High Rock Trail – 2016

From July 20-24, 2016, the Great Divide Trail Association sent in our largest crew ever to begin construction of the first new section of the GDT in thirty years. 26 hard-working volunteers worked to clear the forested corridor, establish tread and flag future trail in what will become the High Rock Trail section of the GDT.

Over 2 km of new trail was constructed over five days. This GDTA Signature Trip embarked on what will be a 5 year project to build 40 km of new trail and move the Great Divide Trail away from the Line Creek Mine in British Columbia into Alberta. (Photos by Jean-Francois Cianci, Jocelyn Wood, and Brad Vaillancourt)

Cutting ribbon on the first new section of the GDT in 30 years!

Cutting ribbon on the first new section of the GDT in 30 years!

The GDTA Volunteer Crew spent their first day travelling from Calgary to Dutch Creek where the Signature Trip base camp was set up.

Base camp from above

Base camp from above

The crew received introductory training to tool safety, learned more about the trail building objectives for the next four days, received jackets courtesy of GDTA sponsor, The North Face, and ate an incredible steak dinner with ice cream for dessert – fuel for the hard work that would start on Day 2.

Dessert!

Dessert!

Day 2 began with a hike down the end of the road, tools in tow, to the start of what will become the High Rock Trail. The morning was spent training the crew in the art of building new trail. CBC joined our crew on Day 2 to film and interview several of our volunteers.

CBC interview

CBC interview

After learning and practicing, the volunteers split into crews and began tackling actual trail construction. Quickly the crews began demonstrating their newly acquired trail building skills, clearing the large trees with Stihl chainsaws, and shrubs using Stihl brush saws, loppers and handsaws to open up the corridor along a flagged route.

Brushing the trail corridor

Brushing the trail corridor

Clearing the trail corridor

Clearing the trail corridor

As the corridor opened, a tread building crew followed behind with shovels and mattocks.

Tread building

Tread building

All the while, a crew of four volunteers worked on ditching a lower section of trail that sees constant flooding.

Ditch digging

Ditch digging

A great first day of work wrapped up with a good meal and relaxation around the campfire.

Relaxing back at camp

Relaxing back at camp

Day 3 began bright and early as the crews hiked back out for a full day of trail building. As rain came down, the two crews connected and 2 km of trail corridor was opened.

Father and daughter connect the new trail

Father and daughter connect the new trail

From here, crews focussed on creating a sustainable trail tread. The incredible GDTA volunteers completed the final touches on the brand new 2 km of trail at the end of Day 4.

Brand new GDT

Brand new GDT

The "Stairway to Evan"

The “Stairway to Evan”

This trail building trip was a success for the GDTA in large part due to the donations and support by sponsors including Mountain Equipment Co-op, The North Face, Stihl, Spray Lake Sawmills, Wi-Com and Great Canadian Superstore.

The GDTA Volunteer Trail Crew in North Face blue

The GDTA Volunteer Trail Crew in North Face blue

The enthusiastic volunteers worked hard because they had the fuel to keep them going, the tools to do the job and the passion for volunteering in such a spectacular place with other like-minded people. Thanks to all of our dedicated volunteers who participated in this year’s GDT Trail Building Trip and made it such a huge success!

Making s'mores around the campfire

Making s’mores around the campfire

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