Trace.
Backcountry use has the potential to add unnecessary stress to the healthcare system and put public safety staff at risk, including exposure to COVID-19, which could then impact resources to support search and rescue, so please keep your hiking plans conservative and your risk low.
Despite the ongoing pandemic, the GDTA continues our work with your support:
Trail Building and Maintenance trips continue to move forward this summer. Save the Date: the grand opening of the High Rock Trail is on July 22, 2022 – stay tuned.
Our Trail Protection & Advocacy Committee continues to make progress toward our goal of permanent protection of the GDT.
Our 2nd annual Trail Supporter Campaign held by our Ensuring Financial Capacity Committee raised over $21,000 and was a huge success thanks to your generous support!
Our Outreach Committee has planned several exciting virtual events in the coming months to connect the Great Divide Community even if we can’t meet in person due to the pandemic (or the weather!).
The GDTA will continue to monitor and follow the recommendations of the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Provincial Health Authorities of Alberta and BC, and provide updates as new information becomes available.
Thank you for being responsible and taking precautions to keep yourself and others safe!
While pandemic recovery continues and the world slowly reopens, the Great Divide Trail Association continues to consider what is best for the health and safety of the trail community that we serve. Staying active in the outdoors is an excellent way to keep your body and mind healthy, and we encourage everyone who spends time on the GDT this year to do so safely and continue to do your part to limit the spread of COVID-19.
For those considering travel on the GDT in 2021, remember that travel on the GDT is considered non-essential.
At this time, the GDTA supports single-day hikes or horseback rides on the GDT and longer (weekend or multi-day) if they are in your local area, where trails and trailheads are open.
To limit the potential transmission of the virus between you and others when on the GDT, please follow these guidelines:
Check with public health agencies for information near your starting point, along your route, and at your planned destination. Any GDT travel must comply with provincial and federal guidelines and laws.
Travel only with members of your household; practice 2-metre physical distancing from others at all times on the trail.
Avoid crowds, shared facilities and indoor spaces.
Stay local, explore sections of the trail near your home.
Always Leave No Trace.
Backcountry use has the potential to add unnecessary stress to the healthcare system and put public safety staff at risk, including exposure to COVID-19, which could then impact resources to support search and rescue, so please keep your hiking plans conservative and your risk low.
Despite the pandemic, the GDTA continues our work with your support:
Our Trail Protection & Advocacy Committee continues to make progress toward our goal of permanent protection of the GDT.
Our first ever charitable donation campaign held by our Ensuring Financial Capacity Committee was a huge success thanks to your generous support!
The GDTA will continue to monitor and follow the recommendations of the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Provincial Health Authorities of Alberta and BC, and provide updates as new information becomes available.
Thank you for being responsible and taking precautions to keep yourself and others safe!
The Great Divide Trail Association would like to thank our amazing volunteers, who, despite the challenges of 2020, have made this one of our most productive years. As a result of our volunteers’ hard work, the new High Rock Trail was opened, and the Association obtained Charitable Status. In addition to these two significant milestones, advocacy work to protect the Great Divide Trail and support for an increasing number of trail users continued. All of this work was accomplished safely and without a single incident.
On behalf of the Association – THANK YOU!
Building on this year’s success, we would like to do more. The Great Divide Trail Association is 100% volunteer-run, so that means we need you!
If you are an avid hiker, backpacker or armchair enthusiast who would like to share your passion with others.
If you would like to participate in responsibly creating an iconic Canadian wilderness opportunity.
And, if you have a few hours to volunteer each month, consider joining a group of like-minded volunteers dedicated to maintaining, protecting, and promoting the Great Divide Trail, one of the most spectacular and challenging long‐distance trails on the planet.
Volunteers are required for the following committees:
Trail Building and Maintenance Committee – is responsible for planning and managing trail operations. This committee managed almost 100 volunteers who contributed approximately 3500 hours building and maintaining the Trail this past year. Skills and experience needed:
Committee secretarial duties and information management
Equipment inventory, purchases and repairs. Individuals should be located in/near Calgary, where our equipment is housed
Ensuring Financial Capacity Committee – is responsible for fund development and building supporters for the Great Divide Trail Association’s operations. This committee wrote or assisted with several grants this past year, created a grant database, obtained charitable status for the Association, and initiated a donation program. Skills and experience needed:
Committee Co-Chair – leadership skills
Grant writing, researching prospects, maintaining grant database
Developing sponsorships and corporate donations
Advancing the charitable donation program
The Outreach, Education and Engagement Committee – is responsible for building awareness of the Great Divide Trail and the GDTA through effective communication strategies and programs, planning outreach and education events, and supporting Great Divide Trail users. Each year the number of hikers continues to grow. Outreach has provided Trail information and advice to numerous members, hikers, and the public. Skills and experience needed:
Graphic design – managing and updating the Association’s website and social media
Communications and advertising
Program and event planning (live and virtual)
Hiker support – maintaining existing hiker resources and exploring ways to provide additional assistance.
Safety and Environment Committee – assists the Great Divide Association have “zero” safety incidents and environmentally, “leave no trace.” This committee was an integral part of the Association, having zero incidents this past year, including zero “COVID19” incidents. Skills and experience needed:
Safety management – maintaining and supporting the use of the GDTA Safety Program
Working knowledge of Alberta OH&S requirements
Environmental Protection – developing, maintaining, and implementing an Environmental Program and providing environmental expertise for land use applications.
Knowledge of Alberta’s environmentally sensitive flora and fauna and wildlife (to help develop training material for GDT trail building trips)
To volunteer or for more information, please email us with your name, contact information and area of interest(s) to: greatdividetrail@gmail.com
Are you an avid hiker, a backpacker who would like to share your passion with others?
Would you like to participate in responsibly creating an iconic Canadian wilderness opportunity?
Do you have 6-10 hours to volunteer each month?
The Great Divide Trail traverses the continental divide between Alberta and British Columbia, wandering through the vast wilderness of the Canadian Rocky Mountains for more than 1100 kilometres. It is one of the most spectacular and challenging long‐distance trails on the planet. The Great Divide Trail Association is dedicated to maintaining, protecting, and promoting the Great Divide Trail. We are currently seeking dynamic, committed, bright, community-oriented Board of Directors candidates.
Qualifications
We are looking for candidates with experience in the following areas:
Finance, fundraising, operations management, business skills, non-profit/charity governance, organizational development, legal, safety and environment, marketing, communications, member/stakeholder engagement, human resource management.
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. These responsibilities include:
Establishing and maintaining a framework of delegation and internal control.
Monitoring financial management and performance.
Establishing and pursuing a strategic direction in keeping with the GDTA’s Mission, Vision and Values.
Reviewing and overseeing the Association’s risk management and compliance systems and programs.
Evaluating and improving the performance of the Board.
Promoting and supporting the Association and its members.
Responsibilities of Individual Board Members
As individuals and collectively, Board Members are responsible for:
Creating a positive, open organizational culture.
Adhering to the bylaws, policies, and procedures of the organization.
Pursuing opportunities to improve the performance of the Association at all levels
Attending all Board meetings in person or via teleconferencing.
Actively participating on at least one of the Association’s committees or as an Association officer.
Acting selflessly in making decisions and working towards positions that are in the best interests of the Association.
Term: Three (3) Years Compensation: None – this is a volunteer position. Time Commitment: Six to ten hours per month
Candidate Selection Process
Interested Candidates should submit their names and qualifications to:
The nominating committee will review all applications, possibly interview interested persons and then present qualified candidates to the Association’s membership for their consideration at the September 2020 Annual General Meeting. There are currently four (4) open Board positions.
The new High Rock Trail is open and now the official main route of the GDT. The GPS track has been posted to the GDT App and our map page where it can be downloaded. We continue to improve the High Rock Trail annually, but it is completely hikeable and totally awesome!
Thanks to all of our sponsors, supporters and the incredible volunteers who worked so hard over the past 7 years to build this new trail!
High Rock Trail
High Rock Trail (HRT) NOBO Description
The High Rock Trail is easily reached from the Atlas (Allison Creek) Road. From the Atlas Staging Area (b4), look for the HRT trailhead at the south end of the staging area on the west side of the road. Heading off on the trail, follow switchbacks down to the new Allison Creek bridge. Fill up with water here, as the next reliable source isn’t until Window Mountain Lake in 16 km. Cross the bridge to reach a junction with the Chinook Lake service road. The HRT climbs to the east but for a refreshing swim on a hot day, head west 1 km to Chinook Lake!
Continuing north, the trail crosses Deadman Pass road – the former route of the GDT prior to the construction of the HRT – as it climbs the forested slopes of the Divide. Follow the trail for 800 metres where you will turn right onto an old ATV track. The track gains 100m over 1 km before a short but steep climb over the last 50 metres marks the end of the track and the return to single-track trail at 1740m.
HRT Trail Crew
The trail climbs steadily for 600 metres to reach treeline at 1820m. The trail remains above treeline with spectacular views of Crowsnest Mountain to the east, contouring between 1840m and 1920m for the next 3 km. The trail intersects with an ATV track before dipping back into the forest. In 100 metres, you reach another intersection with the same ATV track and again stay on the trail in the forest, continuing north. The trail stays in the forest for 350 metres before reaching treeline again at the beginning of a short steep climb up a talus slope. The trail climbs 100m over 500 metres, staying just above treeline before the gradient eases off at 2000m. Continue for 1 km, contouring above treeline and up a set of switchbacks through sparse trees to a forested ridge crest. Follow the forested ridgeline for 500 metres to a high point at 2100m (b6) with incredible views of the Crowsnest valley, until the trail veers away from the ridge dropping into the forest. In 100 metres, the trail enters an old cutblock where it will mostly remain for the next few kilometres. There is regrowth in the old cutblock but still many outstanding views of the impressive headwall of the Great Divide.
The trail gently descends through the old cutblock, losing 150m elevation over the next 1.5 km. Cross an ATV track in 1.2 km and in 300 metres reach a second ATV track at the valley bottom at 1940m. Cross this ATV track to follow new trail paralleling the base of the headwall for 1.7 km, including a short steep climb to bring you to the western edge of the cutblock at 2020m. Single-track trail continues through old cutblocks and adjacent forest for 1.6 km until reaching the Window Mountain Lake trailhead and junction with the WML Bypass Trail. Note that horses are not able to access Window Mountain Lake but can take the Bypass Trail to continue north on the HRT.
Window Mountain Lake
Follow the Window Mountain Lake trail, very steep in sections, for 900 metres to reach Window Mountain Lake campground (b7) on the shores of the beautiful lake. The HRT continues through the campground heading up the sparsely treed slopes on the north end of the lake. The trail climbs well graded switchbacks up to the top of the ridge surrounding the lake, reaching a high point at 2120m in 1 km. On the north side of the ridge, you will see the road descending from Racehorse Pass below you. Follow the edge of the forest where it meets the talus slope on your right, descending steeply to the reach the road in 500 metres at 2060m.
Follow Racehorse Pass Road east for 1 km to a marked junction where the trail leaves the road and begins climbing the open slope. Follow the trail as it climbs steep switchbacks over the next 2.4 km to reach Racehorse Shoulder at 2255m (b8), the highest point on the entire HRT with impressive views in all directions. The trail has an alpine feel as it descends the north side of the ridge at the edge of a lovely larch forest, and in 2.5 km reaches a junction with an ATV road in an alpine basin at 1980m. An emergency shelter is located 3.5 km east down this road.
Racehorse Shoulder
The trail continues for 700 metres across the basin and into the forest before starting a steep climb. Over the next 1.5 km, ascend several switchbacks climbing to the saddle between Hail Ridge and the main divide at 2165m. Descend more gently on the north side of the saddle, 1.3 km down to an old road at 2000m in an old cutblock in the open basin below the huge headwall of the divide. Follow the old road for 800 metres as it curves northward to reach a signed trail junction (b9). First Creek campground is 200 metres off route to the right (northeast). The HRT follows the trail left (northwest), across the First Creek Bridge, for 1.3 km as it ascends along the eastern edge of an old cutblock until the trail enters the forest at 1980m. In another 700 metres of steady climbing, the trail reaches the saddle at 2060m. A rest stop with an excellent viewpoint lies slightly off route, 100 metres west of the saddle.
First Creek Bridge
The trail continues northeast, contouring around the east side of Domke Ridge, reaching a high point of 2185m (b10) in 1.3 km. Regain the crest of the ridge and follow it for 1.1 km descending gradually to 2045m at a point where the trail drops sharply off the east side of the ridge into the forest. Descend a series of switchbacks over the next 1.9 km to a junction with an ATV road at 1815m. Follow the ATV road west for 400 metres to a ford of North Racehorse Creek (b11). Good camping exists on a flat bench on the north side of the creek.
Leaving the creek, stay left at a junction and follow the ATV road for 150 metres to where a signed single-track trail leaves the road to enter the forest. Follow the trail as it climbs gradually through thick forest. In 1.3 km cross an ATV track and continue climbing for another 900 metres before levelling out around 1990m. For the next 1.8 km, the trail contours between 1980m and 2020m with good views of Gould Dome and Tornado Mountain to the north. The trail then descends 100m to reach an old ATV track in 750 metres.
Follow the ATV track for 1 km to a junction. Stay left (north) at the junction and descend slightly to cross Fred Bridge. Continue following an ATV road northeast for 2.4 km to a junction with an old logging road at 1715m (b12). Good camping next to Dutch Creek exists 200 metres down the road to the right. The HRT continues left (northwest) following the old road for 4.2 km, climbing gradually through several old cutblocks until it ends at 1910m. The trail briefly turns northeast before it begins following an old seismic line north. In 900 metres, the trail turns sharply east into the forest before descending 60m over 400 metres to reach the Dutch Creek Bridge (b13). Just beyond the bridge, the HRT reconnects with the original GDT as it descends from North Fork Pass.
NEW SECTION D ALTERNATE: Amiskwi Ridge. For those who prefer spectacular ridge walking to an active logging road, this alternate is for you!
Amiskwi Ridge
NOBO begin 1.5 km north of Amiskwi Pass by hiking steeply on good trail (+200m over 1 km) to reach Amiskwi Lodge at the tree line, where the trail ends and 5 km of stunning cross-country ridge walking begins. Camping is not allowed at the lodge, please do not trespass on private property. Camping is available in the meadows 200 metres farther.
Ascending Amiskwi Ridge, looking back
Requires some route-finding and a short section of light to moderate bushwhacking. The alternate is 8 km vs 6 km on the main route of the GDT, and highly recommended. Tack on the Collie Creek alternate and you can avoid 20 km of walking on active logging roads.
